Interpreter certification · Comparison guide
BEI vs. RID Certification Guide
Compare Texas BEI certification and national RID certification side by side: recognition, portability, testing, renewal, and career considerations, with no recommendation of one over the other.
Compiled from Texas Health and Human Services, the Texas Administrative Code, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), and the Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI), with links back to those sources throughout.
Why this guide exists
Texas interpreters, and the people who hire them, routinely run into two certification systems and no plain-language explanation of how they fit together. BEI is a state system; RID is a national one; CASLI is the body that now runs RID's exams. This guide sets the three side by side, explains where each credential is recognized and how portable it is, and gives a neutral framework for matching a pathway to a goal. It does not repeat the eligibility, fee, and renewal detail that lives in the Complete Texas BEI Certification Guide, nor the exam-prep methods in the BEI Study Guide; it links to them instead.
Who this guide is for
Quick facts
- BEI is a state credential. Built by Texas and administered by Texas HHS; also licensed to Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
- RID is a national credential. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf sets eligibility and awards certification recognized across the U.S.
- CASLI runs RID's exams. The Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation, an RID subsidiary, develops and administers the tests; RID still owns the credential.
- Different reach. The national credential (NIC) is portable across states and often preferred for video relay work; BEI testing is used by separate state programs in Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
- Both are held by many. Holding BEI and RID together is common in Texas, and each has its own renewal system.
- This guide is neutral. Neither system is "better." The right one depends on where and how you plan to work.
RID/CASLI exam details current as of the CASLI Exam System (2025–2026); BEI details from the BEI Manual and 26 TAC Ch. 360. Last reviewed August 2026.
How to use this guide
New to the topic? Read What is BEI?, What is RID?, and What is CASLI? in order, then the comparison table. Deciding between them? Go straight to Portability, Employment, and the decision guide. Verifying or hiring an interpreter? The Employment and Texas sections are the fastest route. Use the menu above to jump at any point.
What is BEI?
BEI stands for the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters. It is Texas's state certification system for sign language interpreters, administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and governed by 26 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 360. Texas developed the BEI testing system in partnership with the University of Arizona's National Center for Interpretation Testing, Research and Policy. Four other states now license it, so a BEI certificate is a state credential tied to the state that issued it.
In outline, BEI certification means passing a written English exam (the Test of English Proficiency, or TEP) and then a performance test, after which you renew annually and complete continuing education on a five-year cycle. It offers general levels (Basic, Advanced, Master) plus specialty credentials, including a Court certificate and a Trilingual (ASL / English / Spanish) credential that has no national equivalent.
Full BEI detail lives in another guide
Eligibility, the education ladder, fees, exam structure, specialty certificates, and renewal rules are covered in depth in the Complete Texas BEI Certification Guide. This guide summarizes BEI only enough to compare it with RID.
What is RID?
RID is the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, a national professional organization that has certified American Sign Language interpreters for decades. Unlike the Texas system, this national certification is recognized across the United States, and many national video relay service (VRS) and video remote interpreting (VRI) providers require or strongly prefer it.
The current national credentials
- NIC (National Interpreter Certification). The current generalist credential for hearing interpreters. Candidates pass a knowledge exam and a performance exam and must meet RID's education requirement.
- CDI (Certified Deaf Interpreter). The national credential for Deaf interpreters, with its own performance exam and an audiogram requirement.
Education requirement
RID requires a bachelor's degree in any field, or an approved Alternative Pathway to Eligibility, before a candidate can complete certification. This is a national requirement and differs from the Texas education ladder that governs BEI.
Legacy and legal certificates
RID has issued many certificates over the years that are no longer tested but remain valid for their holders, including CSC, CI and CT, RSC, MCSC, and the earlier NIC Advanced and NIC Master tiers. RID's specialty legal certificate, SC:L, has been closed to new applicants since January 1, 2016; a revival effort is underway (RID approved it in 2024, and CASLI began the supporting job-task analysis in 2025), but no new RID legal certificates are being issued today.
