NAD Certification Information

Does the NAD require certificate maintenance (i.e. CEU)?
Yes. There are options. Renewal dates have just gone into effect: 5 years from issuance date as of September 1, 1997.

Every five years NAD certified interpreters should renew their certificate by: a) showing evidence of 700 hours a year of interpreting employment; OR b) showing evidence of taking 25 hours a year of workshops related to interpreting; OR, c) by taking the test again, especially if they are at level 3 and 4 to get higher rating.

For Level 5 interpreters, showing evidence of 700 hours a year of interpreting employment applies (a, above); and, if the NAD certified interpreter is an instructor, this would be taken into consideration. Of course, Level 5 interpreters could re-take the test though it wouldn't make much sense in many cases, especially if they have worked 700 hours each year. After 5 years, this would total 3500 hours.

People constantly ask for names of courses/workshops to take. At this point, anything that will assist them in their work. We do not want to specify for fear of pigeonholing -- the very fact that they go to a workshop related to interpreting -- be it on "composure" or on reading fingerspelling will in itself be educational.

For more information, visit the NAD website, www.nad.org