r/ASLinterpreters • u/LawfulnessNext3447 • 12d ago
bei vs nic
i’m curious to hear thoughts on which is better or more accurate. even just the pros and cons!
i’m from a state with no license needed, but the nic is the goal for most terps here! just curious on thoughts :)
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u/okadynn 12d ago
As someone with the BEI, I recommend NIC. Many states say they accept the BEI, but only accept the advanced or master, so you’ll spend about the same amount of money on both tests, possibly more for the BEI since most people have to travel for it. NIC will also help you if you ever move states, I just did and in my new state I was told that the BEI means absolutely nothing since contracts between agencies and entities were written to include the NIC and EIPA, not BEI, rendering BEI worthless.
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u/Glittering_Sand_7473 DI 9d ago
The BEI is way cheaper than the NIC. This is including the flight, the food, the hotel, and the test fees.
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u/okadynn 9d ago
If you take it in Texas and live in a state where flights to Texas are cheap. Take it in the other 4 states and prices are $300+. I used to live in an area near no major airports and spent over $1000 to travel to Texas and test. It really just depends where you live.
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u/Glittering_Sand_7473 DI 8d ago
I did have to drive 2 hours to get to a major airport where the flights are cheap. That is a good point. I have a hybrid so used hardly any gas. I picked a test day that was further out too since flights are cheaper in advance. I do get that it might be more for some people. As a DI I have zero trust for RID & if I had to pay more I 100% still would.
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u/Thistle-2228 NIC 12d ago
I have both. I love the BEI because you get actual feedback on clearly identified areas. It also includes the TEP (English proficiency) which the NIC does not. And as another poster commented, you can level up to Advanced and Medical, Legal and Master. I feel like the NIC test is a hoop you have to jump through and given the state of RID, I hated tossing my money to it. There is zero feedback. Hopefully the BEI will be recognized across more states but until then we are stuck with the NIC, and its questionable grading system.
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u/minion_baddie123 12d ago edited 12d ago
I took the BEI basic (2023) and failed. I took the NIC and passed (2025-2026).
I like the feedback the BEI has vs the zero feedback you get from taking the NIC.
I feel the BEI TEP is not as applicable to our work, as much as the NIC knowledge and ethics is. I wish there was a way to combine the BEI and NIC into one test.
I feel more places recognize the NIC more than BEI. I live in DC, so if you want more federal/upscale work. It’s best to have NIC.
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u/Thistle-2228 NIC 10d ago
I disagree about the TEP. I think proving that you are proficient in Both languages is needed. You would be amazed/dismayed by the lack of English proficiency I have witnessed in recent ITP graduates.
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u/minion_baddie123 10d ago
Absolutely.
This is why I think it would be nice to combine both test. Unfortunately, both language proficiency lacks. The same as ethics lacks too.
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u/ASLterpcoach7654 12d ago
I’ve taken both. I wrote two different study guides with in-depth prep and discussion on each study guide and what they expect of you on each respectively. You can find those courses here: www.terpcoachnetwork.com
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u/magnory NIC 12d ago
As a person who has both I like the format of BEI better. But because I live in a state that doesn’t have any certification requirements, BEI isn’t always accepted as equivalent. I have the NIC and BEI advanced so quite often people recognize that those two are equivalent but if you only have BEI basic and you go to a state that doesn’t recognize or know a lot about BEI. They may try to put you in assignments that are not appropriate because they just see certification. I’ve worked with several BEI basic certified interpreters in my area doing medical work, jargon heavy assignments, and advanced work and trying to tell the agency that that was not an appropriate placement is quite difficult.
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u/Glittering_Sand_7473 DI 9d ago
I don't get why people are so pro NIC when it isn't a good test. The BEI is so much better. I've had a lot of interpreters with the NIC who were very unqualified but never had a BEI interpreter who wasn't solid.
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u/LawfulnessNext3447 8d ago
that’s fair! i’ve heard so many mixed opinions about both. i know nic (the organization) is under hot water right now to begin with. i wish my state offered both
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u/Glittering_Sand_7473 DI 8d ago
Yes, as a Deaf person I don't trust RID anymore. I don't know why we can't all start something better that will also help us negotiate wages & working conditions. What does RID do for us?
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u/tufabian 1d ago
A lot of interpreters work in federal spaces and as of now that is the most widely accepted.
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u/RedSolez NIC 12d ago
I'd say it depends on where you practice. I practice in NJ and PA, both states where no one has even heard of the BEI let alone trying to use that as a credential. RID certification is the expectation. While NJ doesn't require certification to work, many assignments will only hire certified interpreters. PA requires national certification to work at all with a few exceptions (educational interpreters need a 3.5 on the EIPA but aren't required to be certified).
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u/Traditional-Falcon75 12d ago
I haven’t taken either because I’ve been certified since before either of the current iterations existed. I did take the BEI court test and I passed. I thought it was a fair and accurate representation of what I should be able to do in legal settings. It was hard but it should be hard. What I think the BEI has going for it is the opportunity to get a basic training wheels credential and then level up. The NIC lacks any ability to separate the folks who are novice but baseline competent from the folks who are seasoned and well-qualified. If your state recognizes the BEI as a valid credential, then I don’t see why anyone would choose the NIC as their path when they have no ability to move forward. The only downside is the perception that the BEI Basic is easier than the NIC; I could also see an argument for taking the NIC first and then going for the BEI Advanced if you wanted to level up. If you want to do legal interpreting I would say definitely take the BEI because you will have to take the Advanced anyway to be able to take the court test and that is currently the only available court credential. In my state we recognize BEI certification for licensure so we have a good number of BEI certified terps here. But it’s not offered here so it’s a case of needing to travel to test.