FAQ

Q: Is this a directory of certified interpreters?
A: No. Most interpreters in this directory are not certified. Certification means a formal assessment by a professional organization or a government entity, using an instrument that has been tested for validity and reliability. Currently, Maine does not have a certificatin process for spoken language interpreters. “Certificates of completion of training” given to interpreters at the end of workshops are not the equivalent of professional certification. All interpreters in this directory meet the following requirements: they successfully passed a language proficiency test, have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, and have completed at least 12 hours of interpreter training.

Q: Are interpreters licensed?
A: No. Spoken language interpreters are not licensed in Maine. Sign language interpreters are licensed.

Q: Is there a difference between interpreting and translating?
A: Yes. Interpreting refers to facilitating communication between spoken or signed languages, while translating refers to translation of written documents.

Q: What is the difference between requesting interpreter services from a company and contacting a freelance interpreter directly?
A: There may be no difference in quality of interpreter services obtained from a company or directly from a freelance interpreter in this directory. If you need multiple language interpreters for a meeting, a company could be a better choice as “one-stop shop.” Freelance interpreters may charge a lower fee than an organization with overhead expenses can.

Q: Are interpreters required to have liability insurance?
A: No. Liability insurance is not an industry standard.

Q: How far in advance do I have to schedule an interpreter?
A: It is best to schedule an interpreter as soon as possible. A few weeks or few days, depending on the language, should be enough. Many interpreters are available for emergencies or last minute appointments.

Q: Can an interpreter call my client to remind him/her about the appointment?
A: It would be best to have a conference call with the interpreter and your client so the interpreter can interpret whatever you say, and the client can ask you any questions.

Q: What if the language I need is not listed in the directory?
A: Contact one of the nationwide telephone interpreter services, a few of which are listed below:

Q: Am I obligated to provide interpreter service?
A: Under Title VI of Civil Right Act of 1964, “No person in the United States shall, on grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." The failure of providers to overcome language barriers to services has a serious discriminatory effect on non-English speaking clients, depriving them of services that are as effective as those received by the rest of the community. This discriminatory effect, for entities receiving federal funding, violates Title VI rules. For more information, please contact LANA at 207.874.1000 ext. 2311.

Q: Is there any assistance to help defray the cost of providing interpreting or getting documents translated?
A: Interpretation and translation costs are business expenses and may be tax deductible. MaineCare will reimburse medical providers for the costs associated with a MaineCare reimbursable medical service to patients who are paying for the services with MaineCare. See Chapter 1; section 1.06-3 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual which can be seen here. The lack of a third party payment mechanism for the costs of interpreting does not relieve the obligation to provide linguistic access.

Q: How do interpreters get added to the list?
 A: Interpreters must be able to successfully pass the language proficiency test, be at least 21 years old, have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, and have completed at least 12 hours of interpreter training. Bilingual individuals interested in becoming interpreters can attend the Interpreter Training at Southern Maine Community College. For more information on interpreter training, please contact Brenda Beaulieu, Business Relations Manager at Southern Maine Community College Professional Education Department at 207.741.5951 or BBeaulieu@smccme.edu.

Q: Since this is a directory of spoken language interpreters only, where can I find a sign language interpreter?
A: Sign language interpreters must be licensed by the state in order to work for compensation in Maine. All sign language interpreters must provide a copy of their "disclosure paper" to all parties of the interpreting assignment. A listing of Sign Language interpreter referral agencies in Maine can be found here.