ALTA Language Services (ALTA) has completed a comprehensive new study for the state of California.

Following a nation-wide competitive bidding process, ALTA was selected to conduct a thorough review of California’s program for certifying and registering court interpreters. A national firm, ALTA has more than 25 years experience in language services, and is an approved testing organization of the U.S. government.

The first major review of its kind since 1994, the study was initiated to ensure that the current court interpreter test reflects recent developments in professional practice. California State law charges the Judicial Council with responsibility for adopting programs and standards to ensure that qualified interpreters are provided in the courts.

In the course of the study, ALTA analyzed the core knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform the work of a court interpreter, in order to develop recommendations about testing instruments that measure the KSAs. ALTA also examined test administration processes and made recommendations pertaining to the overall administration of examinations. In addition, ALTA developed recommendations on the recruitment and training of future test candidates.

The final report of the “Study of California’s Court Interpreter Certification and Registration Testing” appears on the California Courts Web site.