The Examination Manual provides detailed information on certification and testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to DSHS Facilities, Finance and Analytics Administration's Frequently Asked Questions! Below you may search by topics such as information for bidders and question about our Language Testing and Certification Program, and Background Checks.
No, you get the same certificate as those who have passed sight translation and consecutive interpreting (Level 1) but not simultaneous interpreting. However, your simultaneous test score will remain in our database. When simultaneous interpreting is needed for social service settings, users of simultaneous interpreting will contact LTC to obtain information on who is qualified for such assignment.
The words procurement and solicitation generally refer to the same process of inviting companies to bid on opportunities to provide goods and services to DSHS. The actual document outlining the goods and services may be called any of the following: Procurement, Solicitation, Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Request for Qualifications and Quotation (RFQQ), or Request for Information (RFI), depending on the purpose of the procurement.
The document that is sent by the bidder to DSHS in response to a solicitation is called the bid, the response or the proposal.
No. The co-payment or participation that the service recipient (client) pays to his/her provider is a set amount. If the dollar amount of the service is less than the co-payment, the client need only pay the actual amount of service.
Certified languages are those in which interpreters go through conventional modalities of testing. The written and oral test instruments cover both English and a second language (target language). Those who meet the minimum proficiency requirements are issued a certificate.
Due to resource restrictions, it is not feasible to develop language-specific test instruments for each and every language in such a linguistically diverse state as Washington. Therefore, a screening test was developed for all non-certified or screened languages. Interpreters in screened languages go through a totally different modality of testing. Unlike the certified languages, the written screening test is not language specific. The oral screening test utilizes the target language spoken by the interpreter to test his or her linguistic and interpreting skills. This includes any language, even any dialects within a language. Since the scope of the screening test is not as comprehensive as a conventional certified test, those who meet the minimum proficiency requirements are issued an authorization letter in lieu of a certificate.
Currently, no translator test is available for screened languages.
Information about certified/authorized interpreters and translators can be found by clicking on the Find an Interpreter or Translator link found on the navigation bar.
Check this site frequently for updated information. It is the responsibility of the prospective bidder to be aware of any changes in the procurement schedule and updates to particular procurements. All of the information is posted on the DSHS web site. If you have specific questions about a particular procurement, please refer to the solicitation document for instructions.
No. School holiday care is not paid for the months of June, July, and August and is only available for childcare paid on an hourly basis.
One DSHS-approved continuing education activities will count toward all your certificates/authorizations.
- Example: You have a social services interpreter certificate, medical interpreter certificate, and a translator certificate. You only need to accumulate 20 credits in a 4 year period, not 60 credits.
In-Person Activities:
- There is a sign-in/out sheet that is provided to the host of the approved DSHS CE activity for use the day of the activity. This sign-in/out sheet will be used to allot credits to your files. Make sure to write down ALL your alphanumeric certificate/authorization numbers so the activity is added to all your certificates/authorizations.
Online Activities:
- Send an email to LTC with the certificate that you receive upon completion of the approved DSHS online CE activities. Include the approval number, found under the List of DSHS Approved CE Activities. Make sure to include ALL your alphanumeric certificate/authorization numbers in the body of the email so the activity is added to all your certificates/authorizations.
Why are these certificate numbers so important?
- Each certification number represents a record in one of the six databases that we work out of. If you have multiple authorizations/certifications, we won't know, because these databases don't "talk" to each other. Without knowing your record number in each database, we don’t have any other way to verify that we are allotting the credits to the correct file. The six databases are:
- Employee Certified (ex: EC1234. Employees do not need to report CE)
- Social Service Authorized (ex: SA1234)
- Social Service Certified (ex: SC1234)
- Medical Authorized (ex: MA1234)
- Medical Certified (ex: MC1234)
- Translator Certified (ex: TC1234)
A certified/authorized interpreter is a person who has passed the required DSHS interpreter examination, or has passed the interpreter examination offered by the Washington State Office of the Administrator for the Courts or the Federal Courts, AND has completed the DSHS required orientation and professional ethics training.
You should inform Language Testing and Certification of any changes via USPS mail or email. For a name change request, a court document (photo copy) such as a marriage or divorce certificate should be attached to your request. Please include your current mailing address and phone numbers.
The solicitation document and subsequent amendments contain all of the information and directions necessary to participate in the procurement process. Be sure to read the entire document. It is important to follow all of the directions and meet all deadlines.
Contact staff at the local office that authorized the service in question. The local office controls what is authorized and can make needed corrections.
The Interim Fingerprint Check Notification is a preliminary notification in the Fingerprint-based background check process. The Interim Fingerprint Check Notification is provided once a Washington State Name and Date of Birth Check is completed prior to the applicant being fingerprinted. Based on the Interim Fingerprint Check Notification results, take the appropriate action. If the Applicant/Employee is NOT disqualified and you wish to complete the fingerprint-based check, the applicant MUST schedule the fingerprinting appointment as soon as possible after receiving the Interim Fingerprint Check Notification. The Interim is NOT the final Fingerprint Result Notification.
A certified translator is a person who has passed the required DSHS written translation examination, or has passed the American Translators Association written translation examination, AND has completed the DSHS required orientation and professional ethics training.
You may send your request to us in writing or via e-mail with the following information: your full name, last four of your social security number, language, current mailing address and phone number. Please indicate certificate (medical, social service, or translator) or authorization (medical, social) type.
The schedule for each procurement is located in the solicitation document. DSHS reserves the right to revise the schedule and will post notice of any such changes on WEBS and on the DSHS web site by issuing an amendment.
- Payees who are authorized for SSPS invoiced services, and
- Payees whose invoice is dated within the last six months (see date in upper right hand corner of invoice)
Submit your SSPS invoice for payment or inquire about a submitted invoice
The Invoice Express toll free number is 1-888-461-8855, and is printed at the top of every SSPS invoice.
An operator is available during normal business hours if the caller has problems, however SSPS staff cannot submit your invoice information for you.
Features:
- Callers may choose either English or Spanish voice prompts.
- Callers may choose to complete an entire invoice, or to complete selected pages of their invoice.
- Callers may choose to check on the status of an invoice.
- Callers may use the toll free line any time of day or night.
Helpful Information about Invoice Express
View the Invoice Express Brochure (DSHS 22-369 PDF)
Yes, same day appointments are possibly available. Your personal information must be sent to IDEMIA (formerly MorphoTrust) for validation before you can schedule an appointment. The applicant information is sent to IDEMIA after the entity selects proceed to fingerprints in the Background Check System (BCS). Applicant information takes about 20 minutes to upload on IDEMIA's scheduling website / call center after the proceed to fingerprint selection.
For DSHS bilingual staff, please call 360-664-6038 to schedule your test. You should learn more about what kind of tests are available, what kind of questions are in the test, and other test-related information before you register for a test. Detailed test-related information and registration policies are included in the Examination Manual. Once you know what tests you need to register for, please follow the steps in the how to schedule a test online. For step-by-step guides, please refer to the following : Written Test Scheduling Guide / Oral Test Scheduling Guide / Translator Test Scheduling Guide.