Language Testing and Certification Program

PUBLIC TESTING SCHEDULE

LTC  will open the DECEMBER 2024 test schedule (open only for Social Service Interpreter test and Document Translator) on Thursday,  NOVEMBER 7th at 10:00 am. 

• ​Olympia (OB-2) - Oral: 12/3, 12/6, 12/17, and 12/20; Written: 12/6.

• Sunnyside CSO (Yakima County) – Oral: 12/11, 12/12 and 12/18; Written: 12/11.

LTC opened the NOVEMBER 2024 test schedule (open only for Social Service Interpreter test and Document Translator) on Monday,  OCTOBER 7th at 10:00 am. 

• ​Olympia (OB-2) - Oral: 11/5, 11/8, 11/19, and 11/22; Written: 11/8.

• Sunnyside CSO (Yakima County) – Oral: 11/6, 11/7 and 11/20; Written 11/6.

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CHANGES IN CREDENTIAL RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS

There are important changes in the Ethics credit completion requirement.  Please go to the Credential Renewal Requirements page of this website to review the changes.

​CHANGES IN MEDICAL INTERPRETER TESTING: 

There are important changes to medical interpreter testing. To increase our certification capacity, DSHS LTC has expanded test options for medical interpreter candidates.  

Starting January 1, 2023, all medical interpreter candidates who wish to pursue a DSHS medical interpreter credential and medical interpreters with expired credentials need to test with one of the third-party testing entities. (Please visit the Test Information page for detailed information on third-party medical interpreter testing.)

There are no changes to the Social Service interpreter tests and Document Translator tests (open to all candidates).

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LANGUAGE ACCESS WORK GROUP 

Following a mandatory review of the draft report by the Washington State Office of Financial Management, DSHS submitted the final report to the Legislature on 1/19/2024. The report presents the valuable insights and feedback that each work group participant contributed during the time allotted by the bill.

Click the link to view the report: Final Report | DSHS (wa.gov)

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OTHER NOTICES:  

All test candidates must create a profile in the LTC Gateway tracking system before they schedule a test with LTC or apply for a DSHS credential with a third-party test score: 

• Access LTC Gateway
  
  • LTC Gateway User Manual - Standard Version (Updated 9-15-2021)
  • LTC Gateway User Manual - Accessible Version (Users with screen readers) (Updated 9-15-2021)

• Prior to scheduling a test, please read the Test Information and Test Registration Information pages. 
• All DSHS credentials expire after 4 years unless the renewal requirements are met. If your credential has expired, you must re-test (WAC 388-03-160).
• RCW 74.04.025 limits testing of languages for which fill rates in the prior year are 90% or higher. There are no testing limitations due to fill rates at this time.
• DSHS Employees please contact LTC to schedule a test. 

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1) Olympia testing location (OB-2) - Starting April 3, 2023, public visitors will be able to enter the DSHS LTC Olympia testing site, OB-2 building, via the 1st floor north and south glass doors during business hours. For LTC test candidates, please refer to notices posted on the entrance glass doors for more information.

2) Starting December 2023, Yakima testing has a new location. Please check the Test Locations page of this site for details.

* Social Service Interpreter tests and Document Translator tests are open to all candidates.

To register for a test, please use the Schedule a Test option in your Gateway account. 

* All candidates can take one oral and one written test per month per person. 

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Questions? Email dshsct@dshs.wa.gov.