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The State Board of Sign Language Interpreters (Board), is currently recruiting for the following vacant Board member position(s):
Mark your calendar:The Health Licensing Office (HLO) will be closed on the following days:
Monday, May 25, 2026: Memorial Day
Friday, June 19, 2026: Juneteenth (Emancipation 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/oha/ph/hlo.
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
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
The Health Licensing Office (HLO) is extending the limited waiver on enforcement through midnight on June 30, 2026. This extension allows the Oregon Board of Sign Language Interpreters (the Board) and the Rules Advisory Committee to continue the rulemaking process and draft additional rules required by SB 950 (2025). Extending the waiver also provides stakeholders time to implement the new rules into their business models.
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