Two systems, two histories
Because RID has evolved through several generations of certificates, a Texas interpreter may legitimately hold an older RID credential, a current NIC, a BEI certificate, or several at once. The comparison and misconceptions sections untangle how these coexist.
What is CASLI, and how does it relate to RID?
CASLI is the Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation, a limited liability company that RID established on June 23, 2016. CASLI develops, maintains, and administers the exams used for RID certification. RID keeps ownership of eligibility rules and of the credential itself; CASLI runs the testing. In practical terms, you certify with RID but you test with CASLI.
The current CASLI exam sequence
Generalist Knowledge Exam
120 multiple-choice questions (60 in written English, 60 in ASL) plus 8 ethical/cultural case studies, scored in two portions.
Meet the education requirement
Submit proof of a bachelor's degree (any major) or an approved Alternative Pathway before the performance exam.
Generalist Performance Exam
Scenario-based interpreting, recorded on the CASLI Exam System. Separate versions for hearing (NIC) and Deaf (CDI) candidates.
Did you know?
The older RID knowledge and performance exams were retired during the transition to CASLI: the NIC and CDI Knowledge exams ended December 31, 2020, and the NIC Interview & Performance exam ended May 18, 2022. Guides written before then may describe a testing process that no longer exists.
Verify: beta status and current exam details
The CASLI Generalist Performance Exam for hearing interpreters was released in 2022 and has been reported in a beta period, which can affect result timelines. Exam content, sequence, and audiogram thresholds are periodically updated by CASLI. Confirm the current process on the CASLI website before relying on specifics.
BEI and RID compared
The two systems answer different questions. The state credential demonstrates certification under the Texas BEI system (also used by four other state programs, each with its own certification and licensing rules); the national credential asks whether you hold a nationally recognized qualification. The table sets the main features next to each other.
How the two systems are structured
At a glance, the state pathway and the national pathway branch differently from the top down.
State pathway
The issuing state administers BEI through Texas HHS and awards general levels (Basic, Advanced, Master) plus specialty certificates such as Court and Trilingual.
National pathway
RID owns the credential and is recognized across the United States, its subsidiary CASLI develops and delivers the tests, and the national credentials are NIC for hearing interpreters and CDI for Deaf interpreters.
| Feature | BEI | RID (exams by CASLI) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | State certification | National certification |
| Administered by | Texas HHS (built in Texas) | RID sets eligibility; CASLI runs the exams |
| Where recognized | Issued through separate programs in TX, IL, MI, MO, and WI; interstate recognition and licensure vary | Nationally; commonly required or strongly preferred by many VRS and VRI providers |
| Current generalist credential | Basic, Advanced, Master | NIC |
| Deaf interpreter credential | Intermediary (III / V) | CDI |
| Written / knowledge exam | TEP: 80 questions, 75 min, pass 55 | CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam: 120 questions (English + ASL) + 8 case studies |
| Performance exam | Three modes, scored by rater teams | CASLI Generalist Performance Exam (separate hearing and Deaf versions) |
| Education requirement | Texas ladder: 30 hrs up to associate / 60 hrs (see Certification Guide) | Bachelor's degree (any major) or Alternative Pathway |
| Trilingual option | Yes (ASL / English / Spanish), unique | No |
| Court / legal today | Court (CIC) actively offered | SC:L closed to new applicants since 2016 (revival in progress) |
| Maintenance | Annual renewal + 100 CE hours over 5 years | Annual RID member dues + 8.0 CEUs (80 hours) over a 4-year CMP cycle |
| Best matched to | Texas work, Texas courts, trilingual work, and credentials earned through a specific state's BEI program | National portability, relocation, VRS/VRI |
| Holding both | Common in Texas; dual holders get reduced BEI CEU mixes | Adds national portability on top of state recognition |
Sources: BEI Manual and 26 TAC Ch. 360 (BEI); RID Available Certifications and CASLI exam pages (RID/CASLI); RID Certification Maintenance Program. Exam and fee specifics belong to the owning bodies; verify current details before relying on them.
