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Test Site Procedures

Currently, RID offers four certification examinations:

• NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Examination
• Oral Transliteration Certificate (OTC) Examination
• Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) Examination
• Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L) Examination

Registering for an exam

• Apply and pay for the exam, submitting any and all necessary documentation fulfilling specific exam requirements. Register online >>
   
• To receive the RID member rate, you MUST already be a member in good standing. Learn more about membership>>

Notification

Depending upon which exam you have applied for, one of the following will occur:

• NIC Knowledge Examination: Candidate will receive an e-mail from CASTLE Worldwide, Inc. with further instructions on how to schedule an exam.
• All Other Examinations: After exam payment has been processed and any eligibility requirements have been verified, the candidate's Authorization to Test (ATT) Letter will be activated and available in their RID account. Once the candidate has access to the ATT letter, he/she may contact the test site of his/her choice to schedule an exam. When you contact the test site, the test administrator will confirm your appointment date and time, and provide you with information on reaching the testing location.

Inclement Weather Conditions

Test sites may be closed or may experience delays during severe weather, natural disasters, or other emergencies. Exam appointments that the test site cancels under such circumstances may be rescheduled at no cost. Contact the test administrator at the test site for rescheduling information. If the test site is open and you do not arrive on time for your appointment, it will be considered a missed appointment and forfeit your exam and all related fees.  You would then be required to register and pay for the exam again in order to sit for it in the future.

Cancellations and Missed Appointments

Candidates who miss their scheduled exam appointment or need to cancel their exam appointment after the deadline due to an excusable emergency situation should notify the test site immediately and then must contact the Certification and Education Department at certification@rid.org or (703) 838-0030 with notification within 3 business days following the documented emergency (or the first available opportunity if the nature of the emergency prevents them from contacting us) to be considered for a cost-free rescheduled exam appointment.

Excusable emergency situations include:

• The death of an immediate family member
• Accident, illness, or hospitalization of self or an immediate family member (verified by a doctor)
• A natural disaster

 
Documentation of the emergency must be submitted by the candidate to the RID Certification and Education Department by postal mail to: RID, Attn: Cert & Ed Dept, 333 Commerce Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. If RID verifies that the emergency qualifies, the candidate may reschedule an exam appointment, cost-free, within one year of the approval.
 
If the candidate cancels the scheduled exam appointment after the deadline or misses the scheduled exam appointment for any reason other than an excusable emergency situation that is approved by RID, it will be considered a missed appointment and forfeit the exam and all related fees.  The candidate would then be required to register and pay for the exam again in order to sit for it in the future.

Refunds

If you have paid for an exam but have not yet scheduled an appointment, and decide you no longer wish to take the exam, you may request a refund for your exam payment, minus the $40 non-refundable application processing fee. Refund requests must be submitted in writing by email to certification@rid.orgor by postal mail to: RID, Attn: Cert & Ed Dept, 333 Commerce Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
 

Late Arrivals

The ability to test candidates arriving late for their scheduled exam appointment will be at the discretion of the Test Administrator with the following guidelines:

Only Person or Last Person Testing

If the candidate is the only person or the last person to be tested that day, it will be at the discretion of the Test Administrator or the availability of the testing facility whether the tester will have his/her regular allotted time for testing.

If the candidate does not show up or contact the test site, the Test Administator is required to remain at the test site until the start time of the scheduled examination. At that time, the Test Administator is free to leave, but must notify the RID Certification and Education Department on the first business day following the scheduled test. The candidate will forfeit all fees in regard to the missed test unless the circumstances are deemed to be an emergency. The candidate must notify Certification and Education Department staff within three business days following the missed examination. Test Administrators will be paid for candidates who fail to show for examinations.

Test Administration

• Candidates should arrive in professional attire, which is appropriately color-contrasted to skin tone.
• Candidates should not wear whites or reds, as these colors cause problems for color video equipment.
• Candidates will be asked to sign forms indicating agreement to maintain confidentiality in regard to testing materials and show a valid photo I.D. This form also allows RID to use the test tape as a rater monitoring device (92.32). 
   

Hand-scoring

Applicants may file a written request for hand-scoring of their test within 30 days of the date-of-notification of results. Written requests must be sent via certified mail to the RID Certification and Education Department. (RID will not be held responsible for letters sent to the national office unless sent via certified mail.)

Requests for hand-scoring must be accompanied by a $15 hand-scoring fee. RID reviews the request for hand-scoring, re-scores the examination and reports findings to the applicant within 30 days of receipt of request.
 
Test Complaints and Concerns (Appeals Process)

Appeals must be sent in writing by certified mail to the RID Certification and Education Department at: RID, Attn: Cert & Ed Dept., 333 Commerce St., Alexandria, VA 22314. 

Appeals must be filed within 90 days from the date of notification of exam results.

If an appeal is upheld, the exam retake must be completed within one year of the date of notification (Motion 94.47). If the exam retake is not completed within the year, the candidate will be responsible for the re-application process and fees.

Exam appeals will not be considered on the basis of rater decision/judgment. (Motion 96.03)

Appeals will be considered on the basis of:

• Misinformation regarding testing arrangements (test taker given wrong location, time, etc.)
• Test Administrator error (misinformation given to test taker, such as telling the test taker that if s/he chooses option A, s/he must choose option A throughout the test; Test Administrator changing site information without informing test taker; unprofessional conduct; failure to follow guidelines in the Test Administrator Manual, etc.)
• Equipment malfunction (equipment failure, inappropriate equipment, etc.)
• Environmental factors (air conditioning breakdown resulting in an excessive temperature in test room, distracting loud noises, power outage, etc.)
• Damaged stimulus materials (lack of complete set of stimulus materials, worn-out tapes, etc.)
• Unavoidable catastrophic events (death of an immediate family member, doctor’s verification of accident, illness or hospitalization, etc.)
• Natural disaster (earthquake, fire, snowstorm, etc.)