The Sign Language Interpreters Act was introduced to the House on February 2, 2021, passed by the General Assembly on May 11, 2022, and signed by the Governor on May 16, 2022. The Interpreters Act will go into effect on January 1, 2024 and establish new requirements for interpreters in South Carolina. Below you will find information on how the Interpreters Act will impact you and the requirements that must be met to work as an interpreter in the state.
Sign Language Interpreters Act
Who:
SC RID in partnership with SCAD and other stakeholders.
What:
An Act created to establish minimum requirements for ASL Interpreters in SC. View the ACT.
When:
SC RID & SCAD have been advocating for many years to establish standards for ASL interpreters. These efforts were successful in 2022 and the requirements go into effect in January 2024.
Where:
Community & Post-Secondary-
- Businesses regulated by the Department of Health and Environmental Control under Title 44.
- Determining which entities are regulated by DHEC can seem like a daunting task, but DHEC has a tool to help! Click here to use their "Find a Facility" map where you can filter by location and see any/all entities regulated by DHEC.
- Departments of state government 1-30-10
- Offices of all statewide constitutional officers
- Judicial Department
- Public institutions of higher education
- The Commission on Higher Education
- Police Stations
- County and state detention centers and correctional facilities
- Any other board, commission, or council created by a statute of SC
Excludes: school districts, school boards, charter schools, and special schools
For more detailed information click here.
K-12 Educational Interpreting-
- The Sign Language Interpreters Act DOES NOT detail minimum requirements for K-12 Educational interpreters
- Instead the law states that relevant stakeholders including SC RID, SCAD, & the State Board of Education will develop regulations for the appropriate credentialing of sign language interpreters working in schools and school districts SECTION 59-33-120
- The Act requires that interpreters working in schools and school districts in the state must be required to submit the same background checks as educators
Why:
To require minimum competency requirements for sign language interpreters, exceptions, definitions, and more rigorous standards so that Deaf and hard of hearing individuals in SC have appropriate access.
How:
SC RID & SCAD were tasked with working together to decide which credentials would meet minimum requirements to be able to work in specific settings detailed above. SC RID & SCAD agreed to create a registry to list qualified individuals in SC and verify that their credentials meet the requirements established.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this mean if I'm not certified I can't work?
Nationally certified interpreters will be required for assignments with:
- SC Government or Constitutional Agencies
- SC Judicial Department
- Public colleges & Universities
- Commission on Higher Education
- Police Stations
- State & County Detention Centers
- Hospitals/Facilities regulated by DHEC
Non-certified interpreters are still able accept assignments with:
- Private businesses
- Real estate and private attorneys
- Private colleges, universities, and trade schools
- Job trainings
- Business meetings
- Religious services
- Dental and hearing aid appointments
- Private medical facilities
- Festivals, concerts, and theatrical productions
What credentials will be accepted by SC RID & SCAD to meet minimum competency requirements?
SC RID & SCAD are currently working together to determine which credentials are appropriate and required to work in the above settings in SC.
What credentials WILL NOT be accepted by SC RID & SCAD to meet minimum competency requirements?
SC RID & SCAD are currently working together to determine which credentials do not meet minimum standards to work in the above settings in SC.
Will SC RID & SCAD accept other assessments such as the BEI as meeting minimum competency requirements?
SC RID & SCAD are not opposed to accepting the BEI as a valid credential that proves minimum competency requirements. We are currently researching the BEI and communicating with the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Certificate Program to see which level of the BEI would be appropriate to accept.