{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sign-language-act-northern-ireland-2026/section-11",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sign-language-act-northern-ireland-2026/section-11.json",
  "legislation": "nia/2026/7",
  "legislation_title": "Sign Language Act (Northern Ireland) 2026",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sign-language-act-northern-ireland-2026",
  "path": "section/11",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "11",
  "heading": "Accreditation of teachers and interpreters",
  "text": "(1) The Department for Communities must by regulations make a scheme for the purpose of or in connection with the accreditation of persons as (either or both)—\n(a) teachers of British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language, or\n(b) interpreters of British Sign Language or Irish Sign Language.\n(2) The scheme may include (in particular)—\n(a) provision (with or without fees payable) for—\n(i) applications to become accredited persons, and\n(ii) registration of accredited persons, and\n(b) criteria and conditions to be met in order for persons to become or remain accredited (especially as to matters of professional competence).\n(3) However, the scheme may additionally allow for accreditation of persons as such to be automatic (and free of charge even if fees are otherwise payable under the scheme) in particular circumstances.\n(4) A reference in this Part to accredited teachers, or to accredited interpreters, is to persons accredited as such in accordance with the scheme.\n(5) Regulations under this Chapter may not be made unless a draft of them has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 11 not in operation at Royal Assent, see s. 15(1)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 11 in operation at 23.9.2026 by S.R. 2026/162, art. 2(j)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2026/7/section/11",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:18:57.659830+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}