1. The Norwegian National Register of Interpreters - Public service interpreting in Norway
Leonardo Doria de Souza Norwegian Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi)
– TRAFUT, Antwerp •

2. Norwegian authority for interpreting services in the public sector
Interpreter users training
Vocational studies
Workplaces
Lectures
Sectoral level
Surveys
Health - Primary doctors (2006)
Child care - Child welfare service (2007)
Justice - Criminal proceedings chain (2008)
Education - Oslo’s primary and secondary schools (2009)
Social services - Labour and welfare services (2010)
Availability of qualified interpreters
recruitment
High capacity in interpreter’s education
language and students
Awareness, knowledge and guidelines
training
local guidelines
Regulation and development
sectoral and national level •

3. Norwegian or universal challenges?
Bilingualism = interpreting
Lack of awareness regarding the role of interpreters
Lack of procedures/guidelines for booking and use of interpreters
Lack of recruitment criteria
Lack of organisation and professionalism •

4. The Norwegian National Register of Interpreters (2005)
“create a systematic nationwide overview of interpreters apt for practicing in the public services”
Encourage interpreters to document and improve their skills and competences
Increase the availability of qualified interpreters
Provide an overview of interpreters’ skills
Increase interpreters’ assignments
Keep “good interpreters” in the profession •

5. The Norwegian National Register of Interpreters
Publicly financed and administrated by IMDi
Primary target groups are public servants and professionals in need of interpreters
recruitment tool
check interpreter’s qualification
requirement in tender for interpreting services
“call an interpreter”
Transparent, publicly accessible and free of charge through
There is no online booking function on the web site •

6. The Norwegian National Register of Interpreters
Applicants must fill out and send an application form which is available through
All accepted applications are classified into five categories according to their documented qualifications
Recruitment
Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences
Interpreting agencies
University of Oslo
Contact networks
IMDis regional offices
IMDis partners (municipalities and public sector authorities) •

7. Available information:
5 categories:
1: Certified interpreters with a 30 ECTS university-level interpreter training
2: Certified interpreters
3: 30 ECTS university-level interpreter training (HiOA)
4: Certified translators with 3 day intensive course on interpreting ethics and techniques (TAO)
5: Interpreter candidates with bilingual vocabulary test with 3 day intensive course on interpreting ethics and techniques (TAO)
Available information:
Full name
Contact address
Gender
Language(s)
Interpreting hours (last 3 years)
Interpreting techniques and modes
Field of competencies
Education
Not available:
Private address
ID-number •

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12. The Norwegian National Register of Interpreters (2012)
Category
Interpreters
Languages 1
134 23 2 35 18 3
558 53 4 33 12 5
483 58
1243 registered interpreters 65 languages 58% high qualified
Evaluation (2010)
59 percent of the interpreters, and 55 percent of interpreting users who have used the National Register, said they were pleased with the register
A majority of 64 percent of interpreting users report that they do not know the register
A majority of both interpreters and interpreting users would rather have a booking function available
More interaction with target groups
Better use of available technology •

13. Public service interpreting in Norway
Awareness, knowledge and guidelines
National register
National certification
University-level interpreting training
ToSPoT
- bilingual vocabulary test
TAO
- 3 day intensive course
mellomskilleark

14. Thank you very much! lds@imdi.no http://www.tolkeportalen.no

15. National Certification of Interpreters
University of Oslo, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (2013)
Exam (no training)
181 certified in 22 languages
Selection criteria: higher education entrance qualifications, 20 years of age
Aim: to secure/guarantee that the [interpreter] service is of good quality
The written exam (elimination)
General language and terminology
Realia
Cut off score: 75 %
The oral exam:
Dialogue
Monologue
Ethics
Cut off score: 85 % •

16. 3 day intensive course on interpreting ethics and techniques (TAO)
Code of ethics
Presentation of the field of public service interpreting
What is an interpreter?
The institutional meeting
Interpreting a meeting
Language and terminology
Note-taking and memory basics
The National Register of Interpreters
Further qualification
Professionalism
Practical training •