To assist the deaf and hearing impaired in settings such as the workplace, courts and schools, ASL interpreters must not only be proficient in the syntax and techniques of American Sign Language, but must also have an understanding of the deaf community and a sensitivity to the needs of the hearing impaired. Both hearing and deaf ASL interpreters can be qualified for professional certification.
Training programs in ASL interpretation begin at the community college level, leading to either a certificate after a short-term course of study, or an Associate of Arts (AA) degree after two years. More extensive education is offered in numerous colleges and universities throughout the U.S., with options including the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Master of Arts (MA) degree. Training is also available through a variety of online schools. Courses of study emphasize the vocabulary and syntax of ASL and its differences from verbal English, as well as variations in hand styling. At all levels of study, students must pass exams in both performance and theory, and more extensive programs also include work in the origins and development of sign languages and differences between hearing and deaf cultures.
After completing a training program with at least an AA degree, ASL interpreters seeking professional-level qualifications take the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) test. Given by the National Association for the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, this test involves a written examination, an interview and a performance evaluation. Beginning in 2012, hearing candidates for the NIC must have at least a BA; in 2016, deaf candidates will also be expected to have that degree, at a minimum.
Interpreters entering the field with any degree may find employment in social work, legal, medical or school settings or in the performing arts, as well as freelance work. MA-level graduates may also find employment in university and other institutional settings as program developers and researchers. Professional certification increases opportunities in some sectors, such as legal and medical interpreting. Pay for ASL interpreters varies widely depending on their level of training and the places they work.