Which Laws Require Interpreter Services
Interpreter services in public life rest on a few federal laws, not on a single funding program. Those laws cover hospitals, schools and courts, and they require language help for people with limited English.
The guide below explains which laws apply, who pays for the help, and what a professional interpreter service involves. Each rule links to its legal text, so you can check the current wording yourself.
Which Federal Laws Apply
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination based on race, color or national origin in any program that receives federal financial assistance (42 U.S.C. 2000d).
In Lau v. Nichols (1974), the Supreme Court held that San Francisco schools violated that ban by failing to teach English, or give other adequate instruction, to about 1,800 non-English-speaking students of Chinese ancestry.
The Court held that this denied them a meaningful opportunity to take part in public education.
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act applies the same national origin ban to health programs that receive federal funds. Under 45 CFR 92.201, covered health programs must take reasonable steps to give people with limited English proficiency meaningful access, and they must offer a qualified interpreter when interpretation is required.
The rule also restricts relying on minors or adult family members to interpret, apart from narrow exceptions.
Schools have their own duty under the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974. It requires educational agencies to take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that keep students from taking part equally in their instructional programs (20 U.S.C. 1703(f)).
Federal courts follow the Court Interpreters Act. In judicial proceedings instituted by the United States, a presiding judge must use the most available certified interpreter when a party or witness speaks only or primarily a language other than English. If no certified interpreter is reasonably available, the judge uses another qualified interpreter.
The Americans with Disabilities Act covers a separate group. Under 28 CFR 35.160, state and local governments must take appropriate steps so that communication with people with disabilities is as effective as communication with everyone else.
Federal policy has also changed. An executive order signed March 1, 2025 designated English as the official language of the United States and revoked Executive Order 13166, which had required federal agencies to improve access for people with limited English proficiency. Check the current text of each rule linked above before you rely on it.
Who Pays for Interpreter Services
The laws set the duty, not a budget. For health programs, the rule makes language help free to the patient, so the provider carries that cost. How other institutions fund the help depends on their own budgets.
What a Professional Interpreter Service Involves
Interpreting comes in three main forms. On-site interpreting puts an interpreter in the room. Video remote interpreting connects an interpreter by video. Multilingual interpreting covers events and meetings, online or in person.
Credentials are held by interpreters, not by agencies. The CMI credential from the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters and the CHI credential from the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters are two national medical interpreter certifications. CHI is offered in Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin.
Federal court interpreters are certified through an examination run by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The process has a written screener, followed by an oral examination for candidates who pass it (federal court interpreters).
Common Questions About Funding
Q1: Does the Government Pay for Every Interpreter?
No. Federal law requires certain institutions to provide language help, but it does not set up one program that pays for every interpreter.
Q2: Can a Hospital Charge a Patient for Interpreting?
Not for language help the rule requires. Under 45 CFR 92.201, health programs that receive federal funds must provide language assistance to people with limited English proficiency free of charge.
Q3: Which Law Applies to Schools?
The Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 requires schools to take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that keep students from participating equally. The Supreme Court applied Title VI to school language instruction in Lau v. Nichols (1974).
Next Steps
If you need an interpreter for a meeting, hearing or appointment, send us the language pair, the date and whether the session is on site or by video. Call +1 (737) 301-0606 or use the online form. A member of BeTranslated will reply within 12 hours.
