MICS Levels

Missouri Interpreters
Certification Levels

The certification level earned by an interpreter will reflect the
evaluators' assessment of the interpreter's maximum performance
ability in both interpreting and transliterating. For example, if an
interpreter's score while interpreting is 87% and their score while
transliterating is 75%, then their final score will be 75%. This
final score thus reflects the maximum level of service that a
consumer can expect to receive from an interpreter regardless
of whether the person is interpreting or transliterating (although
the interpreter may be better in one of the performance areas
than in the other).

The MICS certification levels are as follows:

Novice Apprentice Intermediate

Advanced Comprehensive

RCED (General) RCED (K-6) RCED (7-12) PCED

Novice - Novice certification will be awarded to individuals whose final score is from 50% to 69% on a "1-3" test tape. Individuals who attain this level demonstrate only entry-level skills. They usually possess fair voice-to-sign skills, but only minimal sign-to-voice skills. While scattered phrases or concepts may be completed correctly, they have difficulty conveying smoothly all that is voiced or signed. Their signing vocabulary is limited, and they may fingerspell much more than is necessary. They may demonstrate considerable lag time, delete more message content than is acceptable, pause much too often, and frequently use conceptually inaccurate signs.

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Apprentice - Apprentice certification will be awarded to individuals whose final score is from 70% to 84% on a "1-3" test tape. Individuals who attain this level of certification may demonstrate an ability to facilitate communication on a basic level, but they are unable to complete the interpreting tasks according to the generally accepted interpreting standards. They may do well while interpreting some parts of the message and then do poorly with other parts. They usually possess average voice-to-sign skills, but only fair sign-to-voice skills. They may delete more message content than is desirable, fingerspell too much, and occasionally use conceptually inaccurate signs.

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Intermediate - Intermediate certification will be awarded to individuals whose final score is from 85% to 100% on a "1-3" test tape. Individuals who attain this level usually possess above average voice-to-sign skills and average sign-to-voice skills. Their skills meet generally accepted interpreting standards. Occasional message content will be deleted in order to keep up with the speaker or signer, but the expressed concepts are generally accurate. They will demonstrate consistent and correct interpretations, and can provide interpreting services quite comfortably in a variety of interpreting situations.

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Advanced - Advanced certification will be awarded to individuals whose final score is from 80%-89% on a "4-5" test tape. Individuals who attain this level usually possess excellent voice-to-sign skills and have above average sign-to-voice skills. Their interpreting performance is consistent and accurate. Their fluency is smooth, with very little deletion, and the consumer will have no question regarding their competency. they are able to interpret well in most
situations.

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Comprehensive - Comprehensive certification will be awarded to individuals whose score is from 90% to 100% on a "4-5" test tape. Individuals who attain this level usually possess superior voice-to-sign skills and excellent sign-to-voice skills. Their performance is practically without flaw, and they demonstrate outstanding ability in almost all interpreting situations.

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Restricted Certification in Education (RCED)

According to the Skill Level Standards Rule (5 CSR 100-200.170), interpreters who want to provide interpreting services in classrooms in elementary and/or secondary educational settings must be certified at either the Comprehensive, Advanced, or Intermediate level, or they must hold either a Restricted Certification in Education (RCED) or a Provisional Certificate in Education (PCED). There are three RCED certifications that a person might hold.

An RCED (General) Certification will allow an interpreter to interpret in the classroom in any grade from kindergarten through grade twelve (12). The RCED (General) will be awarded to a person if they achieve a score of 85% to 100% on an MICS "1-3" test tape in either interpreting or transliterating.

On the other hand, educational interpreters may choose to obtain an even more restricted certification. The RCED (K-6) is only good for interpreting in the classroom in kindergarten through grade six (6), and the RCED (7-12) is only good for interpreting in the classroom in grades seven (7) through twelve (12). Both of those certifications can only be obtained by conversion from the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) system, and conversion is allowed only if the applicant has an EIPA score of 3.5 or higher. The EIPA (Elementary) converts to an RCED (K-6), and the EIPA (Secondary ) converts to an RCED (7-12).

All RCED certifications will contain a "communication mode endorsement" that specifies the communication mode in which the holder was tested. This communication mode endorsement can then by used by local school system to ensure that the skill of the interpreter matches the requirements in the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP). Communication mode endorsements may be American Sign Language (ASL), Pidgin Signed English (PSE) or Signing Exact English/Manually Coded English (SEE/MCE).

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Provisional Certificate in Education

The Board for Certification of Interpreters (BCI) shall grant a Provisional Certificate in Education (PCED) to any applicant who submits an application pursuant to 5 CSR 100-200.050 (see page 5) and meets either of the following criteria:

1. The applicant possesses a current valid certification in the Missouri Interpreters Certification System (MICS) at either the Novice or Apprentice level and holds a valid license issued by the Missouri State Committee of Interpreters (SCI) to provide interpreting services;

or

2. The applicant has submitted an application for certification in the MICS and an application for an interpreting license pursuant to sections RSMo 209.319, 321, 322, 323, 326, 328, 331, 332, 334, 337 , 339, and RSMo 324.010 and has taken the written test and performance test, or attests that he or she will complete the certification and licensure applications and take the written test within sixty days following the date of application for the Provisional Certificate in Education and will complete the performance test within sixty days following passage of the written test.

A PCED issued to a person who presently holds either a Novice or Apprentice certification in the MICS shall be valid for a term of three years, and shall be renewed by the BCI for one additional term of three years only if the certificate holder is reevaluated during the first term of issuance and achieves a higher level of certification in the MICS. A PCED issued to a person who does not currently hold any other MICS certification shall be valid for one year, and shall be renewed only if the certificate holder is evaluated during the term of issuance and achieves a certification in the MICS.

**A PCED shall be limited to providing interpreter services only in classrooms in preschool, elementary and secondary school settings**

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