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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:
SLI Educational License FAQ - ASL translated videohttps://youtu.be/mOBeFyt9ag8
SLI Legal License FAQ - ASL translated videohttps://youtu.be/fbbxg9-sG4s
SLI Medical License FAQ - ASL translated videohttps://youtu.be/_XITH_J8byA
The Board of Sign Language Interpreters has a meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 4 p.m. Information on how the public may attend the meeting is listed in the notice (when posted). The notice and the agenda can be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Pages/Public-Meetings.aspx. The agenda is subject to change.
Please note: Because the SLI Board does not currently meet quorum requirements, this meeting may need to be canceled if one or more new SLI Board members are not appointed before the meeting date. In addition, If the requisite number of sign language interpreters have not confirmed availability and attendance within 48 hours of the meeting, then the meeting will be canceled.
If you have any questions about accommodations or need assistance to participate, please contact Josh Page at josh.page@oha.oregon.gov or by calling (503) 934-0720, or Krissy Pickett at krissy.pickett@oha.oregon.gov or by calling (503) 378-2093. All relay calls are accepted.
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 December 11, 2025, to:
Further information regarding the December 11, 2025, 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:
Mark your calendar:The Health Licensing Office (HLO) will be closed or have delayed openings on the following days:
Thursday and Friday, November 27–28, 2025: Closed for the Thanksgiving holiday
Tuesday, December 16, 2025: Late opening at 10 a.m.
Thursday, December 25, 2025: Closed for Christmas
Friday, December 26, 2025: *Lobby closed to walk-ins
Thursday, January 1, 2026: Closed for New Year’s Day
Examinations will not be offered, and licenses will not be issued on these days.
*On December 26, the HLO will be closed to the public to address administrative tasks. Staff will be answering phones and emails; however, there will be no over-the-counter walk-in service or testing available that day.
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/oha/ph/hlo.
During the 2025 Legislative Session, SB 950 (2025) was passed and signed into law by the Governor on May 28, 2025. The new law repeals the sign language interpreter (SLI) educational license, effective January 1, 2026. However, any SLI educational license issued between June 8, 2024, and December 31, 2025, will remain valid through January 1, 2029, allowing SLI educational license holders three additional years to practice.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the SLI educational license will no longer be issued or renewed due to SB 950 (2025), which repeals this license type.
The Health Licensing Office (HLO) has provided a FAQ to help understand how the current law aligns with SB 950 (2025).
FAQ for Sign Language Interpreter Educational License
During the 2025 Legislative Session, SB 950 (2025) was passed and signed into law by the Governor on May 28, 2025. The new law repeals the sign language interpreter (SLI) legal and medical licenses, effective January 1, 2026. However, any SLI legal or medical licenses issued between June 8, 2024, and December 31, 2025, will remain valid until January 1, 2029, allowing SLI legal and medical license holders three additional years to practice.
Beginning January 1, 2026, the SLI legal and medical licenses will no longer be issued or renewed due to SB 950 (2025), which repeals both license types.
The Health Licensing Office (HLO) has provided a FAQ to help understand how the current law aligns with SB 950 (2025).
FAQ for Sign Language Interpreter Legal License
FAQ for Sign Language Interpreter Medical License
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