CZECH REPUBLIC

Country:                                            CZECH REPUBLIC

Official or co-official languages

Czech

Brief description of linguistic diversity

Foundations:

Current legislative mandates for LIT and certification

Appointment required by law (1967, amended)

Judges are required to use an appointed interpreter. If there are no appointed interpreters for a given language, another person may be used.

Responsible parties:

Current accrediting bodies

Interpreters are appointed by a regional court (based on interpreter's place of residence). Courts appoint interpreters according to the court's language needs.

Does register exist?

Yes, regional courts maintain registers of local interpreters. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) maintains a central register.

Who develops certification exams?

Knowledge of the legal system – law faculties (currently 2).

Interpreting tests – accredited languages schools (currently 2).

Who/How many rate performances?

Collaboration

Special language test – interpreting: interpreter trainers from the Institute of Translation Studies are invited to sit on the jury panel. The language schools collaborate with the Chamber of Appointed Interpreters (a professional association).

Test Format:

T & I in one exam?

No, interpreting and translation have separate tests.

Screening exam? Describe.

Admission to the interpreting test is conditional upon proof of language competence at the C1 level and completion of the legal knowledge course.

Test type/format

Language: variety of routes (language test, HE degree in modern languages...). Legal knowledge: course + final test (multiple choice). Interpreting test: short general consecutive with notes.

Domains tested

Special language test – interpreting: General language knowledge (C2 level), two-way consecutive on general topics. Cultural knowledge (facts about the country, history, political system etc.).

Knowledge of law.

Scoring

Transparency:

Website? Dissemination of info about certification

Detailed information on the website of the Chamber of Appointed Interpreters http://www.kstcr.cz/. Further information on the website (links from the Chamber's website) of the law faculty (course on legal system) and the website of the language school (special language test – interpreting). The Chamber organises a one-day preparatory course on practical aspects of the profession (legislation, insurance, requirements, appointment etc.)

Requirements to sit exam

Proof of language competence. Graduates of interpreting programmes are exempt. All others, including language programme graduates, must take the Special Language Test – Interpreting, which tests knowledge at the C2 level. For languages for which"it is objectively impossible to test language knowledge", the language test is not required.

Sample questions or practice exam available?

The language school runs a preparatory course for the special language test; it offers sample materials (paid).

Knowledge of law – the test comes at the end of the (compulsory) course.

Additional qualifications for certification (experience, training, educational level, nationality)

HE degree (interpreting, languages, other); clean criminal record;

knowledge of the law (HE diploma in law or completion of a special course for translators and interpreters*); 5 years of professional experience; EU + EEA nationality; legal residence in the Czech Republic

*The course runs over 28 weeks and consists of 84 lectures on the legal system (for everyone) + 84 language-specific lessons (available for English, French, German and Russian).

Cost to candidate/#of locations/ frequency

Appointments by courts: twice a year (8 regional courts)

The course on knowledge of the law is offered every year (28 weeks) and costs CZK 9000 ~ EUR330 (2013). The language course costs CZK 10000 ~ EUR 365 (2013).  The special language tests are offered in 2 locations, twice a year for English and German, and once a year for other major languages. Tests for languages of lesser diffusion are given on demand and cost CZK 6000~ EUR 220 (2013).

Feedback on exam performance

Score grievance procedure available

Maximum nº of sittings

Permanent or renewable certification

permanent

Post-certification:

Revocation of certification possible?

yes

If so, for what reasons?

death, own request, involved in criminal proceedings

Performance monitored? If so, how?

no