National interpreter certification
RID/NIC Certification Guide
Understanding national interpreter certification: how the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and its testing arm CASLI work together, the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) pathway, the CASLI exams, how certification is maintained, and how legacy credentials fit in.
Compiled from official RID (rid.org) and CASLI (casli.org) pages, the RID Certification Maintenance Program, and current exam-fee schedules, with links back to those sources throughout.
Why this guide exists
National interpreter certification is split across two organizations and has changed substantially since 2016, when RID moved all exam development and delivery to CASLI. The old exam names most people know (the NIC Knowledge Exam, the NIC Interview and Performance Exam) have been retired and replaced. This guide explains the current system in one place, in plain language, and links back to the official source for each fact so you can confirm it directly.
Who this guide is for
Quick facts
- Two organizations. RID credentials interpreters and sets eligibility; CASLI develops and administers the exams. They are not the same body.
- Two active certifications. NIC for hearing interpreters and CDI for Deaf interpreters. RID offers no other new certifications today.
- One exam family. Both start with the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam, then a CASLI Generalist Performance Exam (NIC or CDI version).
- A degree is required. A bachelor's degree (any major) or an approved Alternative Pathway is needed before the performance exam.
- Maintenance. 8.0 CEUs over a four-year cycle, plus current RID membership and adherence to the Code of Professional Conduct.
- National reach. RID certification is recognized nationwide, although states, employers, or specific settings may impose additional certification, licensure, or qualification requirements.
Based on official RID and CASLI guidance. Last reviewed July 2026. Verify fees and requirements with RID/CASLI before relying on them.
How to use this guide
If you are new to national certification, read RID vs CASLI first, then the certifications and exams. If you already know the system and just need the process, jump to The exams and Fees. Already certified? Go to Maintaining certification. Verifying someone else's credential? See Recognition and verification. Use the menu above to move between sections at any time.
Which path applies to you
Find the situation that matches yours, then follow the link. No prior knowledge is assumed.
Hearing interpreter seeking national certification
The NIC is your credential. It runs through the CASLI Generalist Knowledge and Performance exams.
See the NIC pathwayDeaf or hard-of-hearing interpreter
The CDI is the national credential for Deaf interpreters. It uses the same exams plus an audiogram requirement.
CDI detailsNot sure if you qualify to test
The knowledge exam has almost no barrier; the performance exam requires a degree or Alternative Pathway.
Check eligibilityAlready certified
You maintain certification through CEUs, RID membership, and the Code of Professional Conduct.
Maintenance rulesYou hold an older credential
CI, CT, CSC, NIC Master, SC:L and others are no longer tested but many are still recognized.
Legacy statusVerifying an interpreter's credential
Use RID's public search, and know how national certification relates to state rules.
Verify a credentialWorking in Texas specifically?
This guide covers the national RID system. For Texas's state certification (BEI), how the two compare, and which credential a Texas setting requires, see the Complete Texas BEI Certification Guide.
RID and CASLI: two organizations, two jobs
The single most common point of confusion in national certification is the split between RID and CASLI. They are separate entities with separate roles, and you will deal with both at different points in the process.
| Question | RID | CASLI |
|---|---|---|
| What is it | Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the national membership and credentialing body. | Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation, an LLC RID created to run testing. |
| Its role | Sets eligibility, awards and maintains certification, runs the CEU program and ethics system. | Develops, delivers, and scores the knowledge and performance exams. Nothing else. |
| Does it certify you | Yes. The credential is an RID credential. | No. It only tests. Credentialing stays with RID. |
| You contact it for | Membership, degree/transcript verification, CEUs, your certificate, complaints. | Registering for and scheduling exams, exam results, test-site questions. |
Source: RID "Available Certifications"; CASLI "More About RID Certification." CASLI was established by RID on June 23, 2016.
The rule to remember
CASLI tests. RID certifies. Eligibility, degree requirements, your credential, and maintenance are all handled by RID, even though the exams themselves live at CASLI. Candidates move between both accounts during the process.
Did you know?
RID is the only organization that offers a national-level ASL-English interpreter certification. State systems such as Texas's BEI are separate and are not administered by RID or CASLI.
The two current certifications
RID currently offers exactly two certifications to new candidates. Both are generalist credentials, meaning they cover a broad range of interpreting assignments rather than a single specialty.
