Licensed Court Interpreters

Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring they know all information required to become licensed, by ensuring to utilize all resources available to them (i.e., our website, rules, slideshows, any communications submitted to them by staff, etc.).

Important Information regarding Expiration of Applications for Licensure:

• • Rule 9.2(4), regarding initial applications being valid for 1 year has been removed from the JBCC Rules effective 11/17/23.
    • Those whose initial applications expired prior to 11/17/2023 will remain expired and must be resubmitted, along with the application fee, for the applicant continue moving forward with the licensure process.
    • Those whose applications are submitted on or after 11/17/2023 will not expire after 1 year.

To become a Licensed Court Interpreter, you must follow these steps in the order shown below:

1. Complete one of the Commission Approved Orientation courses listed on our website, which prepares you for the written exam, before you can be eligible to take the LCI examination.
   • • You must complete the course before applying for licensure.
     • You must contact the course providers directly for information such as how to register with them, when, where, and how much the course costs. 
     • You must retain a copy of your certificate of completion.
     • The orientation course is valid for 2 years from the completion date. An applicant who does not become licensed during that 2-year period must take the orientation course again.
2. Submit the Application for Licensure and pay the application fee. 
   • You must apply for licensure via our online licensing and certification system.
   • Follow the prompts to create your JBCC profile. 
     • You must use your full legal name (i.e., the name indicated on your government issued identification or driver's license). Preferred names are not permitted.
     • Immediately after creating your profile, you will automatically be taken to the first page of the application for licensure.
     • You must upload a copy of your orientation course completion certification to your application.
     • Please see the Fees section of this page for information on amounts due, acceptable forms of payment, etc. 
       • When paying the application fee, on the Credit Card page of the application, the payment portal vendor requires you to enter the billing address on file with the credit card company of the cardholder.
3. Pass a state and national criminal history background check.
   • You must get fingerprinted using the JBCC service code for the Licensed Court Interpreter's department so that we can obtain your background reports directly from DPS and the FBI.
     • Anything that doesn't have "TX-JBCC Licensed Court Interpreter Program" on it will not be accepted.
     • You will receive the service code form via the automated email confirmation that is sent immediately after submitting your application for certification.
       • You must check your inbox (and spam folder) for this correspondence. 
     • You must upload a copy of your fingerprinting receipt to your online application for licensure after you've completed the fingerprinting process and before registering for the exam. 
4. Pass all parts of a Commission-approved examination.
   • Note: A passing score on the written examination is valid for 2 years. An applicant who does not become licensed during that 2-year period must pass the written examination again.
   • After you have submitted your application for licensure, uploaded your orientation completion certificate, and uploaded your fingerprint receipt, you can register for written the exam by logging into your online profile and clicking Apply for Exam on your profile's menu options.
   • You must pass the written exam prior to registering for the oral exam; therefore, you cannot register for the oral exam until after you've received your official written exam results.
     • The oral exam must be passed in one sitting. 
   • Refer to the Exams page of our website for additional information on exam registration procedures, exam fees, exam dates and deadlines, etc.

Refer to sections 3.0 and 9.0 of the JBCC Rules for more information on licensure and requirements, including timelines for applications, exam scores, and orientation courses.

Fees

All fees are non-refundable. However, if you have a fee dispute you must submit it to courtinterpreters@txcourts.gov for resolution.

Application Fee: $200.00

Acceptable forms of payment:  Credit Card