21 NCAC 25 .0101. DEFINITIONS

(a)  The definitions in G.S. 90D-3 apply to the rules in this Chapter.

(b)  The following definitions also apply to the rules in this Chapter:

(1)           "Applicant" means any person applying to the Board for any license under G.S. 90D.

(2)           "Consumer" means any person who retains or uses the services of an interpreter or transliterator.

(3)           "Continuing Education" means post-licensure education that maintains or enhances the knowledge and skills of interpreters and transliterators and enables them to continue to render competent professional services.

(4)           "Continuing Education Unit" means the unit of measurement of the continuing education completed by a licensee during a licensure year.  In the case of workshops and conferences, 10 clock hours of training equal one continuing education unit ("CEU").  In the case of college class work, one hour of college credit in the quarter system equals one CEU and one hour of college credit in the semester system equals 1.5 CEUs.

(5)           "Convicted" or "Conviction" means and includes the entry of:

(A)          a plea of no contest, nolo contendere, or the equivalent;

(B)          a plea of guilty; or

(C)          a verdict or finding of guilt by a jury, judge, or magistrate;

in any duly constituted, established, and recognized civilian or military adjudicating body, court, or tribunal in this State or any other state or nation;

(6)           "Felony" means any offense classified as a felony by the laws, statutes, or ordinances of the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred or, absent any such classification, any offense for which the maximum punishment under the laws, statutes, or ordinances of the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred includes imprisonment for a term of more than two years.

(7)           "Full license" means a license issued pursuant to G.S. 90D-7 or S.L. 2002-182, s. 7 (as amended by S.L. 2003-56) that is not currently suspended for disciplinary reasons.  A license that has been suspended is not a full license even if the suspension has been stayed.

(8)           "General Studies" means those studies of the arts, sciences, and humanities that are not directly related to interpreting and transliterating. 

(9)           "Initial license" means the license issued to an applicant under G.S. 90D-7 or S.L. 2002-182, s. 7 (as amended by S.L. 2003-56) or the license issued to an applicant under G.S. 90D-7 or S.L. 2002-182, s. 7 (as amended by S.L. 2003-56) after a lapse in licensure.

(10)         "Initial provisional license" means the provisional license issued to an applicant under G.S. 90D-8(a).  A licensee shall acquire only one initial provisional license during his or her lifetime.

(11)         "Misdemeanor" means any criminal offense not classified as a felony by the laws, statutes, or ordinances of the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred or, absent any such classification, any offense for which the maximum allowable punishment under the laws, statutes, or ordinances of the jurisdiction in which the offense occurred includes imprisonment for a term of no more than two years. No traffic offense in any foreign jurisdiction shall be considered a misdemeanor if the offense has been de-criminalized under the motor vehicle laws of North Carolina.  

(12)         "Professional Studies" means those studies that directly enhance a licensee's ability to interpret or transliterate.  Professional studies are divided into:

(A)          Linguistic and Cultural Studies, which include the study of languages and linguistic systems and the study of specific cultures;

(B)          Theoretical and Experiential Studies, which include the study of the process of interpreting, the study of transliterating theory, and participation in skill-building activities; and

(C)          Specialization Studies, which include the study of the issues and problems unique to interpreting and transliterating for the legal, medical, mental health, and substance abuse recovery professions.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90D-6;

Eff. March 21, 2005.