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Exam Review

Key Facts: EIPA Exam

176

Total Written Questions

Boys Town EIPA

9

Content Domains

Boys Town EIPA

3.5/5.0

Passing Performance Score

Most states

4 hours

Written Test Time Limit

Boys Town

$260

Written Test Fee

Boys Town

5 years

Rating Validity

Boys Town EIPA

The Boys Town EIPA Written Test has 176 multiple-choice questions across 9 domains with a 4-hour time limit; most candidates finish in 2.5 hours. Domains cover Culture, Education, English, Interpreting Linguistics, Literacy and Tutoring, Professional Role and Conduct, Student Cognitive and Language Development, Technology, and Sign Language. The Written Test costs $260 and is pass/fail. The companion Performance Test costs $460. Credentials are valid 5 years with continuing education.

Sample EIPA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the EIPA exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 132+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What does EIPA stand for?
A.Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment
B.Educational Interpreter Professional Authority
C.Early Interpreter Practice Assessment
D.Elementary Interpreter Performance Award
Explanation: EIPA stands for Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment, administered by Boys Town National Research Hospital. It is the standard K-12 educational interpreter credential in the US and includes both a Performance Test (video-recorded interpretation) and a Written Test (multiple choice covering nine domains).
2Which organization administers the EIPA?
A.RID
B.Boys Town National Research Hospital
C.Gallaudet University
D.NAD
Explanation: Boys Town National Research Hospital (Omaha, Nebraska) administers the EIPA through its Classroom Interpreting project. It is separate from RID, though EIPA-certified interpreters may hold other credentials (including RID's Ed: K-12 or NIC).
3What scoring scale does the EIPA Performance Test use?
A.0-100
B.Pass/Fail
C.0.0 to 5.0
D.A-F
Explanation: The EIPA Performance Test is scored on a 0.0 to 5.0 scale. Most states require 3.5 or higher for educational interpreters, though specific cutoffs vary. Boys Town provides a detailed rubric covering sign-to-voice, voice-to-sign, and linguistic/cultural features.
4Which federal law requires K-12 schools to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)?
A.FERPA
B.IDEA
C.HIPAA
D.Title IX
Explanation: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), most recently reauthorized in 2004, requires that public schools provide FAPE in the LRE for students with disabilities, including Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. LRE does not mandate mainstream placement — it requires the appropriate placement on a continuum.
5What is an IEP?
A.International Education Program
B.Individualized Education Program
C.Interpreter Education Plan
D.Instructional Exchange Policy
Explanation: An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally required written plan for each K-12 student receiving special education under IDEA. It specifies the student's present levels, goals, accommodations (including interpreter services), and placement. Interpreters should be familiar with the student's IEP.
6Under FERPA, what are interpreters' obligations regarding student records?
A.Free to discuss with anyone
B.Maintain confidentiality of student educational records and information
C.Post on social media
D.Show to parents without authorization
Explanation: FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the confidentiality of student educational records. Interpreters have access to sensitive information (IEP contents, grades, behavior) and must maintain strict confidentiality. FERPA complements the RID CPC's Tenet 1 (Confidentiality).
7What is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?
A.A law restricting interpreters
B.The first federal civil rights law protecting students/people with disabilities in federally funded programs
C.A privacy rule
D.A union regulation
Explanation: Section 504 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in federally funded programs (which includes public schools). Students who do not qualify for IDEA may still receive accommodations under a Section 504 Plan. Section 504, ADA, and IDEA form the legal framework for K-12 Deaf access.
8Which of the following is NOT typically an appropriate role for a K-12 educational interpreter?
A.Interpreting classroom lectures
B.Tutoring the student outside of IEP-documented roles
C.Interpreting peer interactions
D.Interpreting during assemblies
Explanation: Tutoring is not typically within the interpreter role unless explicitly documented in the IEP as an assigned interpreter responsibility. Interpreters maintain role boundaries — they are not teachers, counselors, or tutors. Role clarity supports student autonomy and teacher accountability.
9According to research on language acquisition, what is the 'critical period' hypothesis?
A.A time when children refuse to learn
B.A developmental window during which first-language acquisition occurs most readily
C.A period of mandatory rest
D.A government-imposed testing period
Explanation: The critical period hypothesis (Lenneberg) proposes a developmental window — roughly ages 0-12 — during which first-language acquisition occurs most readily. Deaf children denied accessible language input during this period often show lasting linguistic, cognitive, and mental health effects (language deprivation).
10Piaget's 'preoperational' stage typically covers what ages?
A.0-2
B.2-7
C.7-11
D.12+
Explanation: Piaget's preoperational stage spans roughly ages 2-7, characterized by symbolic thinking, egocentrism, and intuitive reasoning. Sensorimotor is 0-2, concrete operational is 7-11, formal operational is 12+. Educational interpreters should know these stages to calibrate developmentally appropriate language.

