DSHS - Language Testing and Certification Program

Language Testing and Certification Program

Announcement

Great News!! Our online test scheduling system is now up and running.

Click here to learn how to schedule a test online (WORD). Please follow the steps in "how to schedule a test online" to self-schedule your test.

When you are ready, scroll down to click on the link underneath LTC Examination Manual to get started.

Testing is now open in December and January for Olympia. However, testing remains close in December and January for Yakima. Please note that we have a NEW test site in Olympia. Please click on the link below for driving directions to the NEW Olympia test site.

Please note that beginning January 1, 2012, no provisional (temporary) certification will be issued to medical and social service interpreters in Spanish, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and Korean. The need for provisional certification for these four languages does no longer exist. Full certification will continue to be issued to interpreters who pass the written and oral tests in all certified languages.

Attention, certified or authorized interpreters and translators: If you want LTC to publish your current contact information, please email us at dshsct@dshs.wa.gov whenever you have changed your phone number(s) and/or mailing address. Please include your certificate/authorization number, or the last four digits of your SSN and your language for verification purpose.

You DO NOT need to email us if your contact information has not changed since you were certified/authorized. Your name will not be removed from our database whether or not you update your contact information with us. Thank you!

The Language Testing and Certification (LTC) program provides the following services:

Develop systems, methods, procedures and policies to certify DSHS bilingual employees, applicants for DSHS bilingual positions, contracted interpreters and translators, and licensed agency personnel.
Set and maintain qualification standards for DSHS bilingual positions, interpreters, and translators across languages.
Administer language proficiency testing to certify/authorize DSHS bilingual employees, applicants for bilingual positions, contracted interpreters, contracted translators, and licensed agency personnel.
Provide consultation to the department in establishing DSHS policies regarding the quality of language services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients.
Manage the roster of certified interpreters and translators; manage the roster of authorized interpreters.

The LTC Examination Manual (WORD) contains detailed information about language testing and certification.

Click Schedule Now to self-schedule your test online.

Please note that at this point, test dates are open up to the month of August only. More test dates will be added after June 30th.

If you cannot schedule your test online, you can fill out, print and mail the Examination Application form (DSHS 05-218) (WORD) with appropriate payment to the address on the form to schedule your test.

Click here if you need Olympia New Test Site Driving Directions (WORD).

Click here if you need Yakima Test Site Driving Directions (WORD).

If you are a certified or authorized interpreter and plan to provide interpreter services to DSHS clients, please click on the following link for related contact information in your area:

DSHS Interpreter Services Providers for Spoken Languages

If you are a certified translator and plan to provide document translation services to DSHS programs, please click on the following link for contact information:

DSHS Contracted Document Translation Agencies (WORD)

For applicants of DSHS recruitments, consult the following Word document to determine the test requirements for specific positions, then follow the test registration process in the LTC Examination Manual:

DSHS Employee Position Clusters and Test Requirements (WORD)