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NIC Changes Update
Let Your Voice Be Heard
Your input is needed for an important step in the NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Examination enhancement process. By providing feedback on your experience, you can help identify specialty certifications in the field of sign language interpreting.
This Pre-Job Task Analysis (Pre-JTA) is a profession-wide survey being conducted by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) for the purpose of identifying future enhancements to NIC Examination program. The Pre-JTA survey is being distributed to practitioners and consumers of interpreting services to help determine the need for specialty certifications within the field of sign language interpreting.
Specialty certification plays an important role in meeting the demands and realities of the marketplace and we know that interpreters are increasingly working in specialized settings that require specific expertise, knowledge and skills. We are trying to determine those specialized areas that are most critical to serving the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing consumers.
In order to accurately evaluate and identify these areas, it is important to have substantial participation from sign language interpreters and Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing consumers. So, please, take a moment to share your feedback today by completing the Pre-JTA survey.
It is anticipated that the survey will take 15 minutes to complete.
Follow this link to the Survey: Take the Survey
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser: https://lucas141.qualtrics.com/WRQualtricsSurveyEngine/?Q_SS=a4VnnY8XHV3BnKY_a2SW8c0WQxHSzis&_=1
The survey will be open until October 10, 2011 so share your input today!
About the NIC enhancement process
In late 2009, the Board of Directors for both NAD and RID established the NIC Task Force to work with feedback about the NIC certificatiofrom interpreters, consumers, and others, to reflect changes in the profession and community during the past 10 years, and to align the NIC with ever-evolving best practices in the certification industry. The Task Force recommended updates to the NIC certification program that address many complex factors around certification. Such factors involve testing for at least two levels of interpreter ability using separate exams, specialty recognition, eligibility requirements, and more. The multi-year enhancement process will ensure that the NIC is a more reliable, valid, current, and well-understood certification for all who rely on it.
RID will work with, involve and support the interpreter and Deaf communities throughout the NIC enhancement and implementation process. RID and NAD are committed to a collaborative effort that will benefit from the collective experience and expertise of all groups with a stake in the NIC credential and RID certification program overall. For more information, go to www.rid.org/NICNews.
PCRID 2011 Membership Survey and NIC Presentation on 9/24/11
PCRID would like to know what you think about all the changes taking place at RID. Please fill out our online membership survey with your honest opinions. We will share this information with our Region Two Representative, Lisa Schafermeyer with the hopes that she will be able to share this information with the RID Board and RID Certification Committee.
Here is the PowerPoint Presentation from PCRID's September 24, 2011 General Meeting "The NIC Changes - Where Are We Headed?" presented by Laura Wickless. If you have any further questions or comments, please contact Laura at nicindependentforum@gmail.com.
Comments
Presenter Notes About Each Slide
Slide 1 - We saw similar language to now when the NIC was originally created.
Slide 2 - Example of RID’s fairly recent support for the current NIC.
Slide 3 - RID’s communication about the upcoming changes. Similar in some ways to the past with slightly new angle.
Slide 4 - Starting this fall: NIC is a NIC. End of tiered system. No more mailing out test recordings. Raters will access a rater queue and view performance exams via computer access. Several raters view portions of a candidate recording which reduces bias. Faster turn around (possibly as little as one or two weeks). Look for and participate in EVERY survey from RID. A Job Task Analysis (JTA) and specialization surveys are coming. Spread the word to EVERY interpreter. That is how RID will collect information to develop new certification tests.
NIC I - entry level test (will it be equivalent to previous certifications? possibly but unknown)
NIC II - a more advanced level certification test (must one take NIC I before NIC II? unknown)
2013 or after: Specialization tests possible in many areas (must one
Slide 6 - Many professions offer accredited certification programs. RID is a member of Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). Such membership does not offer any guarantees about RID’s certification programs. Credentials that are accredited offer more guarantees since an organization must follow standards and oversight from an outside body.
Is RID moving toward accreditation? Unknown, but possible.
If RID programs ever became accredited by NCCA at some time in the future, it looks as though certification programs from the period before the accredited ones may not be allowed “grandfathering”. The language is a little confusing, but this may be a violation of NCCA accreditation standards (see NCCA Standards for Accreditation of Certification Programs, Standard 8, section B) http://www.credentialingexcellence.org/portals/0/STANDARDS%20-%20Updated%20January%202010.pdf
Slide 7 - There are 21 Standards for NCCA accreditation. We don’t seem to have met them yet. The standards fall into these broad areas.
Slide 8 - Some interesting issues with structure and governance which could be challenging for RID.
Slide 9 and 10 - Feel free to contact me with questions at NICindependentforum@gmail.com
Slide 11 and 12 - Sources for this presentation