Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) FAQ

The BEI is a set of performance assessments used to assure that prospective interpreters are proficient in their ability to meaningfully and accurately comprehend, produce, and transform American Sign Language (ASL) to and from English.

The BEI certification levels are Basic, Advanced, and Master.

The TEP is a written test that assesses a prospective interpreter’s understanding of the English language. It consists of 80 multiple choice questions.

No. All new applicants for BEI certification must pass the TEP before being eligible to apply for any BEI performance assessments. This also applies to nationally certified interpreters wishing to become certified at the BEI Basic, Advanced, or Master level.

No. Individuals who wish to take a BEI performance assessment must first take and pass the TEP.

No. Individuals only need to pass the TEP once.

Please note: there are some circumstances where you may need to retake your TEP. See the Certification Education Program Manual and FAQ for more information.

If you are new to the BEI performance test, you will need to start with the BEI Basic level assessment unless you meet one of the prerequisites established by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services BEI program (see section F).

No. Your BEI Basic certification will not expire.

Please note: there are requirements that must be met in order to maintain any Wisconsin BEI certification. If these requirements are not met, a BEI certification will expire. Please see the Certification Education Program (CEP) manual for more information on what is required to maintain a Wisconsin BEI certification.

You will need to follow The Department of Safety and Professional Services’ (DSPS) licensure requirements for the Sign language interpreter—intermediate hearing license. Please see 2019 Wisconsin Act 17 for more information on these requirements.

Yes. CEUs are required. More information on what is required can be found further down in this FAQ, on the Continuing Education Program webpage, as well as within the BEI Program Manual.

Yes. all tests that are part of the BEI testing system for hearing interpreters are available in Wisconsin.

The BEI testing system for hearing interpreters includes the Test of English Proficiency (TEP) and the three performance tests (basic, advanced, and master). 

The TEP is offered quarterly. Test dates will be posted on the TEP webpage as they are confirmed.

The basic, advanced, and master performance tests will be offered quarterly. Test dates will be posted to the Performance Test webpage as they are confirmed.

Yes. Payment must be sent with all applications. If you do not submit payment, your application will be considered incomplete, and you will be ineligible to register for a test date.

Payment must be in the form of a money order or cashier's check. Personal checks and cash will not be accepted.

No. Wisconsin now offers all of these tests, so the wait lists are closed. This means you must submit payment with any application.

No. You can choose to take the BEI, but you are not required to. Please see 2019 Wisconsin Act 17 to learn more about RID-recognized certifications that qualify an individual to get an interpreting license in Wisconsin.

Yes. Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) will continue to accept BEI certifications from other states.

DSPS handles sign language interpreter licensure in Wisconsin. Please visit the DSPS website to learn more about sign language interpreter licensure in Wisconsin.

Please visit the ODHH BEI webpage and sign up for the BEI email list.

Please email BEI staff if you have more questions.

Individuals who have not met the CEU requirements by June 30 of every odd year will lose their BEI certification.

If there are any concerns regarding CEU completion please contact BEI staff.

You are no longer BEI certified and will need to wait six months to retake any performance test in any BEI testing state.

In Wisconsin, individuals whose certification is expired for less than one year will be allowed to retake the performance test at the level that they held when it expired.

Per the 2019 Wisconsin Act 17, a person who is licensed by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) shall notify the department in writing within 30 days if the person's certification or membership that is required for the license is revoked or invalidated.

You will be required to retake the Test of English Proficiency (TEP) and pass it. Once you pass the TEP, then you would be allowed to take the BEI performance test indicated below.

See the Texas Department of Health and Human Services website for more information on prerequisites.

Any individual who becomes newly certified between April 1 and June 30 of an odd year will not be required to acquire CEUs for that certification cycle. Those individuals will be required to start accruing and tracking CEUs for the subsequent cycle, which would being July 1 of the odd year.

Please note that this waiver does not apply to individuals who already hold a BEI certification and pass the performance test during the eighth quarter to advance to the next level. You must continue to accrue CEUs for your previously held certification in order to remain in good standing.

Those newly certified within the eighth quarter (April 1 through June 30 of an odd year) will not be required to pay the certification renewal fee for the next cycle. This is because it is the final quarter of a certification cycle. Please note that subsequent renewal fees will be due for future certification cycles.

The waived renewal fee does not apply to those who already hold a BEI certification and advance their level of certification during the eighth quarter.

Please see the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Continuing Education Program.