National Interpreter Certification
For hearing interpreters who demonstrate general interpreting knowledge, ethical decision-making, and interpreting skill across a broad range of assignments. Available since 2005.
Certified Deaf Interpreter
For Deaf or hard-of-hearing interpreters with native or near-native ASL fluency and skill in gesture, depiction, and other visual strategies. Available since 1998.
Both credentials run on the same CASLI exam family. The differences are in who takes them and in the version of the performance exam: the CDI adds an audiogram requirement and uses the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam for Deaf interpreters, while the NIC uses the version for hearing interpreters. There is no separate transliteration certificate today; the old CI, CT, and CI/CT credentials were retired years ago. RID previously offered numerous specialty and level-based certifications, but new candidates now enter through only the NIC or CDI pathway (see Legacy certifications).
Specialty certification is not currently offered
RID's legal (SC:L), oral transliteration (OTC), and K-12 educational (Ed:K-12) certificates have been under moratorium since 2016 and are not available to new applicants. A legal-certification revival is in progress. See Legacy and moratorium certifications.
Eligibility
Requirements are staged. There is almost no barrier to sitting the knowledge exam, but the performance exam has a firm education requirement that stops many candidates who skip planning for it.
| To do this... | You need... |
|---|---|
| Take the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam | Be at least 18, with an RID ID number and a CASLI account. No degree or prior training is required to sit it. |
| Take the Generalist Performance Exam (NIC or CDI) | Pass the knowledge exam, then submit proof of a bachelor's degree (any major) or an approved Alternative Pathway plan to RID. |
| Test for the CDI specifically | All of the above, plus an audiogram showing a hearing loss of 65 dB or more in one or both ears, submitted to CASLI. |
Source: RID "Available Certifications"; CASLI "For NIC Candidates" and payment/eligibility pages.
Official requirement: the bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree in any field, or an approved 2012 Alternative Pathway to Eligibility, must be recorded in your RID/CASLI account before you test for the performance exam. For the CDI, the bachelor's requirement has been in effect since May 17, 2021 (it was previously an associate degree).
No bachelor's? The Alternative Pathway exists
RID's Alternative Pathway Program lets candidates without a bachelor's degree qualify through a documented combination of education and experience. Submit and get it approved before you reach the performance-exam stage.
Non-U.S. degrees
A degree earned outside the United States must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency by a NACES-member credential evaluation service before RID will accept it. Degrees from U.S. territories are exempt.
The CASLI exams and the NIC pathway
Certification is a two-exam sequence with a degree check in between. The same structure applies to both the NIC and the CDI.
Generalist Knowledge Exam
Two scored portions: Fundamentals of Interpreting and the Ethics/Cultural Responsiveness Case Studies.
Meet the education requirement
Record a bachelor's degree or approved Alternative Pathway with RID.
Generalist Performance Exam
The NIC or CDI performance exam, delivered and recorded on video at a test site.
Step 1: the Generalist Knowledge Exam (CGKE)
The knowledge exam has two portions, scored separately:
- Fundamentals of Interpreting — 120 multiple-choice questions. Sixty are presented in written English and sixty in ASL, with answer choices in the same language as the question. You cannot pick a preferred language, so you must comprehend both.
- Ethical Decision-Making and Cultural Responsiveness Case Studies — eight case studies presented in ASL, where you select the best option or options from choices in written English.
You must pass the Fundamentals portion before you are eligible for the performance exam. If you pass Fundamentals but not Case Studies, you may take Case Studies together with the performance exam. The knowledge exam is delivered at Meazure Learning (formerly Scantron) test sites, and results are typically returned within about ten business days.
Step 2: the education check
Between the two exams you must record a bachelor's degree or an approved Alternative Pathway with RID (see Eligibility). This is an RID step, not a CASLI step, and transcripts go to RID's certification department.
Step 3: the Generalist Performance Exam
The performance exam is a video-based assessment scored by trained raters. It is scheduled directly with a Local Test Administrator (LTA) site after you purchase the exam and receive a token. Performance results are generally issued within 90 days, though the NIC version has run on an extended timeline during its post-launch scoring period.
Official rule: the five-year testing window
You must pass all required exams within five years of your first passing result. If the window closes before you finish, you start the process over. Check your testing cycle in your CASLI account so it does not expire unnoticed.
Common mistake: using retired exam names
The NIC Knowledge Exam and the NIC Interview and Performance Exam no longer exist. The current path is the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam and the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam. Guides, rosters, or advice built around the old names describe a process that has been replaced.
