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Board of Sign Language Interpreters - Blog

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Recruitment for the State Board of Sign Language Interpreters

​The State Board of Sign Language Interpreters (Board), is currently recruiting for the following vacant Board member position(s): 

  • Two (2) Deaf / Deafblind / Hard of Hearing members who represent an association in Oregon that promotes and protects the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.​

Upcoming HLO Closures and Delays

Mark your calendar:
The Health Licensing Office (HLO) will be closed on the following days:

  • Monday, January 19, 2026: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

  • Monday, February 16, 2026: Presidents' Day

Examinations will not be offered, and licenses will not be issued on these days.

​Our Regular office hours are:
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Testing hours are:
Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For examination and licensing questions, call (503) 378-8667. You can also email hlo.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

Many of your questions can be answered by consulting our website at www.oregon.gov/o​ha/ph/hlo​.​

Board of Sign Language Interpreters– Licensing Update

​Board of Sign Language Interpreters– Licensing Update

Temporary Pause for License Applications and License Renewals and the Repeal of Educational, Legal and Medical Licenses effective January 1, 2026.

During the 2025 Legislative Session, Senate Bill (SB) 950 (2025) was enacted to further refine the licensure and regulation of sign language interpreters (SLI) in Oregon. The bill requires the Board of Sign Language Interpreters (Board) to adopt administrative rules by January 1, 2026, to:

  • Establish licensing and renewal fees;
  • Establish requirements for obtaining an SLI–in-training license, including supervision and renewal standards;
  • Align SLI supervisory, generalist, and provisional licenses with a three-year license and renewal cycle;
  • Remove renewal limitations for the SLI generalist license and permit up to two renewals of the SLI provisional license, with each renewal valid for three years, effective January 1, 2026; and
  • Establish authorized practice settings for individuals issued an SLI educational, legal, or medical licenses prior to January 1, 2026.

Board of Sign Language Interpreters Meeting Cancellation and Rulemaking Update

The Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2025, has been cancelled due to not meeting board member quorum requirements and an insufficient number of sign language interprters available to sign for the meeting.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. Confirmation of that meeting will be communicated and posted on the Health Licensing Office Public Meetings webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Pages/Public-Meetings.aspx​.

All rulemaking has been poased. The Health Licensing Office expects rulemaking will commence at the February 4, 2026, meeting.

ASL Translated FAQs for Educational, Legal and Medical Sign Language Interpreter Licenses

​The Health Licensing Office (HLO) has had the Board of Sign Language Interpreters’ (SLI) Educational, Legal, and Medical Licenses Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) translated into American Sign Language (ASL) videos, which are now available on the HLO YouTube channel. The links are as follows:

Board of Sign Language Interpreters - Rulemaking Update

The Health Licensing Office (HLO) has temporarily suspended rulemaking for the Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters (Board) due to an insufficient number of appointed members. At this time, only three members have been appointed to the Board; four members are required to convene an official meeting.

If additional appointments are made, the Board is expected to meet on February 4, 2026, to:

  • Adopt temporary rules implementing the requirements of SB 950 (2025), and
  • Approve proposed rules to initiate the permanent rulemaking process.

Further information regarding the February 4, 2026, meeting will be provided once new Board members have been appointed and confirmed.

For current updates, please visit the Board's meeting page:
Board of Sign Language Interpreters Meetings

Contact Information:

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