Our Federal Interpreter Program is offered exclusively through our online platform.

This 9 month program will provide you with the legal terminology and interpreting skills required to work as a federal court interpreter. This course focuses only on the oral portion of the federal oral exam and does not prepare candidates for the written component of the federal exam. The following 4 courses must be successfully completed with a grade of 70% or better to receive a Certificate of Completion in the Federal Court Interpreter Program.

Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I – $545.00

Pre-requisite: Students should possess written skills in both English and Spanish at high school level or above.

Recommendation:  All students should attend our free online group orientation prior to registering in the first course.

Tip:  For optimum results, it is recommended that students practice 1 to 1.5 hours daily in the Online Interpreting Laboratory.

Note:  Students who pass this course will be close to state required level in the consecutive technique and will have exceeded state required level in the simultaneous technique.

This course introduces the general criminal terminology in Spanish and English used in criminal court. Typical proceedings such as arraignments, pre-trial hearings, preliminary hearings, and trials are also introduced. The concept of register within the transfer of structures along with colloquialisms and slang are part of this course. Typical legal and non-legal false cognates are also presented in this course. Consecutive techniques leading to a maximum of 40 terms per segment are presented during this course. Simultaneous techniques leading to a maximum of 140 words per minute are introduced. This course consists of 27 hours of instruction, and two live over-the-phone assessments in real-time with a certified interpreter, followed by a detailed written report. It also includes unlimited 24/7 access to our Online Interpreting Laboratory at no extra cost.

Interpreting Criminal Proceedings II – $545.00

Pre-requisite:  Successful completion of the Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I course with a grade of 70% or better.

Tip:  For optimum results, it is recommended that students practice 1 to 1.5 hours daily in the Online Interpreting Laboratory.

Note:  Students who pass this course will have exceeded the state required level in the consecutive as well as the simultaneous interpreting techniques.

This is a continuation of the Interpreting Criminal Proceedings I course. This course covers all the proceedings available in Criminal Court including the forms used in each proceeding. Some of the forms covered in this course include: misdemeanor plea forms, misdemeanor sentencing forms, probation and sentencing memorandum, and felony plea forms. All the forms are translated into Spanish. The proceedings included in this course include: change of plea, probation violations, plea in misdemeanor and felony cases, progress reports, readiness conferences, and time waivers. Juvenile and family law proceedings are also presented. Specialized vocabulary in drugs, fingerprints, gang terminology, jury instructions, and weapons are introduced. Consecutive techniques leading to a maximum of 90 terms per segment are presented. Simultaneous techniques leading to a maximum speed of 200 words per minute are also part of this course. This course consists of 27 hours of instruction, and two live over-the-phone assessments in real-time with a certified interpreter, followed by a detailed written report. It also includes unlimited 24/7 access to our Online Interpreting Laboratory at no extra cost.

Sight Translation for Court Interpreters – $545.00

Pre-requisite: Successful completion of the  Interpreting Criminal Proceedings II course with a grade of 70% or better.

Tip:  For optimum results, it is recommended that students practice 1 to 1.5 hours daily in the Online Interpreting Laboratory.

This course discusses the translation principles of localization/normalization, re-structuring, stability in the transfer and interferences. Techniques to stabilize the transfer and to properly re-structure the rendition into the target language are presented. Sight translations into both directions - Spanish and English are part of this course. Sight readings include police reports, probation reports, custody matters, family law disputes, birth and death certificates, letters written by attorneys, court orders, sworn statements, and original documents from Mexico and Central America. This course consists of 27 hours of instruction,   and two live over-the-phone assessments in real-time with a certified interpreter, followed by a detailed written report. It also includes unlimited 24/7 access to our Online Interpreting Laboratory at no extra cost.

Preparation for the Oral Component of the Federal Examination  – $698.00

Pre-requisite: Successful completion of the Court Interpreter Program or be a State Certified Interpreter.

Tip: For optimum results, it is recommended that students practice 1 to 1.5 hours daily in the Online Interpreting Laboratory.

Note: Students enrolled in this program receive exclusive access to A.I. evaluations and personalized practices aligned with Federal-level certification standards.

This program is designed for interpreters preparing to sit for the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination. It provides an in-depth study of the terminology, procedures, and linguistic structures required at the federal level. Students are introduced to advanced criminal and civil terminology, federal court procedures, sentencing guidelines, indictments, plea agreements, and specialized vocabulary used in federal proceedings.

The course includes nine comprehensive lectures delivered over 27 hours of instruction, along with over 50 laboratory practices covering simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation modalities. Students receive unlimited access to additional playground practices, allowing them to practice as often as needed until their federal exam date.

Throughout the program, students receive detailed A.I. evaluations and customized A.I.-generated practices targeting individual weaknesses in vocabulary, register, or technique. Students may select their preferred evaluation model — Holistic, Balanced, or Certification (federal exam level) — for tailored feedback based on their learning goals.

Live office hours with an assistant instructor are held twice each week, giving students the opportunity to receive real-time guidance and clarification. At the conclusion of the program, students complete a Final Exam with Néstor Wagner, simulating the rigor and format of the official Federal Court Interpreter Examination. A detailed written report identifies strengths, areas for improvement, and recommendations for continued preparation.

This program includes unlimited 24/7 access to the Online Interpreting Laboratory, live assessments, A.I. reporting, and personalized A.I. practice creation at $14.00 per generated practice.