Sign Language Interpreter Training

Drawing upon concepts that include vocabulary and grammar of American Sign Language (ASL), interpreting, and deaf culture and more, this degree prepares you for a career as a sign language interpreter.

• Develop proficiency in ASL/English cross-cultural communication styles in consecutive and simultaneous interpreting.
• Learn the ethics and practical approaches required of a practicing interpreter.
• Master the vocabulary, structure, and narrative techniques that will help you develop ASL fluency.
• Explore the anthropologic, political, and linguistic aspects of the culture of the deaf.
• Prepare to take local evaluations and/or transfer to a four-year program.

Drawing upon concepts that include vocabulary and grammar of American Sign Language (ASL), interpreting, and deaf culture and more, this certificate prepares you for a career as a sign language interpreter.

• Develop proficiency in ASL/English cross-cultural communication styles in consecutive and simultaneous interpreting.
• Learn the ethics and practical approaches required of a practicing interpreter.
• Master the vocabulary, structure, and narrative techniques that will help you develop ASL fluency.
• Explore the anthropologic, political, and linguistic aspects of the culture of the deaf.
• Prepare to take local evaluations and/or transfer to a four-year program.

Yes, SLAN 111 (ASL I) and SLAN 112 (ASL II) are required for entering the program.

Interpreting requires strong English skills (vocabulary and grammar).  Not a great deal of time in the ITP is spent developing English skills, so having them in place is helpful.  Flexibility and open-mindedness are good qualities since interpreters have to be the voice of many people in a variety of situations. You may strongly disagree with what is being said or signed in an interpreting situation, but still need to convey the message content and spirit. Integrity, self-discipline, and discretion are also good qualities. Interpreters follow a Code of Professional Conduct.  Since most are not supervised during an assignment, the interpreter must decide what is ethical and act accordingly.

The academic counselor will let you know what courses are transferrable into the program.  They may also advise that you speak with ITP instructor Tim Gough (tgough@elcamino.edu) to determine appropriate placement. 

Note: ASL coursework in the ITP not only involves learning how to sign, but also understanding ASL syntax and grammar, as well as deaf culture. 

If you have acquired signing skills in other settings, it may be possible for you to test out of ASL I and/or ASL II. Testing out of these courses allows you to bypass them and enter the ITP, but you will not receive official credit/units for the courses on your transcript. 

Contact instructor Timothy Gough (tgough@elcamino.edu) to request a skills evaluation.

The associate in arts degree includes taking courses in the major, along with general education coursework. The degree is strongly recommended for anyone who does not currently have an AA or BA degree. A firm knowledge of general education makes for a better interpreter.

The certificate of achievement focuses on coursework in the major. The certificate of achievement is generally recommended for those who already have an AA or BA degree. Some interpreting jobs require a “related degree,” so depending on the type of AA or BA, students may opt to complete an AA in interpreting as well. This should be discussed with a counselor, who can determine how many additional general education classes would be needed.

ITP courses are sequenced, meaning you need to complete ASL I prior to taking ASL II, complete the first interpreting course prior to taking the second, etc.  The degree or certificate takes a minimum of three years starting with ASL III. If starting with ASL I, it takes a minimum of four years to complete all ITP coursework. For those taking general education courses, duration will vary depending on how many units are required and how many days per week students attend.

ASL I  and ASL II (sometimes ASL III) are offered both days and evenings, as well as a few other courses, such as Deaf Culture and Fingerspelling. The remaining courses are evenings. General education courses can be taken days or evenings. The final course, Practicum, involves interpreting in supervised settings for three hours per week. Often the most/best settings are offered during the day during the week.  Those working full-time day jobs may need to make arrangements with employers to be available a few day-time hours each week to complete Practicum requirements during their last semester.

The certificate of achievement means you have successfully completed the ITP coursework in the major.  This does not mean you are nationally certified. National Interpreter Certification (NIC) is a test administered by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). Most graduates of the ITP need at least two to five years of interpreting experience before passing the NIC test. This varies with the amount of signing experience students have entering the program, the amount of contact they have with the deaf community, and individual abilities.

Most graduates begin interpreting in entry level, part-time positions that do not require certification. One such setting would be interpreting classes at a community college.  Another setting might be working for a freelance agency that does in-house testing and sends interpreters out to jobs that fit their skill level. 

Some graduates opt to use their signing and interpreting skills on their existing jobs, such as nurses, social workers, and teachers. Also, those who already work with deaf employees in business may utilize their interpreting skills on the job. 

Note: Most full-time interpreting positions require certification, so after gaining experience and becoming certified, more job opportunities would exist.

As of July 2012, a bachelor's degree (BA) is required to sit for the test. Currently, the BA can be in any discipline; it does not have to be in interpreting. 

Another type of assessment, the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA), an assessment taken by some wanting to do educational interpreting, does not have a degree requirement at this time. Those passing the EIPA at a Level 4 or 5 have the option of being “recognized” by RID as credentialed. They would also need to pass the EIPA Knowledge Exam and have a BA.

RID offers an alternate path for those without a BA, which includes a certain number of college units, years of experience in full-time interpreting positions, and proof of continuing education. The exact requirements can be found online at www.rid.org.  

Another consideration in determining whether or not to pursue a BA degree has to do with continuing skills development. If you transfer to a four-year program and continue taking classes in ASL and interpreting, you will be more likely to become certified sooner and become eligible for more job opportunities. Another possibility is to complete a BA in something other than interpreting/deaf studies. This would allow for two areas of possible employment. For example, if you have an AA in interpreting and BA in social work, you would have two possible career paths. 

Thirty-eight colleges and universities nationwide offer a BA in interpreting or deaf studies (with concentrations in interpreting). To see a listing, go to www.rid.org and click on “find interpreter education program,” then select BA programs. 

In California, two universities offer programs, the closest being California State University Northridge (CSUN). CSUN has a large deaf student population and is also home to the National Center on Deafness.  They offer a degree in Deaf Studies, with a concentration in interpreting. If interested in learning more about ECC courses that transfer, contact your academic counselor.  Note: If you are planning to transfer, it is imperative that you speak with an academic counselor to ensure that the general education courses you choose will transfer.  Note that while ECC’s ASL classes and deaf culture class transfer, other interpreting coursework does not. The counselor will help identify the additional general education classes that would be needed (above those required by our AA degree) to fulfill the university’s requirements for entering as a junior.

Visit the Discover Interpreting website for more information about careers in deaf education, audiology, speech pathology, etc.  In virtually any job, you might encounter deaf individuals.  Being fluent in ASL will likely attract more consumers or clients your way. Also, being fluent in sign language, like Spanish or any other language, will make you a more marketable job candidate. 

The ITP sign language courses (ASL I-IV), also known as SL 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, are transferrable to many colleges and universities for foreign language credit, including the California State University Northridge (CSUN) Deaf Studies program.  Deaf culture is also transferrable for general education credit.  Check with an academic counselor for further details on how many units will transfer to the specific institution you will attend and will apply to the specific degree you are seeking.