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Court interpreter written exam in California
When the Court Interpreter Written Examination runs, what it covers, and how to prepare for it.
At a glance
| Exam | Court Interpreter Written Examination |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Judicial Council of California, Court Interpreters Program; administered by Prometric |
| Format | 135 multiple-choice questions, 2 h 25 min |
| Pass mark | 80% |
| When | Once a year. Registration opens for the month of September (2026: September 1–30) and testing is in November in San Jose, Anaheim and San Diego. |
| If you don't pass | If you miss the pass mark you wait for the next annual cycle. |
| Interpreter Bench preset | General (NCSC Consortium) |
Steps to certification in California
- Register with Prometric during the September window and sit the written exam in November.
- Pass the Bilingual Interpreting Exam (for the certified languages such as Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese) or the Oral Proficiency Interview (for registered languages).
- Enroll with the Judicial Council as a certified or registered interpreter and complete the ethics course and continuing education.
What is on the written exam
California runs its own exam rather than the NCSC Consortium version, but it tests the same three areas: general English, court terminology and procedure, and ethics. You get ten more minutes than most states.
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.