Rule 505-2-.16 - Educational Interpreter License(1)Background.(a) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA PL 108-446) is the federal law that mandates special education services for qualified individuals with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 04, covers the educational interpreting accommodation. The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), Code 160-4-7-.14, governs the minimum state requirements for Georgia Educational Interpreters. Each local unit of administration (LUA) is responsible for ensuring that all applicable federal and state requirements are met; and(b) All Georgia Educational Interpreters must hold a valid state license issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC).(2)Purpose. The requirements described herein provide the expectations for acquiring and maintaining the Georgia Educational Interpreter License. This license will aid in the identification of the most qualified Educational interpreters, while also enforcing state standards for Educational Interpreters. The Educational Interpreter License assures that individuals functioning as interpreters in schools meet the requirements outlined by the GaPSC. The interpreter participates as a team member in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and should know and understand the IEP goals and objectives. It is the responsibility of the LUA to assure that personnel who provide educational interpreting services, regardless of job title, hold the Educational Interpreter License.(3)Initial Licensure Requirements:(a) The applicant must: 1. Hold a valid certification through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID); or2. Pass the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) at level 3.5 or higher within five (5) years preceding the date of application and hold a bachelor's degree or higher in any field from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution of higher education. (i) If the applicant is applying for licensure with the EIPA and does not meet the degree requirement, the initial five (5)-year license will be issued and the degree requirement must be met for renewal.(4)Non-Renewable Licensure Requirements:(a) If the applicant does not meet (3)(a)1 or (3)(a)2, excluding the degree requirement, a one(1)-year Non-Renewable license in this field may be issued at the request of an employing Georgia LUA for completion of this requirement; and(b) If the applicant does not meet renewal requirements outlined in 8(a), a one (1)-year Non-Renewable license may be requested by the employing Georgia LUA to allow time for completion of renewal requirements.(6)Special Georgia Requirements. The applicant is not required to satisfy any Special Georgia Requirements other than the standards of conduct;(7)Validity.(a) The Educational Interpreter License is valid for five (5) years and determines the subsequent renewal cycle;(b) The validity period for the Non-Renewable license will vary depending on the outstanding conditions required to obtain the renewable license. These requirements will be outlined in correspondence from the GaPSC Certification Division at the time of issuance;(c) The effective date and beginning validity of the license is governed by the date the complete application package is received by the GaPSC Certification Division and requirements are met for issuance of the license; and(d) Should an Educational Interpreter employed by an LUA change employers, it is not necessary to issue a new license until expiration.(8)Renewal.(a) To renew the license, the interpreter must: 1. Satisfy renewal requirements as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.36 RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS; and2. Hold a valid RID Certification or submit official documentation verifying the EIPA assessment has been completed during the validity period established on the license. If the initial license required completion of a bachelor-s degree, all degree requirements must be completed before the applicant may apply for renewal. Renewal requirements must be completed before the applicant may apply for renewal. Renewal requirements for expired licenses must have been completed within the five (5)-year period preceding the date of the application for renewal. (i) If a score of 4.0 or higher is achieved on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA), as documented on an official score report, the interpreter will not be required to pass the assessment for license renewal purposes.(9)In-Field Statement.(a) Educational Interpreter License holders are in-field to facilitate equivalent access for deaf/hard of hearing students in the various communication exchanges that occur in all school related activities. Interpreters ascertain goals of each educational setting and communicate information clearly in the student's language. Equally important, the interpreter communicates the student's language in spoken English for staff and students. Educational interpreters promote the greatest possible level of participation and independence for students in educational settings.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.16
O.C.G.A. § 20-2-200.
Original Rule entitled "Certification By State-Approved Programs" adopted. F. Feb. 20, 2004; eff. Mar. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Educational Interpreter License" adopted. F. Jun. 11, 2014; eff. July 1, 2014, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Oct. 3, 2018; eff. Oct. 15, 2018, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. June 26, 2019; eff. July 1, 2019, as specified by the Agency.