What is the DPSI?
The CIOL Qualifications Level 6 Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) has been the benchmark qualification for public service interpreting for over 30 years, and is available fully online.
DPSI Law is accepted by the UK Police for the PAIT Police Approved Interpreter and Translator Scheme and by the UK Ministry of Justice for work in the courts and wider criminal justice system.
It is also recognised and accepted by the Scottish Government and the UK's National Register of Public Service Interpreters NRPSI and is strongly recommended for work in Health and all public service contexts.
The CIOLQ DPSI provides candidates with recognition and validation of their skills in specialist areas of public service and provides reassurance to public bodies and those benefiting from their services, that the interpreting skills of qualified holders of the CIOLQ DPSI are of the highest professional standard.
Is the CIOLQ DPSI right for me?
CIOL Qualifications (CIOLQ) supports professional linguists by providing the benchmark qualifications for interpreters and translators which are recognised widely in the UK and around the world.
Holders of the CIOLQ DPSI have been tested rigorously and in depth to prove they have the language skills, interpreting techniques and the supporting sight and written translation skills to take on the most demanding and rewarding public service assignments. Add CIOL Study Affiliate Membership to that and you have:
- Membership of the UK's Royal Charter professional body for language practitioners
- Access to CIOL's mentoring programme
- Access to online webinars and a community of other interpreters, language professionals and linguists
The CIOLQ DPSI qualifies you not just for vitally important work, but also to become a valued participant in a community of like-minded professionals widely respected for their skill, expertise and experience. In addition, once you have the CIOLQ DPSI, applying for full CIOL membership and Chartered Linguist status can set you apart and help you get the recognition and reward you deserve in all areas of spoken word work.
Registration
Registration for the DPSI November 2025 exam session will open soon. For June 2025 the language combinations listed below were offered. Please note minimum candidate numbers are required for languages to run, so please register early to avoid disappointment. If we are not currently offering your language or preferred pathway, you can register an interest for the November 2025 exam session, or exams in 2026, by completing the form here.
Languages
For the June 2025 exam session the following languages (paired with English) were offered:
Law pathway - Albanian, Arabic (MSA), Bengali, Cantonese (Traditional), Farsi, French, Italian, Kurdish (Sorani), Lithuanian, Mandarin (Simplified), Panjabi (Indian), Pashto, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (European), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian and Urdu.
Health pathway - Arabic (MSA), Cantonese (Traditional), Farsi, French, German, Italian, Kurdish (Sorani), Mandarin (Simplified), Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian and Urdu.
You can express an interest in other languages and future sessions here.
If you have any other questions about languages, pathways, or future sessions please contact our Client Services Team (CST) at info.dpsi@ciol.org.uk
