Language Access Coordinator Contact
Chris Kunej
Director of Language Access Services Office
Iowa Judicial Branch
Judicial Branch Building
1111 E. Court Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Code of Ethics or Rules of Professional Conduct: See Chapter 48 of the Iowa Court Rule at the bottom of the linked web page).
Interpreter Statutes and Rules: (See Chapter 47 of the Iowa Court Rules at the bottom of the linked web page).
Coordination/Supervision of Interpreters: Interpreters are independent contractors who are appointed and supervised by the district court in each county.
Cost of Interpreter Services (including fees to freelance and salaries of staff interpreters):
Sign Language Interpreters: Unknown
State & Local Public Defender's Offices: Approx. $775,000
State Court Administration: $330,000
1 Staff Interpreter: $68,500 (including benefits)
Total: $843,500
Budget for Language Access Program (not including direct interpreter services):
Counties: Unknown
State Public Defender's Office: $66,651
Office of Professional Regulation: $59,421
State Court Administration: $46,022
Total Estimated Costs: $112,673
Funding for Language Access Program:
Counties pay all sign language interpreters
State Court Administration pays for all interpreters for all other LEP parties and witnesses.
Compensation Range for Salaried Interpreters (spoken language):
1 staff interpreter (Spanish): $41,059.20 to $62,379.20, plus health insurance and state retirement benefits.
Compensation Range for Salaried Interpreters (sign language): N/A
Compensation Range for Freelance Interpreters (certified spoken language): $58/hour - possibly higher for LOTS
Compensation Range for Freelance Interpreters (certified sign language): $45 (certification less than SC: Legal) to $70/hour (SC: Legal)
Difference in Pay between Spanish and LOTS Interpreters: Varies by language
Minimum Certification Requirements:
1. Submit official application to be a court interpreter and pay $25 application fee
2. Pass NCSC written exam
3. Pass Iowa's interpreter ethics exam (25 multiple choice questions)
4. Oral language: Pass NCSC, Federal, or NAJIT certification exam (NCSC exam: must pass all parts in one test session -ASL Interpreters: obtain at least one of multiple certifications from NIC or NAD.
5. Criminal background check (no conviction on any felony charge or other crime of dishonesty; could be waived depending on length of time since conviction and record since the conviction(s))
2021 Dates and Locations of Testing and Training:
Orientation (virtual): TBD (typically twice per year, see webpage for current cycle dates)
Oral and Written Exams: TBD (typically twice per year, see webpage for current cycle dates)