The exams are not interchangeable
Passing one system's written exam does not exempt you from the other's. A candidate pursuing both certifies through each system on its own terms.
Recognition and portability
Portability is the practical heart of the BEI-versus-RID question. It comes down to where a credential travels and what happens when you cross a state line.
Where it travels
Five separate state programs use BEI testing: Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin. A BEI certificate belongs to its issuing state, and each state sets its own rules. Moving between BEI states usually means conversion, registration, or added licensure rather than automatic transfer.
Where it travels
Recognized across the United States, and required or strongly preferred by many national video relay and video remote providers. It moves with you when you relocate, though individual states may still impose their own licensure or registration on top of national certification.
State licensure can apply on top of either credential
Several states license or register interpreters independently of national certification. RID's national recognition does not automatically satisfy a state's licensure law, and a BEI certificate is issued by one state, carrying no automatic standing in another. Always check the destination state's own requirements before you assume a credential transfers.
If you expect to move
Interpreters who anticipate relocating outside the five BEI state programs often value national portability, because another state may require additional certification, registration, testing, or licensure. Those who plan to build a career within Texas may find a state credential fully sufficient. Neither choice is inherently better; it depends on your geography.
The five BEI states and how to approach a move between them are covered in the next section. Texas rules for recognizing an out-of-state BEI certificate are detailed in the Complete Texas BEI Certification Guide.
Which states offer or accept BEI certification?
BEI testing is currently administered through state programs in Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Each of those states runs its own certification or licensing program using the BEI assessment system, so a BEI certificate issued by one state does not automatically transfer to another.
It also helps to separate what "accepts BEI" can mean. A state may administer the BEI exams, issue its own BEI credential, recognize a BEI certificate earned elsewhere toward licensure, or accept it only in certain settings. Those are different things, and a state can do one without doing the others.
The five BEI states
Each link goes to the agency that administers the program in that state.
- Texas: HHS Board for Evaluation of Interpreters
- Illinois: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, BEI
- Michigan: LARA Qualified Interpreter Program
- Missouri: Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Wisconsin: ODHH Board for Evaluation of Interpreters
Certification and licensure are not the same step
Several BEI states separate the credential from permission to work. Illinois certifies interpreters through its Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission and licenses them separately, Michigan's Qualified Interpreter Program processes MI-BEI testing, certification, and renewals, and Wisconsin licenses interpreters through a different department than the one that handles BEI certification. Holding a BEI certificate does not by itself satisfy another state's licensing law.
Interpreters moving between states may need to apply for recognition, conversion, certification, registration, or licensure through the destination state. Requirements, fees, and renewal cycles are set independently by each state and change without notice, so confirm current rules directly with the administering agency before accepting work.
Working outside the five BEI states?
Whether a BEI credential satisfies any requirement elsewhere depends on that state's licensing law, the credential level, and the setting. Check the state's interpreter licensing or Deaf services agency, and RID's state-by-state regulation information, before you rely on it. National certification, covered in Recognition and portability, generally travels more easily.
State program information verified August 2026. This section names the administering agencies and links to them rather than restating fees, deadlines, or eligibility rules, which each state updates on its own schedule.
Employment recognition: who accepts what
Which credential opens which door depends on the setting and, often, on the employer's own policy. Three layers stack here: laws set minimum requirements where they apply (such as Texas courts), employers may add qualifications beyond the legal floor, and agencies may set their own contract requirements that differ again. The pattern below is typical for Texas; treat it as a starting point, not a rule for every workplace.
