Frequently Asked Questions

Kaplan Interpreting Services provides a full range of language solutions: in-person interpretation for depositions, hearings, medical appointments, and corporate events; virtual/video remote interpretation (VRI) via Zoom, Teams, or any platform; over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) for on-demand needs; simultaneous interpretation with professional equipment for conferences and large proceedings; consecutive interpretation for courtrooms, mediations, and clinical settings; American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation; and certified document translation for legal filings, medical records, contracts, and more.

You can request an interpreter three ways: call us at (833) 547-7770 to speak directly with our team, email info@kaplaninterpreting.com with your assignment details, or submit an online quote request through our website. Once we receive your request, we confirm interpreter availability within 4 hours and provide a detailed assignment confirmation with interpreter credentials, logistics, and pricing.

We cover 200+ languages and dialects, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, Russian, Tagalog, Farsi, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Armenian, Khmer, Thai, Somali, Haitian Creole, American Sign Language (ASL), and many more. If you need a language not listed here, contact us — our network of 7,000+ interpreters covers virtually every spoken and signed language encountered in U.S. legal, healthcare, and business settings.

Yes. We only work with interpreters who hold recognized professional certifications. Our network includes court-certified interpreters (state and federal), NBCMI-certified medical interpreters, CCHI-certified healthcare interpreters, and Judicial Council-certified professionals. Every interpreter is vetted for credentials, experience, subject-matter expertise, and professional conduct before being approved for assignments. We verify certifications directly and maintain current records.

We specialize in four primary sectors: Legal — depositions, trials, hearings, arbitrations, mediations, attorney-client meetings, and immigration proceedings. Healthcare — hospital interpretation, clinical appointments, mental health evaluations, and independent medical examinations. Corporate & Events — conferences, shareholder meetings, training sessions, employee communications, and large-scale multilingual events. Government & Federal — federal court proceedings, agency hearings, compliance-related assignments, and public-sector communications.

We recommend booking at least 48 hours in advance for standard assignments to ensure optimal interpreter matching. However, we understand that urgent needs arise. We offer same-day and next-day interpreter placement for most languages with a 98% same-day match rate. A rush fee may apply for last-minute requests. For large-scale events or rare language combinations, we recommend 1–2 weeks of lead time to coordinate equipment, multiple interpreters, and logistics.

Yes. All of our medical and healthcare interpreters are trained in HIPAA compliance and sign confidentiality agreements before every assignment. Kaplan Interpreting Services maintains organizational HIPAA compliance protocols, and we can provide documentation of interpreter training and compliance certifications upon request. Our interpreters understand the sensitivity of protected health information and follow strict data-handling procedures.

We require 48 hours' notice for cancellations. Assignments cancelled within the 48-hour window incur the full assignment charge, as the interpreter has already reserved the time and declined other work. We understand that schedules change — if you need to reschedule rather than cancel, we will work with you to find an alternative date at no additional cost, subject to interpreter availability.

Absolutely. We have extensive experience managing multi-language, large-scale events, including Fortune 500 conferences, international summits, and corporate town halls. We have coordinated 12+ simultaneous language channels at a single event, complete with professional simultaneous interpretation equipment, interpreter teams, and on-site technical support. Our team handles all logistics — from equipment rental and soundproofing to interpreter scheduling and real-time quality monitoring.

Three things define Kaplan: reliability, precision, and accountability. Our track record speaks for itself — 99.7% on-time rate across 18,978+ assignments and zero missed assignments in 17 years. Every interpreter is hand-selected for the specific demands of each assignment, not pulled from a rotating queue. You get a dedicated point of contact who knows your name, your preferences, and your standards. We provide proactive communication — you know the status before you ask. And our founder, Alexandra Kaplan, is herself a California court certified and medical interpreter, so the agency is built from an interpreter's perspective.

Yes. While we are headquartered in La Palma, California, our network of 7,000+ vetted interpreters spans the entire United States. We provide in-person interpretation in every major metropolitan area and can deploy interpreters to rural and underserved regions. For locations without nearby interpreter availability, we offer video remote and telephone interpretation to ensure coverage anywhere in the country.

Simultaneous interpreting is when the interpreter renders the message in the target language at the same time as the speaker is talking, typically using headsets and a soundproof booth. It is used for conferences, large meetings, and multilingual events where real-time delivery is essential. Consecutive interpreting is when the speaker pauses after a few sentences and the interpreter then delivers the message in the target language. It is the standard mode for courtroom proceedings, depositions, medical appointments, and one-on-one meetings. Both modes require specialized training, and our interpreters are certified in the modes appropriate to their assignments.