Retakes
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Fail one knowledge portion | Retake only the portion you failed, eligible three months after the exam date. |
| Fail both knowledge portions | Retake both, eligible three months after the exam date. |
| Fail the performance exam | Reapply and retest within your five-year window; confirm current retake timing with CASLI. |
| Exam not taken in time | A purchased exam must be taken within one year of purchase, or before your cycle expires, whichever comes first. |
Source: CASLI "For NIC Candidates"; CASLI payment and testing-cycle pages.
Verify: performance-exam retake interval
Knowledge-exam retake timing (three months) is published. The exact performance-exam retake interval and any current beta-period result delays should be confirmed with CASLI before you rely on a date: testing@casli.org.
Exam fees
CASLI charges per exam, with a lower rate for RID members. Fees below reflect the rate structure in effect since January 1, 2023. There are also separate RID membership dues (see Maintaining certification).
| Exam | NIC (hearing) | CDI (Deaf) |
|---|---|---|
| Generalist Knowledge Exam (both portions) | $450 regular / $350 member | $280 regular / $225 member |
| Generalist Performance Exam | $500 regular / $450 member | $395 regular / $310 member |
| Single portion / gap test (taken alone) | $175 | $140 |
Source: CASLI "Payment Information," rate structure effective Jan. 1, 2023. RID member rates require active membership at the time of purchase.
Consider joining RID before purchasing exams
The member discount only applies if you are already a paying RID member when you register for the exam. If membership makes sense for you, activate it first, since purchasing at the regular rate and joining afterward forfeits the discount on that exam.
Common mistake: letting a purchased exam lapse
A purchased exam must be taken within one year, and payment is by credit card or organizational token only. Missing the window, or a no-show, can forfeit the fee entirely.
Re-verify fees before relying on them
These amounts are from CASLI's published schedule and can change. Confirm the current rate for your membership status on the CASLI payment page before quoting or budgeting, and re-check annually.
Maintaining certification (the CMP)
RID's Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) keeps a credential active. Certification does not lapse on the exam; it lapses when the cycle's CEU, membership, and conduct requirements are not met.
The cycle
- Four-year cycle. It starts on the date your results letter is sent and ends December 31 of the fourth year.
- 8.0 total CEUs. At least 6.0 must be Professional Studies (PS); up to 2.0 may be General Studies (GS).
- 1.0 PPO CEU. For cycles beginning on or after January 1, 2019, 1.0 of the 6.0 PS CEUs must address Power, Privilege, and Oppression. PPO is a sub-category of PS, not an addition to the total.
Also required
- Current RID membership. Pay annual Certified Member dues; membership runs July 1 to June 30. There is no extra charge for holding more than one certification.
- Follow the Code of Professional Conduct. The NAD-RID CPC governs professional conduct, enforced through RID's Ethical Practices System.
Legacy specialist add-ons
Interpreters who still hold SC:L must earn 2.0 of their 6.0 PS CEUs in legal-interpreting topics; SC:PA holders must earn 2.0 in performing-arts topics, within the same 8.0-CEU cycle.
Watch out: the extension cuts into your next cycle
A one-time, one-year cycle extension may be available if you file the request form by the deadline; a late request carries a $100 fee. The extension does not push back the next cycle's end date, so completing CEUs early protects the following cycle.
Common mistake: assuming a lapse is easy to undo
Any certified member who does not meet CMP requirements by the end of the cycle ceases to be certified. Inactive or Retired status can freeze a cycle for life events or retirement (up to eight years), but they must be requested while you are in good standing.
Grounds for revocation
Beyond missed CEUs, RID may revoke certification for divulging exam content, testing for someone else, cheating, CPC violations, misusing a credential, or certain criminal offenses involving fraud or violence.
Sources: RID Certification Maintenance Program (CMP) page; RID PPO CEUs page; RID "Available Certifications" (newly certified cycle dates).
