§ 501.5. Exemptions.
(a) An individual engaged in interpreting or transliterating services in a religious setting is exempt from registration under section 4(b)(1) of the act (63 P. S. § 1725.4(b)(1)) if the services are provided either:
(1) During a worship service conducted by a religious entity.
(2) Exclusively for religious-study purposes for a religious entity or religiously affiliated school.
(b) An individual engaged in sign language interpreting or transliterating during an emergency when a delay in obtaining a State-registered interpreter or transliterator might lead to injury or loss to the individual requiring the services is exempt.
(c) An individual engaged in interpreting or transliterating as part of a supervised internship or practicum at an accredited college or university, RID or NAD if it is not in a legal, medical or mental health setting is exempt.
(d) An individual who does not reside in this Commonwealth is exempt from registration under section 4(b)(4) of the act in accordance with the following:
(1) The individual possesses current certification from NAD or RID.
(2) The individual provides interpreting or transliterating services in this Commonwealth for no longer than 14 days each year.
(3) The individual provides the following to the Office within 5 business days of providing the interpreting or transliterating service:
(i) Written notice of the date and duration of each sign language or transliterating service that the individual provides or intends to provide within this Commonwealth. Forms may be obtained from the Office or the Department’s web site www.dli.state.pa.us/odhh.
(ii) Proof of current certification.
(4) The Office will provide notice to a sign language interpreter or transliterator that he has provided 14 days of services during the year and that the individual is prohibited from providing any further interpreting or transliterating services within this Commonwealth during the year unless the individual registers with the Office in accordance with section 5 of the act (63 P. S. § 1725.5).
(e) An individual engaged in interpreting or transliterating at the request of a client who is deaf or hard of hearing is exempt from registration under section 4(b)(5) of the act in accordance with the following:
(1) The interpreter or transliterator notifies the client that the individual is not registered with the Office.
(2) The client signs a written confirmation acknowledging that the individual is not registered and acknowledging that the client desires the individual’s services. Forms may be obtained from the Office or the Department’s web site at www.dli.state.pa.us/odhh.
(3) The individual providing services shall provide a copy of the confirmation to the client and maintain a copy of the client’s signed statement for 2 years.
(f) An individual who engages in interpreting or transliterating strictly as a volunteer is exempt.
(g) An individual is exempt from registration under section 4(b)(7) of the act for a school-related activity if the individual complies with the State Board of Education regulations establishing criteria for persons providing sign language and interpreting services for a school-related activity. See 22 Pa. Code § § 14.105 and 711.5 (relating to personnel).
(h) If a sign language interpreter or transliterator is required for effective communication at a physician’s office, an individual is exempt from registration under section 4(b)(8) of the act if the individual provides sign language interpreting or transliterating services to a patient who is deaf or hard of hearing in accordance with the following:
(1) The patient signs a written confirmation acknowledging that the individual providing the interpreting or transliterating services is not registered, that the patient has the right to request or provide an interpreter or transliterator who is registered with the Office and the patient desires the services of the unregistered individual. This confirmation must be completed during every office visit. Forms may be obtained from the Office or the Department’s web site at www.dli.state.pa.us/odhh.
(2) The individual providing sign language interpreting or transliterating services informs the patient in writing that a request for a registered interpreter or transliterator made after the commencement of the office visit may result in a delay of physician services.
(3) The physician’s office shall maintain a copy of the patient’s signed statement in the patient’s health care file consistent with the regulations of the State Board of Medicine and the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. See 49 Pa. Code § § 16.95 and 25.213 (relating to medical records).
(4) The interpreter or transliterator shall maintain a copy of the signed statement for 2 years from the date of service.
(5) A copy of the signed statement shall be provided to the patient.
(i) An individual engaged in interpreting or transliterating in a judicial or in an administrative proceeding is exempt from registeration if the individual is providing services under 42 Pa.C.S. Subchapter C (relating to court interpreters for the deaf) or 2 Pa.C.S. Subchapter D (relating to administrative proceeding interpreters for persons who are deaf).
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