THE WISCONSIN INTERPRETING AND TRANSLITERATING ASSESSMENT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

1.   What is the purpose of WITA?

The Wisconsin Interpreting and Transliterating Assessment system will provide consumers with assured levels of competency achieved by sign language interpreters and transliterators as verified by the State of Wisconsin , Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH).

The WITA provides candidates with an individual assessment of interpreting and transliterating skills, supporting professional growth in order to refine skills and increase knowledge.

2.   Who is eligible to take WITA?

 Candidates must be a Wisconsin resident or provide documentation of working in Wisconsin to be eligible for WITA (effective 07/01/2003).

3.   What is the WITA Written Test about? How do I take it?

Beginning July 1, 2008 we will no longer offer the WITA written examination, and will require the NIC Knowledge Test.

If you have taken and passed the NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Knowledge Test, you must provide your RID pass letter as verification when registering for the performance aspect of the WITA.

4.   How do I prepare and where do I register for the NIC Knowledge Test?

If you took and passed the NIC Knowledge Test (or previous RID Generalist Written Exam) more than five years ago and your WITA status is current, you do not need to take it again. If, however, you have allowed your WITA level to expire, you will need to show documentation that you passed the NIC Knowledge Test within the five years prior to your retake. 

You can get information about RID testing requirements and registration from their website at www.rid.org.  

5.   How much will WITA cost?

Cost to candidates is $150.00 for the performance assessment.  

ODHH offers five scholarships for the WITA performance test each year. One scholarship is awarded to an interested candidate from each region. To be considered for a scholarship, send a letter of interest to the Director by October 31. The scholarships will be awarded for use the following year.

6.   How do I prepare for the WITA?

The Interpreter Training Programs (ITPs) in Wisconsin have copies of the warm-up tapes. After you submit your application and fee to take the WITA Performance Assessment, a practice DVD will be sent to you. In addition, practice tapes have been made available to many public libraries and may be available through inter-library loan.

The programs at the ITPs are good preparation for the WITA as well as workshops, share shops, and mentoring with professional interpreters. Interpreting is a profession that requires constant learning of new techniques and sharpening of skills.

7.   What are the levels?

There are two ratings (effective July 1, 2006): Levels 1 and 2 with Level 1 being the highest. The WITA assessment is designed to evaluate voice to sign and sign to voice in a variety of settings. In addition, candidates are asked to make a distinction between their interpreting and transliterating skills. Candidates will receive separate ratings for interpreting and transliterating.

8.   Will I automatically get a level after taking WITA?

No. It is possible that some candidates will not demonstrate adequate skills in either interpreting or transliterating or both. All candidates who complete the WITA assessment will receive feedback on specific areas that need attention and on ways to improve

9.   What type of ratings, feedback and specific suggestions will we receive after taking the WITA test?

All candidates will receive specific written feedback in all aspects of interpreting and transliterating including overall performance in target language. Candidates are rated on the basis of skill exhibited in target areas.

10.  Will I receive two levels?

Yes. You will be awarded two levels, one for interpreting and one for transliterating. It is also possible that you do not meet the WITA criteria for either interpreting and/or transliterating (fail one or both). You will receive feedback specifically on your ability to interpret and to transliterate. This will be helpful not only to you, but consumers will be able to have a better understanding of your abilities from the two levels as well. Only interpreters awarded a Level 2 or above in interpreting and in transliterating are eligible to be placed on the ODHH freelance interpreter list. A WITA verification card will be issued to interpreters who successfully pass WITA 2/2 or above (effective July 1, 2006).

11.  If I am awarded a Level 2 in both Interpreting and Transliterating (I1,T2) do I need to move up to Level 1 within a certain time period to keep my current WITA status?

No. Levels awarded expire in three (3) years and can only be renewed by retaking the WITA performance assessment before the expiration date. Candidates taking or retaking WITA after July 1, 2006 have a six (6) year limit on WITA reassessments.  

12.  What if I want to retake WITA before my three-year verification expires to try for a higher level?

Reassessment is allowed six (6) months after a candidate takes the performance evaluation. All candidates taking WITA for the first time or retaking WITA to renew or improve her/his results after July 1, 2006 will have a time period of six (6) years to assess/reassess under WITA. Interpreters will be allowed to take the WITA Performance Assessment as often as desired (limited to every six months) for six (6) years. WITA retakes will not be allowed beyond the six year limit. Interpreters who are unable to provide documentation of national certification after her/his WITA expires will be removed from the ODHH freelance distribution lists.  

13.  Can my current WITA level be extended beyond the three year expiration date? For example, I am scheduled to take the RID performance evaluation in December but my WITA expires in September. Can my WITA be extended until I receive my RID results?

No. To maintain your WITA status and/or to remain on the ODHH freelance interpreter list, you must retake WITA before it expires.  

14.  Will WITA assess Deaf interpreters?

No. The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf has developed a Certificate of Deaf Interpretation (CDI).  

15.  What about Hard of Hearing interpreters?

Interpreters who are Hard of Hearing may take the test, but as this test is designed to evaluate a person’s ability to receptively and expressively interpret and transliterate, you will be expected to complete all portions of the WITA. The volume on the TV can be turned up, but beyond that, no alterations can be made to the testing procedures.  

16.  Is the assessment live or videotaped?

A video camera will be used to record the assessment session. All videotapes used for the WITA are strictly confidential and remain the property of ODHH.   The videotapes are stored for six (6) months in the event a candidate wishes to appeal the decision.  

17.  Who is the evaluation team composed of?

The team has four evaluators. Two evaluators are hearing and two evaluators are deaf. A hearing evaluator must possess valid RID certification (CSC or CI and CT). A deaf evaluator must either have a valid RID or CDI, or is bilingual with a working knowledge of the interpreting and transliterating process and Deaf Culture.  

18.  How does someone become an evaluator? 

Anyone interested in becoming an evaluator must possess RID certification (for hearing, CSC or CI and CT; deaf, RID or CDI or be bilingual and knowledgeable about the field of interpreting and transliterating, ASL, and cross-cultural issues); be committed to ongoing skills development and understanding of the current and changing trends in the field of interpreting and transliterating and ASL; and attend ongoing training for evaluators. All potential evaluators must have successfully passed the RID Generalist Written Test (or equivalent).  

Again, potential evaluators need to successfully complete the evaluator training before they can be hired as evaluators.  

19.  How are the evaluators trained?

Potential evaluators review all aspects of interpreting and transliterating as well as discuss current trends in the field. They are trained to evaluate by using videotapes of candidates taking the WITA during an intensive WITA Evaluator Training. Upon completion of the training, potential evaluators then go through an internship where their scores and practices are measured and evaluated for accuracy.  

20.  Are there other questions?

If you think of other questions that would be helpful to you and/or others, please let us know so we can add to this list. Please contact any ODHH Regional Office if you would like to discuss WITA with someone in person or to schedule a WITA presentation for you group or organization.

Last Updated:  December 01, 2008