Skip to main content

ALERT: The IDHHC has been made aware of the fraudulent and/or solicitation emails from the bad actors pretending to represent the IDHHC. Please be sure to always verify the sender's email address or website.  The following are official communications from IDHHC: DHH.Communications@Illinois.govDHH.Interpreter@Illinois.gov, DHH.Training@Illinois.gov and any state employee ending at @Illinois.gov. Official website: idhhc.illinois.gov.  Sign language interpreter license renewal notices come from noreply@lnpweb.com

IMPORTANT:  2025 testing dates will be posted early next week.  Applications accepted beginning December 1.

BEI Certification

Forms

Form Required Fee Important Information
BEI_Conversion $22 Upon conversion, the BEI certificate holder is required to comply annually with the IL BEI Certificate Maintenance procedures. Compliance with IL BEI Certificate Maintenance does not maintain your BEI certificate in the issuing state.
BEI_Name Change  $0 To make name changes.

Maintenance

Expiration

An interpreter’s IL BEI certification expires annually on March 1st. IDHHC will send notice via email 30 days before the certification expires. A certificate holder’s failure to receive notice does not prevent the expiration of a certificate.  If an IL BEI certificate requires renewal within 90 days after issuance, IDHHC will automatically extend its expiration to the following maintenance cycle.

Renewal

If an interpreter has an active IL Sign Language Interpreter for the Deaf License, BEI certificate maintenance renewal is automatic.  BEI renewal fees are waived.  Licensed interpreters will receive an updated certificate by email prior to March 1st. 

If an interpreter does NOT have an active IL Sign Language Interpreter for the Deaf License, IDHHC will send a pre-populated IL BEI certificate maintenance form via email at least 30 days before the March 1st annual expiration date.

The IL BEI certificate holder must:

  1. complete the annual Certification Maintenance renewal form.
  2. return completed form.
  3. submit proof of compliance with CE requirements.
  4. process an electronic payment.

Fees

  • Maintenance fee postmarked on or before March 1: $40.00
  • Maintenance fee postmarked after March 1: $55.00 (includes $15.00 late fee)
  • All fees are NON-REFUNDABLE

Important to Note

If an Illinois BEI certification has expired for one year or more, the certification cannot be renewed. You will need to apply and obtain a new IL BEI certification by retaking the IL BEI performance test.   If an IL BEI Certificate holder places their IL Sign Language Interpreter for the Deaf License on inactive status or allows their IL Sign Language Interpreter for the Deaf License to expire, the certificate holder must continue to maintain the IL BEI Certification separately for it to remain valid.

Continuing Education

Each certificate holder must earn 20 hours of continuing education during the annual certification period. One Continuing Education (CE) hour shall be equal to one clock hour of attendance.  The CEs must be earned during January 1 to December 31 of each year.

A certificate holder shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the 1st maintenance period. This exemption applies only for this first initial maintenance period. 

If an IL BEI certificate holder earns more than the required CE hours during a maintenance period, the certificate holder may carry over into  the next maintenance period a maximum of 10 CE hours. Carryover hours are only applied if the certificate holder has not earned the required CE hours during a maintenance period.

IL BEI Certificate holders must certify on the annual maintenance application full compliance with CE requirements as required.  IDHHC may require additional evidence indicating compliance with the CE requirements.  Certificate holders shall not submit this additional evidence unless specifically requested by IDHHC. It is the responsibility of each certificate holder to retain evidence of compliance for three years after CE hours shall be earned by verified attendance (e.g., certificate of attendance or certificate of completion) at or participation in a program or course that meets the requirements set forth in the Interpreters for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2007 Rules, 68 Ill. Admin. Code 1515.80 or the Illinois State Board of Education Rules for Educational Interpreters at 23 Ill. Admin. Code 25.550(c).

Questions

For questions about BEI Certification, please contact DHH.Interpreter@Illinois.gov

Footer