Hawai`i Basic Ethics Exam

The Hawai‘i State Judiciary administers the written Hawai‘i Basic Ethics exam (“Basic Ethics exam”) to test an interpreter’s knowledge and understanding of the role and ethics of court interpreters. The Basic Ethics exam, together with the Written English Proficiency exam, is the second of three mandatory minimum requirements to interpret in the Hawai‘i state courts. Applicants must attend the Hawai‘i State Judiciary’s Basic Orientation Workshop prior to taking the Basic Ethics exam. The Basic Ethics exam is based on the Professional Code of Conduct for Court Interpreters in the Policies for Interpreted Proceedings in the Courts of the State of Hawai‘i. This exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions. Applicants are allowed one hour to complete the exam and must achieve a passing score of 80%. Information regarding the dates, location, registration and fee for the exam may be obtained by contacting the OEAC.