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Sign Language

Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) for Sign Language Interpreters

Summary of Components

Part I -- Written Test

  • Administered by proctors at the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing offices.
  • Composed of 50 multiple choice questions designed to measure the applicant’s knowledge of the general interpreting procedures, deaf awareness, sign language background, situational ethics.
  • Must answer 42 questions correctly to pass; applicants are allowed to repeat the test three (3) times.
  • Contact either the Lincoln, Omaha or North Platte NCDHH offices to arrange to take the written test.
  • Cost $25.00

Part II -- Performance Evaluation

Once the applicant has passed the QAST written exam, they can contact Janet Killam to make arrangements to videotape the Performance Evaluation portion of the QAST.

  • Candidates have the option to test at either Level 1-3 or 4-5 Transliterating or Interpreting (An individual needs to take into consideration their previous test score and professional interpreting/transliterating experience to determine which level they choose to test at.)
  • The Performance Evaluation portion of the QAST has three components; voice to sign, sign to voice and an interview portion.
  • Candidates are tested on interactive videotapes to provide opportunities to evaluate voice to sign and sign to voice skills.
  • Two teams evaluate the applicant’s videotape, one team evaluates the sign to voice portion and the other team evaluates the voice to sign. These scores are combined and averaged to determine the level of interpreting/transliterating that the candidate has achieved according to established standards.
  • Once the candidate’s QAST level has been determined, the candidate will receive written feedback from the evaluation, and a QAST card and letter verifying the levels and expiration dates of their interpreting and transliterating scores.
  • Cost $170.00 for either the transliterating or interpreting.

Levels

The QAST evaluation instrument establishes five levels of skill attainment, Levels I through V.

  • Level I are those with basic skills.
  • Levels II and III are assigned to those with intermediate skills.
  • Levels IV and V are awarded to those who are able to interpret and or transliterate at a specialist level.

Expiration Terms

  • Levels I, II, III expire in two years.
  • Level IV expires in five years or can be maintained by earning 5.0 CEUs in a five years.
  • Level V expires in two years or can be maintained by earning 2.0 CEUs in a two years.

updated 3/16/2010