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Court interpreter written exam in Arizona
When the English Written Examination runs, what it covers, and how to prepare for it.
At a glance
| Exam | English Written Examination |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Arizona Court Interpreter Credentialing Program (ACICP), Administrative Office of the Courts |
| Format | 135 multiple-choice questions, 2 h 15 min. The NCSC Consortium written exam used by most states. |
| Pass mark | 80% |
| When | Scheduled through the ACICP; check the exam information page for the current calendar. |
| If you don't pass | See the ACICP exam information page for the waiting period after a failed attempt. |
| Interpreter Bench preset | General (NCSC Consortium) |
Steps to certification in Arizona
- Register with the ACICP and pass the written exam (80%).
- Pass the oral exam. Your tier depends on the score on each component: Tier 2 at 60–69%, Tier 3 at 70–79%, Tier 4 at 80% or higher.
- Complete the remaining credentialing requirements and appear on the Arizona roster.
What is on the written exam
Arizona uses the written exam developed by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Consortium for Language Access in the Courts. It is in English only, closed book, four options per question, and has three parts:
- General English proficiency (75 questions): sentence completion, synonyms in context, synonyms, antonyms and idioms.
- Court-related terms and usage (50 questions): sentence completion with legal vocabulary, court questions and the sequence of a criminal case.
- Ethics and professional conduct (10 questions): rules of professional conduct and interpreter scenarios.
Interpreter Bench mirrors those sections, question counts and instruction wording, so a timed mock here feels like the real sitting.
How to prepare
Most candidates lose points on the court-terms and idioms sections rather than on general English. Take a full timed mock first to see your readiness score by section, then drill the weak sections with explanations.
Start practicing freeA 69-question sample set, flashcards and a timed mini mock are free. No account needed.