Becoming a Sign Language Interpreter/Transliterator

Preparation, Education
Becoming a proficient interpreter/transliterator begins with developing fluent expressive and receptive sign language skills. Once your skills have developed you may want to take one of the available screening or evaluation tools which provide an indication your skills.

If you are considering a career in interpreting you should seek a college education. Beginning in 2008, an applicant for the National Interpreter Certificate will be required to hold a 2 year college degree. This degree can be in any field of study. The requirement will change to a Bachelor Degree, in any field of study, in 2012.

I have listed the community colleges and the university offering sign language studies or interpreter training. You can contact them for more detailed information about their programs.

Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Mr. Randy McDavid, Professor
Interpreter Training Program
11901 Beach Blvd., Box 60
Jacksonville, FL 32346
904-646-2406
Fax: 904-646-2395
rmcdavid@fccj.org

Daytona Beach Community College
Mr. Charles Barber, Assistant Chair
P.O. Box 2811
1200 West International Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32120-2811
(TTY)(386) 506-3700
(386) 506-3208 (voice)
barberc@dbcc.edu

St. Petersburg College
Ms. Sammie Elser
Clearwater Campus
2465 Drew Street
Clearwater, FL 34625
TDD: (727)791-2759
elsers@spjc.edu

Hillsborough Community College
Linda Horton, Coordinator
Interpreter Training Program
Dale Mabry Campus
P.O. Box 30030
Tampa, FL 33630
813-253-7427
Fax: 813-253-7504
lhorton@hcc.cc.fl.us

Miami Dade Community College, North
Paula Sargent, Director
11380 NW 27th Ave.
Miami, FL 33167
305-237-1000 or 1274
Fax: 305-237-1560
psargent@mdcc.edu

University of North Florida
Dr. Sherry Shaw
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32224
904-620-2930
Fax: 904-620-3895
sherry.shaw@unf.edu

University of South Florida
Steven Surrency, Interpreter Program
4202 East Fowler Ave. - BEH 255
Tampa FL 33620
813-974-9788
ssurrency@chuma1.cas.usf.edu

Other Training Resources:

Interpreter Preparation Initiative
View workshops and courses being offered.

Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (FRID)
www.fridcentral.com

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Screening, Evaluation and Certification

State Certification
In Florida, the QA (Quality Assurance) Screening is administered by FRID (The Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) and is considered to indicate apprentice level skills (three levels; 1, 2 and 3). This screening tests your skills with adults in community situations.

FRID also administers the Educational Interpreter Evaluation (EIE) which evaluates skills used when working with students in Florida’s public schools. There are three levels in this system also.

For more information on both of the FRID assessment tools contact FRID at their web site: www.fridcentral.com

I recommend becoming a member of FRID to keep up with the latest information regarding the profession and evaluations/screenings. Membership is $35.00 annually. Send your request to:

Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
Attn: Membership
P. O. Box 451988
Sunrise, FL 33345-1988

www.fridcentral.com/membership.php

National Certification

Two national organizations, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and the National Association of the Deaf have developed a single evaluation and certification system for sign language interpreters and transliterators, called the National Interpreter Certification (NIC). For more information about this new system, go to: www.rid.org/education/testing/index.cfm

The RID evaluations and the new NAD-RID National Interpreter Certification evaluations can be taken in Clearwater. The written test is offered in June and December. The new NIC written test can also be taken via computer.

Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
333 Commerce Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-0030
Fax: 703-838-0454
www.rid.org

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Jobs and Pay Scales
The largest employer of sign language and oral interpreters is the public schools. Pay ranges from the same as teacher aides or paraprofessionals ($15,000.00 approx.) to as much as $35,000.00 depending on credentials. Each district or county determines their own pay scale.

Working in the community, interpreters generally earn an hourly wage, with no benefits, according to their level of certification, screening or evaluation. This can range from $8.00 to $40.00 per hour, often with a 2 hour minimum. There are a number of private companies/agencies which provide interpreting services, a person may work through them or be in private practice. Interpreting in legal settings is generally the highest paying, however it has the greatest liability.

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Other Links of interest:

Check out RID's two newest web pages-

Educational Interpreters (K-12)
www.rid.org/content/index.cfm/AID/131

Everything You Wanted To Know About Becoming An Interpreter
www.rid.org/interpreting/new_to_interpreting/index.cfm

Keep current with "What's New" at RID and news releases.

www.rid.org/content/index.cfm/AID/39

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Questions?

Lori Tetzel, Administrative Assistant
or
Shannon C. Simon, M.S.; CI, CT, CSC, OIC:C
Professional Development Coordinator

Interpreter Preparation Initiative
University of North Florida
Bldg. 15/3101
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville FL 32224

Local 904-620-1386
Fax 904-620-3895 (ATTN: IPI)

Funding for this webpage was provided by the Florida Department of Education and was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

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