A sign language interpreter must be registered and certified in Illinois to accept any interpreting assignment. The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission (IDHHC) control the rules and regulations for sign language interpreters.

It is important to know what the levels in certifications are to understand what level of a certified sign language interpreter is required. Follow the steps below to hire a sign language interpreter:

1. Review the IDHHC brochure that explains the levels of certifications. In this brochure, the certification levels are color-coded and each level gives examples of the types of assignments allowed. This will help you determine the minimum level of interpreter you will need. Once you know the minimum level of interpreter required, you can hire someone at that level or higher, but you are not allowed to hire an interpreter at a lower level than required.
2. Now that you know the level of interpreter you need, you can go to the IDHHC interpreter directory to find a list of individuals you can contact. IDHHC has this directory set up so that you can filter and search by region, county, city and state, license status, license/proficiency level, and/or licensed deaf.
3. Ideally, you would like to find an interpreter in your region to be the most cost-effective, but if there are no interpreters available in your region, try a nearby region. Keep in mind the cost of an interpreter usually includes mileage.
4. Once you have hired an interpreter, you can ask them to show you their license. If the interpreter has not complied with the licensing requirements or you are dissatisfied with their services, you may file a complaint with IDHHC.