Oregon Registry of
Interpreters for the Deaf

The Oregon state legislature gave authority to the SLI Board to set the fees.

According to the law, they must do so:

- in consideration of the funding requirements related the office's duties to administer the licenses, and

- in consideration of national averages for similar fees. 

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The law states that the fees may not exceed the cost of administering our licenses. At this time, HLO and the Board are not concerned about that restriction because the​ HLO budget for the SLI Board is significantly in deficit.

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In October, HLO staff presented about the cost they incurred in administering SLI licenses over the last couple of years, as well as numbers about average fees for licensure nationwide. They recommended fee amounts, and the RAC and Board have adopted HLO's suggestions with a discount for the first year.

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The presentation about budget concerns and national averages can be viewed on HLO's YouTube channel here:​

SLI RAC Meeting 10/14/25

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At the next RAC meeting, a public comment contested the numbers presented by HLO and urged the RAC and Board to set the fees significantly lower than HLO requested:

SLI RAC Meeting 10/16/25 Public Comment

(Written comment: Licensure Fee Public Comment)

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On April 20th, the Board deliberated at length, and finally decided to adopt HLO's recommendations, along with a discount for the first year of license administration.

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Public comment period is currently open until August 28th. The Board will review all submitted comments and meet again on October 26th to make final decisions on all the proposed rules, including fees.

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No. If you want your Health Care Interpreting Certification from OHA -- to be on their particular registry, then you will need a certain score on an ASL fluency assessment, but you are not required to have this for most licenses. 

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If you are using a pathway that requires proof of ASL proficiency, this is one way of documenting that proof.

No. Medical providers (clinics, hospitals, etc.) must first seek interpreters on the OHA registry. If none are available, they can work with any licensed interpreter.

You do not need an ASLPI/SLIP score to be licensed.

The law (ORS 676.750-789) says that anyone providing sign language interpreting services in Oregon needs to be licensed. (There are only a few exceptions.)

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HLO is the government agency in charge of licenses for sign language interpreters in Oregon.

HLO recognized that they need more time to establish all the rules (details) of the law, and stakeholders need time to implement these into their business models. (See their announcement here: HLO News.)

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In recognition of this transition period, HLO used the strongest tool under their authority to provide the needed time: a "waiver of enforcement."

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The waiver means that HLO will not apply punishment to interpreters or those hiring/contracting with interpreters for working without a license. It is actually illegal, but the agency with authority to enforce that law will not enforced it until July 1, 2026. 

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Keep in mind, this waiver of enforcement only applies to being licensed or not. If a licensed interpreter is violating terms of that license (for example, violations of the CPC), HLO may investigate those complaints and enforce consequences if warranted. ​

No. Interpreters working in K-12 settings in Oregon have to be licensed just like all sign language interpreters in the state.

Any specialty licenses obtained before January 1, 2026 under ORS 676.762 (Ed), 676.765 (Med), and 676.768 (Leg) will remain valid until January 1, 2029. (See Section 11 on page 5 here: Updates to SLI Licensure.)

That means anyone holding an Educational License issued before January 1, 2026 can continue working in Educational settings under that license until January 1, 2029.
(If they want to work in other settings, they need to get a different license.)

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As of January 1, 2026, these specialty licenses are no longer required.

Interpreters can work in these settings with any active license (Training, Provisional, General, or Supervisory) — using profession discretion in accordance with the CPC Tenet 2.

The Board of Sign Language Interpreters has the authority to establish specialty licenses. They may do that in the future, but right now, you only need one license to practice in the state.
 

The Board has the authority to create specialty licenses as needed through the rule-making process.

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If you feel that there is a specialty setting that interpreters could qualify for through a test or assessment of some kind, and that you think should require an additional license, please reach out to the licensing board with that input.

Not for your specialty-setting license.

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In the past, ODE has required interpreters working under their employment to take a certain number of hours of professional development every year. That requirement has changed in the past and can change again. Please contact ODE about their requirements. (And note that if ODE does not require it, your school district or other level of authority may require them.)

Interpreters who hold a Training License are not allowed to interpret alone. They must have a fully licensed (Gen or Sup) interpreter with them, on-site, making sure that the interpreting services are providing access and ready to jump in if needed. (This license is great for interns or people in rural settings and Deaf interpreters being mentored into the field.)

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Interpreters who hold a Provisional License are allowed to work solo in settings that are appropriate for their knowledge and skill level. They must have a supervising interpreter-of-record who helps them identify which jobs they are ready for, might help them prepare, debrief afterwards, and mentor as needed to work towards full licensure. 

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The term "Supervision" comes from other professions like therapists and doctors. Therapists often have a "supervising therapist" and doctors in their residency have a "supervising physician." The supervising practitioner is not with them throughout the day, but they are available to discuss cases and get guidance for next steps.