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BEI Certification

Interpreters pursuing Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) certification will participate in skill-building workshops at Communication Skills Workshop (CSW) that are highly conducive to professional growth and development. Full attendance is required to earn a certificate of completion for BEI Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Workshop participants are not required to take the BEI Test English Proficiency (TEP) or performance test.

Workshop activities offered:
 
Activities offered at CSW and practice resources will the participant's skills. However, training does not guarantee the passing of any BEI TEP or performance test.
 

BEI Tests During CSW

The BEI TEP and Basic/Advanced level performance tests will be administered during CSW.
 
The TEP will be administered at TSD on Thursday, and the performance tests will take place at BEI's testing site in Austin on Friday. BEI will offer a limited number of reserved testing appointments  and assign them on a first-come, first-served basis to CSW participants who meet the outlined requirements. You must take and pass the written TEP before you are eligible to take a BEI performance test. You cannot take both the TEP and performance test during the same CSW session.
 

Test of English Proficiency (TEP)

During CSW, participants taking the TEP at TSD on Thursday afternoon may stay on campus on Thursday night, but no meals will be provided after lunch on Thursday. There are nearby restaurants within walking distance that offer delivery. BEI offers a Study Guide to assist in test prep.
 
If you have already passed the TEP, your status is on file, and you do not have to take it again.
 
If you have not previously taken the TEP or any of the BEI tests, please visit the online BEI Registry to create a profile, complete an application, select the CSW testing block, and pay for your test.
 
To be eligible to take the TEP during CSW at TSD, you must:
  • be at least 18 years old,
  • have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent,
  • not have a criminal conviction that could qualify as grounds for denial, probation, suspension, or revocation of a BEI certificate, or other disciplinary action against any holder of a BEI certificate, and
  • have earned at least 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university, with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Upon receipt of your TEP application, BEI staff will verify your eligibility and will communicate next steps as needed.
 
There are no restrictions to the distance you live from Austin for those who wish to take the TEP. Once BEI staff receives your completed TEP application and a copy of your CSW acceptance letter, they will verify your eligibility and communicate the next steps as needed.
 

Performance Test


During CSW, participants taking a performance test on Friday at BEI's testing site may stay on campus on Thursday night, but no meals will be provided after lunch on Thursday. There are nearby restaurants within walking distance that offer delivery. BEI offers a Study Guide to assist in test prep.

 
To be eligible to take the BEI Performance Test, you must:
 
  • meet all the requirements of the TEP, 
  • have earned a passing score on the written TEP, and
  • have earned an associate degree and/or at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university, with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
 
If you hold any of the following prerequisite certificates, you are eligible to take the BEI Advanced performance test.
 
BEI
  • Level I, II, III, IV, V
  • Basic
 
RID
  • Comprehensive Skills Certificate (CSC)
  • Certificate of Interpreting (CI)
  • Certificate of Transliteration (CT)
  • National Interpreter Certification (NIC)
 
If applying for the BEI Advanced performance test, holders of RID, NIC, or certification from another state must submit a copy of their certification for verification purposes.
 
To be considered for a reserved testing appointment during CSW, you must:
  • meet all testing requirements outlined above,
  • have earned a passing score on the written TEP,
  • live at least 100 miles from Austin, and
  • have completed and paid for your BEI performance test application via the BEI Registry.
 
Once BEI staff receives of your completed performance test application and a copy of your CSW appectance letter, they will verify your eligibility and communicate the next steps as needed.
 
For participants who live within a 100-mile radius of Austin, please select a different testing block when applying to be placed in the regular scheduling queue. This will allow appropriate staffing support and meximize benefits for those traveling significant distances. The current turnaround time from the application completion date to a confirmed testing appointment is six months.
 
Please note that only a limited number of performance tests can be administered during the CSW sessions. If capacity is reached, you will be notified and placed into the regular, non-CSW testing queue instead.
 
Be advised that if you decide not to attend CSW or need to cancel your registration, your BEI testing fees will not be refunded, as per BEI policy.
 
If you require reasonable accommodations for your BEI test, please review Chapter 1.4 of the BEI Handbook for more details and obtain a C-039 Attachment-1 Heath and Human Services Reasonable Modification Request form from BEI staff.
 
If you have any questions or require assistance with your application, you may email the BEI office at [email protected].