American Sign Language–English Interpreter Program: How to Choose One

The short answer

An American Sign Language–English interpreter program is formal training that teaches you to interpret between ASL and spoken or written English. It is not the same as an ASL language course. Many interpreting programs expect you to arrive with solid ASL skills, or they build several semesters of language study in before interpreting coursework begins. To choose one, decide which credential you need, confirm the program prepares you for the certification path you intend to pursue, and verify its claims directly with the school and the credentialing bodies.

No program-specific evidence was supplied for this guide. It contains no tuition figures, program lengths, pass rates, admission dates or named schools. Treat the steps below as a method for evaluating programs, not as a ranking.

Clarify what you are searching for

Several different offerings appear under similar names. The differences change what you will be qualified to do when you finish.

Program type | What it usually focuses on | Who it tends to suit

ASL or Deaf Studies program | Language acquisition, Deaf culture and community | Learners building fluency, or people preparing to enter an interpreting program later

Interpreter training or interpreter education program (ITP/IEP), associate level | Foundational interpreting skills, often alongside continued ASL study | People starting a career path who may transfer to a bachelor's program later

Bachelor's degree in ASL–English or sign language interpreting | Interpreting skills plus broader academic coursework, often with practicum or internship | People aiming for national certification routes that require a degree

Post-degree certificate | Interpreting skills for people who already hold a degree | Career changers with existing ASL fluency

If your search was for a BA in sign language interpreting specifically, the bachelor's row is the relevant one. Degree requirements for national certification in the US have historically been set by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). Check RID's current requirements yourself rather than relying on a school's summary.

Step-by-step: choosing a program

• 1. Assess your current ASL level honestly. If you are not yet conversational, look for programs with built-in language sequences, or plan separate ASL study first.
• 2. Decide your target credential: national certification, a state credential, a specialty area such as educational, legal or medical interpreting, or a degree for its own sake.
• 3. Check your state's rules. Some US states require a license or a specific credential to work as an interpreter, and requirements differ by state and by setting.
• 4. Ask whether the program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education (CCIE). Confirm the answer against CCIE's own list, not just the school's website.
• 5. Ask how the curriculum prepares students for the certification exams you plan to take. Also ask what support is offered after graduation, such as mentoring or exam preparation.
• 6. Look at instructors. Ask whether the faculty include certified interpreters and Deaf instructors, and how students interact with the Deaf community.
• 7. Ask about practicum or internship placements: where they happen, how they are arranged, and whether you must find your own.
• 8. Compare format and logistics, including in-person, online or hybrid delivery, schedule, total cost and financial aid. Get current figures in writing from each school.
• 9. Ask for outcome information, such as graduate certification and employment results, and ask how those figures are measured.

How to verify the result

Before you commit, make sure each important claim has been confirmed by someone other than the program's marketing materials. Cross-check accreditation with CCIE and certification eligibility with RID. Confirm state licensure rules with your state's licensing or Deaf and hard-of-hearing services agency. If possible, talk with current students or recent graduates, and with working interpreters or Deaf community members, about the program's reputation.

If the program is online or hybrid: camera setup for signing

Remote interpreting coursework often involves live video classes and recorded signing submissions. Signing places specific demands on your camera setup.

• Framing: keep your full signing space visible. That usually means your head, both hands and your torso down to about the waist, with room on each side for your arms.
• Background: a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin tone and clothing makes handshapes easier to read. Virtual call backgrounds and blur effects can clip or smear moving hands, so test them before relying on one.
• Clothing: solid colors that contrast with your skin help hands stand out more than patterns do.
• Lighting: light your face and hands from the front so facial grammar and handshapes are not lost in shadow.
• Testing: confirm three separate things. First, that the browser or operating system has granted camera access. Second, that the camera actually captures a clear, steady image. Third, that the call itself delivers smooth motion to the other side. A camera can be permitted and working while the connection still drops frames during fast signing.

Gaps in this guide

Several things could not be supplied here. These include specific schools, current tuition or fees, program lengths, application deadlines, accreditation status of individual programs, certification exam details, and outcome statistics. Obtain each of these directly from the program and the relevant credentialing or state bodies, and recheck them close to your application date, since requirements can change.