We're just getting started! NCI's Past:
The National Center for Interpretation was founded in 1979 at the University of Arizona, with the mission to ensure the rights of people with limited English proficiency here in the United States. In support of that mission, NCI developed three areas of focus: Training, Testing, and Research.
1. NCI became a national leader in interpreter certification tes
ting—developing the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination, which set the standard for all subsequent interpreter tests in the field.
2. NCI pioneered training programs, including the Court Interpreter Training Institute, launched in 1983.
3. NCI's founder, Dr. Roseann Gonzalez, was the primary author of the seminal text in the field, Fundamentals of Court Interpretation: Theory, Policy, and Practice. Over the years, NCI has also conducted groundbreaking research supported by the AOUSC, U.S. Department of Education, the States of Texas and New Mexico, and other agencies. NCI's Present:
The National Center for Interpretation LLC began in late 2025. NCI LLC now holds the exclusive license to provide the professional development training originally developed at the University of Arizona. We're focusing on what we do best: making interpreters better. NCI works with an extraordinary group of interpreting/translation subject matter experts, all of whom have years of experience and have achieved the highest credentials in their fields, both in terms of their certifications as well as other relevant degrees (e.g., JD, MD, PhD). As important, they are exceptional teachers who are committed to advancing the profession by elevating the next generation.
