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Search | Contact Us | Privacy About LTC LTC Program History In 1991, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in Washington State initiated an effort to certify its bilingual staff, social service and medical interpreters, and translators working for DSHS throughout its many divisions and programs. This effort was the culmination of lawsuits and civil rights complaints brought against DSHS for not providing equal access to services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients. As part of a consent decree, DSHS agreed not only to provide (and pay for) interpreters for clients, but also to ensure the quality of interpreter services provided. DSHS chose to ensure quality through the development and administration of standardized tests. The Language Testing and Certification program (LTC) was created to develop systems, methods, procedures, and policies in carrying out the department's commitment. LTC Tests The tests developed by LTC aim to measure both language proficiency in English and a second language and interpreting/translation skills. DSHS language certification is currently available in eight languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Cambodian, Laotian, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, and Korean. Authorization screening tests are also available in all other languages. Five types of tests were created to evaluate the skills of five categories of people: DSHS employees with bilingual assignments, licensed agency personnel whose agency provides services to DSHS under contract (such as mental health and substance abuse program workers), contracted translators providing written translation services to DSHS programs, contracted interpreters providing oral interpretation services to DSHS social service programs, and contracted interpreters providing oral interpretation services to DSHS clients in medical settings. Test Information For more information about different types of LTC tests, please consult the Examination Manual (Word Format). Test Fees No test fees are applicable to DSHS employees and new recruits for DSHS positions requiring bilingual skills. A modest fee is charged to contracted interpreters and translators for each test attempt. For specific information about test fees, please consult the Test Fee Schedule in the Examination Manual (Word Format). Contact the program manager for more information about the Language Testing and Certification program at dshsct@dshs.wa.gov For more ways to get in touch with the Department of Social and Health Services go to the DSHS Contact Information Web page. Technical Site Comments:  DSHS Webmaster