| Setting | What is typically accepted |
|---|---|
| Texas courts | Legal requirement. BEI Court (CIC) or a legacy RID SC:L legal certificate. State law governs; see Texas considerations. |
| Texas K–12 schools | Rule sets the minimum. State rule (19 TAC) recognizes RID or BEI certification, or EIPA 4.0+ with RID certified-membership eligibility; individual districts may require more. |
| Medical and community | Mostly employer preference. No single credential is legally mandated in general; either system's general certification is commonly accepted, and hospitals or programs often set their own level expectations. HHS publishes recommended BEI levels by setting. |
| Video relay / video remote (VRS/VRI) | Provider preference. Many national VRS and VRI providers require or strongly prefer RID certification. |
| Agencies and freelance | Contract-driven. Requirements vary by agency; many in Texas accept the state credential, the national credential, or both, and some prefer dual-certified interpreters. |
| Out-of-state work | Depends on the state. National certification travels; other BEI states may require state-specific certification, recognition, registration, or licensure. See Which states offer or accept BEI. |
Sources: 26 TAC Ch. 360 and Texas HHS setting recommendations; 19 TAC school-interpreter rule; RID recognition for VRS/VRI. Employer policies vary and are not set by either certifying body.
"Accepted" is not the same as "required"
Separate the three layers before you rely on any of them: a legal requirement (courts), an employer preference that adds to or exceeds the legal floor, and a common hiring practice that reflects what agencies tend to accept. Only some settings carry a legal mandate; the rest come down to the specific employer or contract. Confirm both the law and the exact policy for your situation.
Which pathway fits your goals?
There is no universally "right" certification. Find the situation closest to yours; each card points to the section with the supporting detail. Many interpreters ultimately pursue both.
Planning to stay in Texas
A BEI credential is recognized statewide and covers Texas courts and schools. RID can still be added for portability.
See portabilityMoving to another BEI state
Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin each run their own program. A certificate from one does not transfer automatically.
See the five statesLikely to move out of state
RID's national recognition travels with you; a BEI certificate is tied to its issuing state. Check the destination state's certification and licensing requirements.
See portabilityAiming for VRS or VRI work
Many national video relay and remote providers require or strongly prefer RID certification.
See employmentWorking in Texas courts
BEI Court (CIC) is the currently obtainable route; legacy RID SC:L holders remain qualified.
Texas courtsFluent in Spanish as well
BEI Trilingual (ASL / English / Spanish) has no national equivalent, so it can only come from the state system.
See comparisonA Deaf interpreter deciding
BEI Intermediary (Texas) and RID CDI (national) are separate systems with different reach and requirements.
CDI detailsA neutral way to decide
Start from where you will work, not from which credential sounds more prestigious. Map your likely settings and geography, list the credentials each accepts, and let the overlap point the way. If your plans are broad or uncertain, holding both maximizes flexibility, at the cost of two testing and renewal tracks.
Common misconceptions
A short list of the confusions that come up most often when people compare the two systems.
"RID and CASLI are two different certifications"
They are not competing credentials. RID is the certifying body; CASLI is the RID subsidiary that runs the exams. You earn RID certification by passing CASLI-administered tests.
"One certification covers me everywhere"
BEI is a state credential issued by one state; RID is national but does not automatically satisfy a state's separate licensure law. Neither is a universal pass.
"My BEI certificate works in any BEI state"
Each of the five states issues and maintains its own credential under its own rules. Moving usually means applying through the destination state rather than carrying the certificate over. See Which states offer or accept BEI certification?
"BEI and RID are equivalent, so passing one counts for the other"
They are independent systems. Passing one system's written or performance exam does not exempt you from the other's. This guide does not rank them against each other.
"An RID legal certificate is available if I want the court route"
RID's SC:L has been closed to new applicants since 2016. For a new interpreter seeking Texas court qualification, BEI Court (CIC) is the currently obtainable path; existing SC:L holders remain qualified.
Texas-specific considerations
Because BEI is a Texas system, a few Texas rules shape how the two credentials interact in practice.
Courts
Texas law requires interpreters in court proceedings to hold BEI Court certification or a legacy RID SC:L legal certificate. Because SC:L has been closed to new applicants since 2016, BEI CIC is the route currently open to new interpreters, while existing legacy RID SC:L holders remain qualified. Full court requirements are in the Certification Guide.
