Authorization as an interpreter - Kammarkollegiet

KammarkollegietTHE LEGAL, FINANCIAL ANDADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGENCY2008-09-251(3)AUTHORIZATION AS AN INTERPRETERCONDITIONS FOR AUTHORIZATIONTo qualify for authorization as an interpreter, you must:- be 18 years of age and not be placed under the legal guardianship ofan administrator under the provisions of Chap. 11, Sec. 7 of theChildren and Parents Code or be subject to any similar restrictions inanother state;- be of known personal integrity and otherwise be suitable to work as aninterpreter; and- have passed the proficiency examinations as set down by the Agency.Holders of a University Certificate for completed basic interpreter training atthe Institute for Translation and Interpreting Studies (TÖI) are not required totake the proficiency examinations arranged by the Agency, but must be ableto satisfy all of the other conditions.PROFICIENCY STANDARDSYou must have spoken command of both Swedish and your interpreterlanguage and be well acquainted with the varieties of expression, vocabularyand grammar of both languages. You must be able to speak both languageswithout a distracting accent and understand speech in the commonest dialectsof both languages under normal interpreting conditions. Moreover, you mustpossess terminological and factual knowledge in the subject areas medicalcare, social matters, the labour market and general social insurance, as well aseveryday law. You must be able to interpret in a technically satisfactorymanner, displaying a high degree of information accuracy, reasonableinterpreting speed and length of speech unit. You must be acquainted withacceptable interpreter ethics and be able to adhere to such ethics in yourwork.THE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONThe proficiency examination is in two parts. The first is a written test which isnormally held early in February and early in September each year. The testsare held in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Lund and Umeå.The written test is of five hours’ duration and includes the following sections:POSTADRESS TELEFON PLUSGIROBox 2218, 103 15 Stockholm 08-700 08 00 95 42 98-6BESÖKSADRESS TELEFAX INTERNETBirger Jarls torg 14, Riddarholmen 08-700 09 98 www.kammarkollegiet.se Org.nr 202100-0829

Kammarkollegiet2008-09-252 (3)1. General background knowledge test: 50 questions in the subject areasmedical care, social matters, the labour market and general socialinsurance, as well as everyday law.2. Terminology test: 100 specialist terms to be translated into Swedish and100 specialist terms to be translated from Swedish. These terms are takenfrom the above subject areas.No dictionaries or other aids are allowed.At this stage of assessment of the written test, all candidates remainanonymous to the assessors.The results are announced at the end of March and October, respectively.ORAL TESTThe oral test is held in Stockholm two to three months after the written test.Those who are assessed as not meeting the standard required for authorizationwill not be called to the oral test section.This test is held before an assessment panel. The test takes roughly two hoursand comprises:1. Active interpretating test (at most four role plays).2. Oral examination in interpreting technique and professional ethics.The role plays are acted as authentically as possible. In the interpreting test,you are entitled to use aids such as writing materials and dictionaries.Anyone who fails in either the interpreting test or the supplementary generalknowledge test is entitled to retake the test within one year, this test thencomprising only the interpreting test or the general background knowledgetest. In order to take part in the test, a new application must be filed and a newapplication fee paid.APPLICATIONExaminations for authorization as interpreter are advertised twice a year,early in April and early in October. The advertisements announce thoselanguages for which examinations will be held during the followingexamination period.Your application must be filed in April or October. The easiest way to applyis to use the form which is available on request from the Agency. The formcan also be found at www.kammarkollegiet.se. Holders of UniversityCertificates from the Institute for Translation and Interpreting Studies areentitled to file their applications irrespective of the application period.

Kammarkollegiet2008-09-253 (3)You must enclose a birth and identity certificate and, if you wish to obtain anofficial identity card as an interpreter, you must also include two recentphotographs showing a good likeness.FEESThe application fee of SEK 2 000 must be paid in connection with the filingof your application. Only those who have filed a complete application andpaid the application fee will be called to the tests. If you qualify forauthorization, you will be entitled to obtain an official identity card whichshows that you are an authorized interpreter. These cards are obtainable for afee through the offices of the Agency.CANCELLATIONIf you are unable to attend the tests, please notify the Agency in writing tothis effect. If notice of cancellation is made later than two weeks before thewritten test is held, your fee will not be refunded.PREPARATIONSExperience gained from the tests organised by the Agency show that bothtraining and experience as an interpreter are necessary to pass and qualify forauthorization. So-called contact interpreter training is arranged at a number ofcounty high schools and adult education associations. Interpreter andtranslator training at higher education level is arranged by the Institute forTranslation and Interpreting Studies. Information on the courses offered bythe Institute for Translation and Interpreting Studies and also on county highschool courses and study groups for interpreters is available from:The Institute for Translation and Interpreting Studies (TÖI)Stockholm UniversityS-106 91 STOCKHOLMTelephone: 08-16 20 00The municipal immigrant services bureaus are often in a position to provideinformation about local courses for interpreters.Application forms, examples of earlier tests and reading lists can be found atwww.kammarkollegiet.se and are also available from:KAMMARKOLLEGIET, Förvaltningsrättsliga enhetenBox 2218S-103 15 STOCKHOLMTelephone: 08-700 08 00, Fax: 08-700 09 98