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The Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada (AVLIC) is a non-profit, professional association for interpreters whose working languages include a sign language. AVLIC was incorporated in 1979, and its by-laws were ratified in 1980. AVLIC has several Affiliate Chapters across the country.

History
AVLIC was established in 1979 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. At the time, the only sign language interpreter organization in North America was the recently-established Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (1964), and interpreters in Canada saw a need for a separate entity. With strong support of the Canadian Association of the Deaf and the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, AVLIC was established.

In 2010, in Ottawa, the Canadian Association of the Deaf, the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf and AVLIC signed a joint statement renewing their agreement to work in close partnership for the future benefit of Canadian Deaf people who use sign languages and the profession of interpreters whose working languages include a sign language.

Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct
In 2000, AVLIC ratified the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct. The purpose of the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct is to provide guidance for interpreters, and in so doing, to ensure quality of service for all persons involved. Only members of AVLIC uphold the values of the Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Conduct. The five underlying values are :


 * 1) Professional accountability
 * 2) Professional competence
 * 3) Non-discrimination
 * 4) Integrity in professional relationships
 * 5) Integrity in business practices

Membership
AVLIC has three types of membership :


 * Active Member
 * ASL-English
 * LSQ-French
 * Deaf Interpreter
 * Student Member
 * Affiliate Chapter

Title Protection
On July 7, 2011, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia granted Occupational Title Protection to members of the BC Affiliate Chapter, the Westcoast Association of Visual Language Interpreters (WAVLI). It now holds three protected titles:


 * Registered ASL-English Interpreter
 * Registered Sign Language Interpreter
 * Registered Visual Language Interpreter

Occupational Title Protection was granted to ensure quality of service within British Columbia. Other Affiliate Chapters of AVLIC are currently working with their respective provincial governments to achieve the same goal.

Affiliate Chapters
AVLIC has a number of Affiliate Chapters, including:


 * Alberta - Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Alberta (ASLIA).
 * British Columbia - Westcoast Association of Visual Language Interpreters (WAVLI)
 * Manitoba - Manitoba Association of Visual Language Interpreters (MAVLI)
 * The Maritimes - Maritime Association of Professional Sign Language Interpreters (MAPSLI)
 * New Brunswick - Association of Visual Language Interpreters of New Brunswick (AVLI-NB)
 * Newfoundland and Labrador - Newfoundland Association of Visual Language Interpreters (NAVLI)
 * Ontario - Ontario Association of Sign Language Interpreters (OASLI)
 * Ottawa/NCR - Sign Language Interpreters of the National Capital (SLINC)

AVLIC Certification
AVLIC certifies interpreters through the Canadian Evaluation System (CES). Certified members are granted the Certificate of Interpretation after completing the first three steps of the four phase system as follows: :


 * 1) Phase One: Written Test of Knowledge (WTK).
 * 2) Phase Two: Preparation Phase.
 * 3) Phase Three: Test of Interpretation (TOI).
 * 4) Phase Four: Maintenance

Conferences
Affiliate Chapters of AVLIC host biennial conferences related to the profession of sign language interpretation. These conferences often centre around a theme or recurring trend in the field of interpreting.

Interpreter Education Programs in Canada
Currently, there are six interpreter education programs in Canada :