(1) An instructor recognized by the American Sign Language Teachers Association, or a comparable or successor organization recognized by the commissioner;

(2) An interpreter certified by either the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or the National Association of the Deaf, Inc., or a comparable or successor organization of either recognized by the commissioner; or

(3) An instructor of courses conducted through an accredited college, accredited university or accredited or approved high school or conducted by certification maintenance course sponsors approved by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or the National Association of the Deaf, Inc., or a comparable or successor organization of either recognized by the commissioner; and

5. Proof of education and training in interpreting process. Written Except as provided in this section, written proof of completion of at least 100 clock hours of instruction in the interpreting process, which must include instruction in deaf culture and the ethics of interpreting, conducted through an accredited college, accredited university or accredited or approved high school or conducted by certification maintenance course sponsors approved by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. or the National Association of the Deaf, Inc., or a comparable or successor organization of either recognized by the commissioner. Credit may not be given for interpreting process clock hours that were completed prior to 5 years from the date of application.

As an alternative to satisfying subsections 4 and 5, an applicant for licensure as a limited interpreter or limited transliterator may submit documentation of a score of 3.5 or higher on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment, or successor assessment.

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §1527, as amended by PL 1999, c. 399, §14 and affected by §20, is further amended to read:

§1527. Applications for licensure; fees

An applicant for initial licensure, pursuant to section 1524, 1524-A or 1524-B, shall submit a written application with supporting documents to the department on forms provided by the