Schools
Texas K–12 rules recognize RID or BEI certification, or EIPA 4.0+ with RID certified-membership eligibility, and districts may set stricter policies. This is one setting where either national or state certification is generally accepted.
Recognizing out-of-state credentials
Texas recognizes BEI certificates only from states licensed to use the BEI system, and holders must still meet Texas eligibility rules. National RID certification is recognized in Texas but does not replace BEI where a BEI credential is specifically required, such as by an employer policy that names it.
The rule to remember in Texas
For court work, the legal requirement is specific and state-defined. For most other settings, both BEI and RID certification are commonly accepted, but the employer or agency policy is the final word. Confirm the requirement for your exact setting before you rely on either credential.
Does one certification count toward the other?
In a word, no. The Texas certification and the national certification are independent systems, run by different bodies under different rules. Progress in one does not carry over into the other.
Passing one system's examinations does not satisfy the other's certification requirements. A candidate who passes the BEI written and performance tests has met Texas's requirements, not RID's, and someone who passes the CASLI-administered exams has met the national requirements, not the state's. Each system evaluates candidates on its own instruments and its own eligibility rules.
Holding one credential also does not automatically grant the other. A BEI-certified interpreter is not thereby RID-certified, and a nationally certified interpreter is not thereby BEI-certified. The two credentials can coexist on the same résumé, but each is earned and maintained separately.
Interpreters who want both simply complete each pathway independently, testing, meeting the education requirement, and renewing under each system's own schedule. For what that involves on the Texas side, see the Complete Texas BEI Certification Guide; for the national side, see RID and CASLI.
Frequently asked questions
Comparison questions. For eligibility, fees, and renewal specifics, each answer points to the owning guide.
Is BEI or RID better?
- Neither is universally better. BEI is a state credential; RID is national. The right fit depends on where and how you plan to work. See Which pathway fits?
What is the difference between RID and CASLI?
- RID is the certifying body and owns the credential; CASLI is the RID subsidiary that develops and administers the exams. See What is CASLI?
Can I hold both BEI and RID?
- Yes, and many Texas interpreters do. Each has its own testing and renewal track; dual holders qualify for reduced BEI CEU mixes. See the comparison.
Does passing one exempt me from the other?
- No. The two systems are independent; you certify through each on its own terms. See Common misconceptions.
Which do I need for Texas courts?
- BEI Court (CIC) or a legacy RID SC:L legal certificate. Since SC:L is closed to new applicants, CIC is the currently obtainable route. See Texas considerations.
Which do I need for VRS/VRI work?
- Many national video relay and remote providers require or strongly prefer RID certification. See Employment recognition.
I'm moving out of Texas. Which travels?
- RID is recognized nationally; five states administer BEI-based programs, but each applies its own certification and licensing rules. Check the destination state's own licensure. See Portability.
Which states accept BEI certification?
- BEI testing is administered in Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin, and each state runs its own program, so a certificate does not transfer automatically. See Which states offer or accept BEI certification?
I'm a Deaf interpreter. BEI Intermediary or RID CDI?
- They are separate systems: BEI Intermediary is a Texas credential; CDI is national with its own requirements. The Certification Guide compares Intermediary and CDI in detail.
How do the renewal systems differ?
- BEI: annual renewal plus 100 CE hours over 5 years. RID: annual member dues plus 8.0 CEUs (80 hours) over a 4-year CMP cycle. Exact BEI rules are in the Certification Guide.
What about fees, applications, and eligibility?
- BEI specifics are in the Complete Texas BEI Certification Guide; RID/CASLI specifics are on the RID and CASLI sites, which set current rates and rules.
Official resources
Primary sources for confirming any detail in this guide.
National certifying bodies
About this guide
This guide is maintained by 3 Bridges Sign Language Services and is reviewed periodically against official Texas Health and Human Services, RID, and CASLI resources. The section identifying other states that administer BEI testing links directly to each state's published program information. It is a neutral reference and does not endorse either certification system. If official guidance changes or you find an error, please contact us.
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