TMCEC will no longer be offering 8-hour Court Interpreter programs.  If you are looking for another provider for your continuing education, TDLR maintains a list of approved providers.  It can be accessed through TDLR's website here.

TMCEC will continue to offer a listserv for Licensed Court Interpreters.  If you would like to be added to the listserv, you can contact Hope Lochridge by email.  Please indicate in your message that you would like to be added to the Court Interpreter listserv.

Court interpreters provide an essential connection between foreign language-speakers, and the hearing and language impaired, and their access to the judiciary. As of January 1, 2007, licensed court interpreters in Texas are required to present proof of attendance at eight hours of continuing education in order to maintain licensure through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Two hours must be dedicated to ethics, while the remaining six hours may be taken in one or more of the following topics:

• Laws and rules affecting the practice of a licensed court interpreter;
• Ethics;
• Business practices; and
• Practice topics (etiquitte, vocabulary, technology, grammar, translation, spelling, etc.). 

Licensed court interpreters are regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  Questions about licenses should be addressed to: 

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
P.O. Box 12157
Austin, Texas 78711
800.803.9202
court.interpreters@license.state.tx.us

Looking for a licensed court interpreter?

Click here to search for a licensed court interpreter by city or county. Read Chapter 57 of the Government Code for laws regarding licensed court interpreters. Click here for relevant Code of Criminal Procedure and Government Code sections pertaining to the court's use of a licensed court interpreter. 

Additional resources for Spanish interpreters:

TMCEC has created a Spanish legal glossary for use by municipal courts. It is a combination of the glossary and definitions provided by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for those studying to be licensed court interpreters in Spanish. Some modifications were made to be municipal court specific. Although by no means an exhaustive glossary of all applicable legal terms or the only possible choices for translation, TMCEC hopes this publication will provide a solid base from which our constituents can study, understand basic legal terminology, and improve their communication skills in Spanish. To order this publication, click here.

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The 2009 Edition of the TMCEC Forms Book is now available and contains 61 Spanish-translated forms. Click here to download these forms in Microsoft Word or PDF versions. 

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TMCEC has offered numerous Spanish courses at the Regional Clerks programs, Bailiff/Warrant Officer programs, and in-office clinics. Click here to view course materials from those classes.

For more information about services for those who are deaf and hard of hearing or court interpreter certification, please visit the DHHS website or this list of useful links compiled by TMCEC.