If an oral performance examination is available, a registered court interpreter must sit for the examination at least once every twelve months from the date he/she is designated as a registered court interpreter until he/she receives a passing grade to become a certified court interpreter. Failure to sit for the oral examination as required by this section shall result in the loss of designation as a registered court interpreter and the interpreter shall be required to begin the credentialing process anew.
Tenn. R. Sup. Ct., 5
Commentary.
Comment 1. Court interpretation is a specialized and highly demanding form of interpreting. It requires skills that few bilingual individuals possess, including language instructors. The knowledge and skills of a court interpreter differ substantially from or exceed those required in other interpretation settings, including social service, medical, diplomatic, and conference interpreting. Due to the highly specialized knowledge and skills required in this profession, the Court has promulgated this rule to adopt uniform qualifications for interpreters serving in Tennessee's courts.
Comment 2. A "criterion-referenced" performance examination is one in which the required score is based on an absolute standard rather than one on the relative performance of examinees as measured against one another.
Comment 3. Interpreters are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the credentialing and renewal requirements. For additional information, interpreters should consult the interpreter page of the Administrative Office of the Courts' website, which can be accessed at www.tncourts.gov, or contact the Administrative Office of the Courts.