About the EIPA Exam

The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) is the primary credential for K-12 sign language interpreters working in U.S. schools, administered by Boys Town National Research Hospital. The EIPA has two separate components: the Performance Test (a video-recorded interpreting sample scored 0.0-5.0, with 3.5+ passing in most states) and the Written Test (176 multiple-choice questions across 9 domains covering educational interpreting knowledge). Most state departments of education require EIPA certification for K-12 interpreters.

Exam sponsor: Boys Town National Research Hospital. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

4 hours (Written Test time limit)

Passing Score

Pass/Fail (Written); 3.5/5.0 (Performance)

Exam / Certification Fees

$260 Written Test; $460 Performance Test

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: ~55-70%. for well-prepared educational interpreters (EIPA historical) This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

15%

Professional Role & Conduct

EIPA Code of Conduct, RID CPC in educational settings, interpreter boundaries (not teacher, counselor, tutor, parent, or friend), FERPA confidentiality of student records.

15%

Education & Educational Discourse

IDEA 2004, Section 504, IEP process, LRE, mainstreaming vs self-contained classrooms, pre-teaching, processing time, lecture vs discussion discourse types.

15%

Interpreting Linguistics

Source/target text analysis, message equivalence, sight translation, text interpreting (reading aloud), register matching, classifier predicates, role shift.

15%

Student Cognitive & Language Development

Piaget's stages, Vygotsky's ZPD, Bloom's taxonomy, first/second language acquisition, ASL-as-first-language impact on English literacy, bilingual development.

12%

Sign Language & Signing Systems

ASL vs SEE, MCE, PSE, CASE, Cued Speech, transliteration, conceptually accurate signing in content-area vocabulary.

10%

Literacy & Tutoring

Phonics, whole language, reading comprehension, role of interpreter in literacy support, appropriate tutoring boundaries.

10%

Culture (Deaf + General)

Deaf culture in mainstream schools, audism, cultural mediation, DODA/CODA, community values, Deaf students' identity development.

8%

English

Grammar, usage, vocabulary appropriate to K-12 content areas (math, science, social studies, language arts), figurative language.

Preparing for the EIPA Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Pass/Fail (Written); 3.5/5.0 (Performance)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 4 hours (Written Test time limit)
  • Exam / certification fees: $260 Written Test; $460 Performance Test Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 132 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

EIPA: Suggested Study Strategy

1Review IDEA 2004, Section 504, FERPA, and the IEP process — know the interpreter's role on the team
2Study Piaget's stages, Vygotsky's ZPD, and Bloom's taxonomy for student cognitive development
3Know the difference between ASL, SEE, MCE, PSE, CASE, Cued Speech, and transliteration
4Understand why ASL-as-L1 delayed exposure impacts English literacy acquisition
5Memorize the EIPA Code of Conduct and interpreter boundaries (not teacher, counselor, tutor)
6Review K-12 content-area vocabulary: math, science, social studies terminology in ASL
7Use Boys Town's free EIPA Written Test practice and Content Knowledge Standards PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EIPA?

The Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) is a credential administered by Boys Town National Research Hospital for K-12 sign language interpreters. It has two components: a Performance Test (video-scored 0.0-5.0) and a Written Test (176 multiple-choice questions). Most state departments of education require an EIPA rating of 3.5 or higher.

How many questions are on the EIPA Written Test?

The EIPA Written Test has 176 multiple-choice questions covering nine domains: Culture, Education, English, Interpreting Linguistics, Literacy and Tutoring, Professional Role and Conduct, Student Cognitive and Language Development, Technology, and Sign Language. The time limit is 4 hours; most candidates finish in 2.5 hours. It is scored pass/fail.

How much does the EIPA cost?

The EIPA Written Test fee is $260. The EIPA Performance Test fee is $460. Local test administrators (LTAs) may charge an additional proctor fee for the Written Test. Retakes require full payment again. Many school districts reimburse interpreters who pass EIPA.

What EIPA score do I need to work as a K-12 interpreter?

Most states require an EIPA Performance score of 3.5 or higher on the 0.0-5.0 scale, though a handful of states require 4.0. The Written Test is pass/fail. EIPA scoring categories: below 2.0 (novice/not recommended), 2.0-2.9 (limited), 3.0-3.4 (intermediate), 3.5-3.9 (advanced intermediate), 4.0+ (advanced).

What is the role of the K-12 interpreter under IDEA?

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), deaf and hard-of-hearing students are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Interpreters facilitate communication access but are not teachers, counselors, tutors, or parents. They are part of the IEP team and advocate for appropriate accommodations.

How long is EIPA certification valid?

EIPA ratings are valid for 5 years. Interpreters must complete continuing education (typically through the EIPA mentor program or similar professional development) and retest to maintain or improve their rating. Some states require annual CEUs to continue working in K-12 settings.