Exam Transition Information

CASLI is going through major transitions in the administration of the national interpreter certification exams. These transitions impact candidates in the midst of their Testing Process Cycle: those who have taken and passed their CDI-Knowledge or NIC-Knowledge and will be taking the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam.

Testing Transition

Testing Transition impacts candidates in the midst of their Testing Process Cycle: those who have passed their CDI-Knowledge or NIC-Knowledge and will be taking the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam. Also, because of COVID-19, the transition for NIC candidates is impacted, as well.

  • CDI candidates:
    • This is applicable to CDI candidates who have passed the CDI-Knowledge Exam (administered 2012 to 2020).
    • CDI Candidates who pass the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam do not require any gap test or bridge plan. Those candidates take the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam for Deaf Interpreters.
  • NIC candidates
    • Those who have passed their NIC-Knowledge exam will take the NIC-Interview and Performance Exam until the new CASLI Generalist Performance Exam for Hearing Interpreters is ready.
    • Those who pass the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exams will take the NIC-Performance Exam (NIC I&P sans the Interview portion).

Visit this page for more information on how it will affect your Testing Process Cycle.

Read more below for more information on each exam:

The CDI-Knowledge Exam is administered through an exam booklet, an online video library, and using a fill-in bubble sheet and #2 pencil. Candidates  uploaded documentation of their CDI-Knowledge exam prerequisites and then, once verified, could registered and paid for the CDI-Knowledge exam through the RID Member Portal. 

The CDI-Knowledge Exam retires December 31, 2020. Prior to December 31, 2020, email Testing@CASLI.org for assistance with this exam. After this date, new CDI candidates will take the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam through the CASLI Exam System.   

We contract with a test delivery company named ScanTron Corporation to administer this computer-based test. Candidates registered and paid for their NIC-Knowledge Exam through their account in RID Member Portal. Once the NIC-Knowledge exam is purchased, candidates will receive an email from ScanTron within seven (7) business days outlining the next steps in taking the NIC-K. NIC-K Local Test Administrators: Test sites for the NIC-K are handled through ScanTron directly. Once you register and pay for your NIC-K exam, within 7 – 10 days, the candidate will receive a “Notice to Schedule Exam” email with instructions on how to schedule their NIC-K exam.

The NIC-Knowledge Exam retires December 20, 2020. After this date, new NIC candidates will take the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam through the CASLI Exam System.   

This exam continues to be available and administered on the CASLI Exam System (CES).

Because of COVID-19, CASLI was not able to complete the development of the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam for hearing interpreters. Once it becomes safe again, post-COVID-19, and we are able to complete this exam, the NIC-Interview and Performance Exam will be retired and we will administer the new performance exam (anticipated mid to late 2021).

Candidates who have passed the NIC-Knowledge Exam will take the NIC-Interview and Performance Exam. This is until the new CASLI Generalist Performance Exam for Hearing Interpreters is ready, then they will take that performance exam.

Candidates (hearing) who have passed the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam will take the NIC-Performance Exam. This is until the new CASLI Generalist Performance Exam for Hearing Interpreters is ready, then they will take that performance exam.

Requesting an Exam: When a candidate is eligible to take their NIC Interview and/or Performance Exam, they may request an exam in their CASLI Exam System account. Once eligibility is verified, the exam will then be added in CES to register, pay for, and arrange exam appointments with a Local Test Administrator. 

Local Test Administrators (LTA): CASLI contracts with LTA sites directly to administer our performance exams. Currently, we have a limited number of LTAs who are fully operational and administering the Performance exams for our candidates. On the CASLI Exam System you may click on “View Proctor Locations” and there is a map of Local Test Administrators (LTA) sites with four colors of pins. A green pin means the site is fully operational and has been greenlit to administer the exam. A purple pin means the test site would normally be operational but, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the test sites are temporarily closed and are not accepting appointments. Red and yellow pins means the LTA site is in the quality assurance process and in the process of becoming “greenlit” hopefully in the near future.  CASLI will continue to work on implementing more LTA sites across the nation and getting more up and running in the near future so please check the map from time to time.

Visit our new CASLI Exam System to create an account, register and pay for your exams.

Bridge Plan/Gap Tests

A gap test is a way that candidates can transition between the current exam iteration and the new exam. It covers the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) between exam iterations for the purpose of maintaining psychometric validity between iterations. The Gap Tests are for candidates who have passed the CURRENT CDI-Knowledge or NIC-Knowledge exam and are taking the NEW CASLI Generalist Performance Exams. These gap tests will be offered along with the new CASLI performance exam on the CASLI Exam System and the first one will be free of charge.

  1. A short online module candidates may complete at home. This module will contain the gaps in KSAs between the CDI-Knowledge and the new CASLI Generalist Knowledge. The KSAs are:

a. Exam Working with interpreters who use languages other than ASL and English,

b. Occupational hazard and safety (OHSA) standards and use of protective gear during interpreting that does not hinder communications (e.g. surgical masks)

c. Mandated reporting laws related to abuse or suicide,

2. Ethical decision-making and Cultural Responsiveness Case Studies (GAP Test)

                   Candidates would take this at same time as their CASLI Generalist Deaf Interpreter Performance Exam.

For any further questions, please contact us at testing@casli.org or call 571-257-4761.

  1. Ethical decision-making and Cultural Responsiveness Case Studies

This “Gap Test” will be offered free of charge once and offered along with the new CASLI Generalist performance exams. These “Gap Tests” are computer-based, selected response exams and will be automatically scored on the computer within the CASLI Exam System.

For any further questions, please contact us at testing@casli.org or call 571-257-4761.