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Court interpreter written exam in Texas
When the Licensed Court Interpreter written exam runs, what it covers, and how to prepare for it.
At a glance
| Exam | Licensed Court Interpreter written exam |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC), Texas Office of Court Administration |
| Format | 135 multiple-choice questions, 2 h 15 min. The NCSC Consortium written exam used by most states. |
| Pass mark | 80% |
| When | About three times a year. The 2026 written exam dates were February 10, June 9 and October 13. Register in advance through the JBCC. |
| If you don't pass | A failed attempt means a six-month wait before you can test again (JBCC Rule 9.3). Fail in October and the next eligible sitting is June. |
| Interpreter Bench preset | Texas (JBCC) |
Steps to certification in Texas
- Apply to the JBCC and register for a written exam date.
- Pass the written exam (135 questions, 2 h 15 min, 80%). Texas gives it on iPads and shows the score right away.
- Pass the oral exam (sight translation, consecutive and simultaneous interpreting).
- Receive the license; renew annually and complete continuing education.
Interpreter Bench has a Texas preset: pick it during setup and Texas-specific questions (court structure, punishment ranges, JBCC rules) are included in your pool.
What is on the written exam
Texas 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.