In an effort to provide quality language access services at all points of contact within the courts, NM Center for Language Access, through the NM Administrative Office of the Courts, offers two distinct credentialing programs: Court Interpreter and Language Access Specialist.
Certified Court Interpreters & Justice System Interpreters (JSIs)
Certified court interpreters and JSI interpreters work throughout the justice system and provide language access services in the courtroom, as well as outside the courtroom. Court interpreter certification and JSI qualification requires a higher level of language proficiency than the LAS certification. Typically, graduates of this program make a career out of court interpreting and work as freelance or staff interpreters.
About the Court Interpreter Certification Process in NM
Language Access Specialist Certification
The program allows bilingual employees of the judiciary and other agencies to provide language access services outside the courtroom and in court for non-jailable traffic offenses only. Usually, graduates of this program are already employed in the judiciary, municipal courts, or as paralegals and the certification adds to their credentials and employability by professionalizing their work.