For NIC Candidates

This is an overview of exam process  and requirements to fulfill for individuals that are pursuing the National Interpreter Certification (NIC).

Generalist Exams

Administered beginning May 2021, is a selected-response exam (meaning the answers can be selected on screen) consisting of 120 multiple choice questions and eight (8) case studies. Both Deaf and hearing candidates can take this exam.

  • Fundamentals on Interpreting Multiple Choice Questions: A total of 120 questions, sixty (60) questions are presented in written English and the answer selections for these questions are also in written English. Sixty (60) questions are presented in ASL and the answer selections for these questions are also presented in ASL. Candidates are expected to be able to comprehend all items in both English and ASL. Candidates will not be able to choose a language of preference for any item or items. These questions will assess a candidate’s knowledge of effective practice within the profession.
  • Ethical Decision Making and Cultural Responsiveness Case Studies: Eight (8) cases will be presented in ASL in narrative structure and the candidate will be instructed to select the best option or options from a list presented in written English. These case studies will assess a candidate’s ethical decision-making abilities and their cultural competencies within the framework of their tasks ASL-English Interpreters.

This exam is for candidates who have taken and passed their NIC-Knowledge exam and will be taking the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: NIC. 

Consists of Ethical Decision Making and Cultural Responsiveness Case Studies exam. These case studies will assess a candidate’s ethical decision-making abilities and their cultural competencies within the framework of their tasks as ASL-English Interpreters.

This “gap test” (which will be administered with the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: NIC) is used as part of the bridge plan to transition from those who have taken and passed the NIC-Knowledge Exam and will be taking the new CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: NIC.

This exam was created by the Center for Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI) and Testing Development Committee with the support & guidance of CASLI contracted psychometrician.  The performance exam for the NIC certification is a constructed response exam that is a “performance” assessment consisting of of six scenarios. Candidates will interpret various community-based interpreting assignments that use generalized vocabulary which includes interpreting from ASL to English and English to ASL. The performance exam is a computer-based exam administered on the CASLI Exam System with videos presented on screen while the candidate is simultaneously recorded. Upon completion of the performance exam, the individual video vignettes are sent a queue to be rated by anonymous raters across the country.  The performance exam results may be expected within 90 days (after beta period has concluded – anticipated March 2024) from the date it was taken.

* Note: This exam replaces the retired NIC Interview & Performance exam.

Eligibility for the CASLI exams:

For more specific policy on eligibility requirements, see this document.

At the time of this writing, there is no eligibility requirement to take the Knowledge exam. Candidates need to have an existing RID ID number AND CASLI account to start the NIC Certification process. When ready to take the exam, candidates can submit Exam Request Form to be added to their CASLI account to purchase the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam.

PASSING RESULTS: If the candidate passes the Fundamental of Interpreting portion of the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam, they must satisfy RID’s educational requirements prior to taking CASLI Generalist Performance Exam: NIC.  When candidates are eligible, they can submit Exam Request Form for the performance exam to be added to their CASLI account to purchase.  *Note: The five (5) years testing cycle timeline starts from when a candidate receive their first PASS result notification and must successfully pass all of the required exams within five years time frame.

FAILING RESULTS: If the candidate fails either portion of the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam (Fundamental of Interpreting and/or Case Studies), they will become eligible to retake the knowledge exam in three (3) months from the date they took the exam. If a candidate passes one portion of the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam and fails the other, they ONLY need to retake the portion they failed.

Meet eligibility requirements for the performance exam. The eligibility requirement to take the performance exam for hearing interpreters is:

  1. Pass the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam (Fundamental of Interpreting and Case Studies)
  2. Submit verification of educational requirement or equivalent to certification@rid.org
  3. Submit Exam Request Form for the performance exam to be added to your CASLI account.
  4. Purchase the exam and then schedule appointment to take the exam within a year time from when exam was purchased.

PASSING RESULTS: If the candidate PASSES the performance exam (and all other required exams), CASLI will notify RID Certification Department for them to award the NIC Certification to the candidate.

FAILING RESULTS: If the candidate fails the performance exam, they will become eligible to retake the performance in six months from the date they took their performance exam AS long the candidates’ current testing cycle has not expired.

* NOTE: The testing cycle timeline starts from the first PASS result notification date  and is good for five (5) years from that notification date.