Legacy and moratorium certifications
RID has issued many credentials over the decades. Most are no longer tested, but their recognition status varies, and that status matters when reading a resume or a roster.
| Status | Credentials | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Previously offered, still recognized | NIC Advanced, NIC Master; CI, CT, CI/CT; CSC, MCSC, RSC; IC, TC, SC:PA; the older oral certificates; CLIP-R. | No longer tested. Holders keep them and must still meet CMP requirements to stay active. |
| Under moratorium | SC:L (legal), OTC (oral transliteration), Ed:K-12 (educational). | Recognized but not awarded to new applicants since January 1, 2016. |
| Retired, no longer recognized | CDI-P (provisional), CLIP, Provisional SC:L. | RID no longer supports these as validation of ability. |
| NAD certifications | NAD III, NAD IV, NAD V. | Developed by NAD, recognized by RID since 2003 for those who registered with RID in time; holders must comply with CMP. |
Source: RID "Available Certifications," certification archives. NIC with levels was offered 2005–2011; CI/CT 1988–2008; CSC/RSC 1972–1988.
Did you know? The legal-certification revival
RID's legal certificate (SC:L) has been under moratorium since 2016, so no new legal certificates are being issued. RID and CASLI have restarted the work needed to rebuild it, including a job-task analysis, but there is no new SC:L pathway available today.
Ed:K-12 and the EIPA
RID's Ed:K-12 certificate is under moratorium, but the underlying EIPA assessment is still available through Boys Town. Many school settings reference EIPA scores directly; check the specific state or district rule.
National recognition and verifying a credential
RID national certification is recognized nationwide, but how it interacts with state law and how you confirm it are worth understanding before you hire or rely on an interpreter.
What national recognition means
- Recognition, with conditions. RID national certification is recognized nationwide, although individual states, employers, or settings may impose additional certification, licensure, or qualification requirements. Recognition is not the same as automatic authorization for every setting.
- State overlays. Some states add their own licensure or registration rules that may reference RID, a state credential such as Texas's BEI, or EIPA scores. National certification does not always remove a state requirement. RID publishes a state-by-state regulations summary.
- Video work. Video relay and video remote interpreting providers commonly require national certification; confirm the provider's own standard.
How to verify an interpreter
- Search RID directly. Use RID's public "Search for an Interpreter" tool to confirm name, credential, and standing.
- Request formal verification. For an assignment or employment record, use RID's certification verification form; digital badges are available through Credly.
- Match the credential to the setting. A generalist NIC or CDI is broad, but legal, medical, and educational settings may have their own state or institutional requirements on top of national certification.
- Watch the wording. "RID member" is not "RID certified," and a retired or lapsed credential is not current. If in doubt, verify standing directly with RID.
Comparing RID with Texas's BEI
Many interpreters hold both a national RID credential and a state BEI credential. A full side-by-side comparison lives in the Complete Texas BEI Certification Guide and the dedicated BEI vs RID guide, rather than being repeated here.
Verify: state-specific requirements
State licensure and setting rules change and vary widely. Confirm the current rule for your state and setting against RID's state-by-state regulations page and the relevant state agency before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Grouped by topic. Most answers link to the detailed section above.
RID and CASLI
- Difference between the two organizations: see RID vs CASLI.
- Which one certifies you (RID) and which one tests you (CASLI): see RID vs CASLI.
- CASLI was established by RID in 2016 to run exam development and delivery.
Certifications
- The two current credentials, NIC and CDI: see Certifications.
- No separate transliteration certificate today; CI/CT were retired: see Legacy.
- Specialty certificates (legal, oral, K-12) are under moratorium: see Legacy.
Eligibility and the degree requirement
- Almost no barrier to the knowledge exam; degree needed before the performance exam: see Eligibility.
- Bachelor's in any major, or approved Alternative Pathway: see Eligibility.
- CDI audiogram requirement (65 dB+): see Eligibility.
- Non-U.S. degrees need NACES evaluation: see Eligibility.
The exams
- Two-portion knowledge exam (Fundamentals + Case Studies): see The exams.
- Video-based performance exam scored by raters: see The exams.
- Five-year testing window from first pass: see The exams.
- Old NIC exam names are retired: see The exams.
- Retake timing: see retake table.
Fees
Maintaining certification
Legacy credentials
Recognition and verification
- National portability and state overlays: see Recognition.
- How to verify a credential through RID: see Recognition.
- How RID compares with Texas BEI: see the BEI guide.
Official resources
Primary sources for readers who want to confirm details or go deeper.
About this guide
This guide is maintained by 3 Bridges Sign Language Services and is reviewed periodically against official RID and CASLI resources. It is an educational reference and does not replace the official certifying-body guidance. If official guidance changes, or you discover an error, please let us know so this guide can be updated.
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