Standards
Schools
Ed:K-12 (EIPA 4.0+ and written test) or Nat’l
Courts
Nat'l plus state requirements
State Agencies
Nat'l
None Required
Off
Licensure
Yes
Governing Body
Signed Language Interpreting Practice Board (SLIPB)
Website(s)
Fee(s)
Provisional licenses renew each year $40 for initial and $25 for renewal, community and educational licenses are every 2 years $65 for initial and $50 for renewal, late fee $20, replacement license $10
Board
The governor shall appoint the members to serve on the board. The board shall consist of seven members, at least two of whom are from each congressional district, as follows: two licensed community interpreters and two licensed educational interpreters, at least one of whom is a deaf or hard-of-hearing person; two deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind persons who are regular consumers of signed language interpreting services; and one person representing the general public who has never been a licensed signed language interpreter and has no financial interest in the profession of signed language interpreting. Members shall serve for staggered terms of three years each. Members shall be paid per diem and mileage.
Qualifications
"All applications for licensure must include: a completed and signed application; applicant name; proof of age indicating applicant is at least eighteen years of age (copy of birth certificate, driverÍs license, state issued identification card, or baptismal certificate); mailing address; business address; phone number; non-refundable application fee as required by the board; photograph: applicants for original licensure shall attach a recent passport size, color photograph, front-view of face. An application for a community signed language interpreter license must also include: a copy of the applicantÍs current RID membership card showing that the applicant holds one or more certifications recognized by RID at the time of application for licensure with the exception of ED: K-12 (educational certificate: K-12).
An application for an educational signed language interpreter license must also include: proof of EIPA rating of 4.0 _ 5.0 and a copy of the applicantÍs current RID membership card showing that the applicant holds the ED: K-12 certified member status by virtue of EIPA rating; or a copy of the applicantÍs current RID membership card showing that the applicant holds one or more certifications currently recognized by RID.
An application for a provisional signed language interpreter license must also include: proof of completion of an interpreter education program or interpreter preparation program at an accredited institution; or proof of employment as a community signed language interpreter or an educational signed language interpreter at the time the act became effective; and a copy of the applicantÍs current RID membership card showing that the applicant is an associate member (for purposes of tracking CEU requirements through the ACET program as outlined in Subsection B of 16.28.2.9 NMAC).
If an applicant submits an incomplete license application they will be requested to submit any missing documentation; failure to do so within six months of receipt of the original application will result in the application file being closed. After the file has been closed, the applicant will be required to submit a new application and application fee to apply again."
An application for an educational signed language interpreter license must also include: proof of EIPA rating of 4.0 _ 5.0 and a copy of the applicantÍs current RID membership card showing that the applicant holds the ED: K-12 certified member status by virtue of EIPA rating; or a copy of the applicantÍs current RID membership card showing that the applicant holds one or more certifications currently recognized by RID.
An application for a provisional signed language interpreter license must also include: proof of completion of an interpreter education program or interpreter preparation program at an accredited institution; or proof of employment as a community signed language interpreter or an educational signed language interpreter at the time the act became effective; and a copy of the applicantÍs current RID membership card showing that the applicant is an associate member (for purposes of tracking CEU requirements through the ACET program as outlined in Subsection B of 16.28.2.9 NMAC).
If an applicant submits an incomplete license application they will be requested to submit any missing documentation; failure to do so within six months of receipt of the original application will result in the application file being closed. After the file has been closed, the applicant will be required to submit a new application and application fee to apply again."
CEUs
Provisional Licenses: Two CEUs (20 hours) of continuing education annually documented on the applicantÍs associate continuing education tracking (ACET) transcript from RID. Provisional licensees who are within their first year may provide certificates of completion to the board office if the approved CEUs are not on ACET transcripts. Community or educational signed language interpreter license shall submit a copy of the applicantÍs current RID membership card documenting compliance with the requirements of the certification maintenance program (CMP) which requires eight RID-approved continuing education units (CEUs) (80 contact hours) per four-year CMP cycle. Should RID change its number of CEUs required an interpreter must comply with the new requirement in order to maintain licensure in New Mexico.
Special Provisions
The Signed Language Interpreting Practices Act does not apply to: A. nonresident interpreters working in New Mexico less than thirty calendar days per year; B. interpreting in religious or spiritual settings; C. interpreting in informal settings for friends, families or guests; D. interpreting in emergency situations where the deaf, hard-of-hearing or deaf-blind person or that person's legal representative decides that the delay necessary to obtain a licensed interpreter is likely to cause injury or loss to the consumer; E. the activities or services of a supervised interpreter intern or student in training who is enrolled in an interpreter education program, interpreter preparation program, or a program of study in signed language interpreting at an accredited institution of higher learning approved by the board; or F. multilingual interpreting in order to accommodate the personal choice of the consumer.