How to Become an ASL Interpreter

rkasigns9
Dec 26, 2025
3 min read

Since I didn't attend an ITP (Interpreter Training Program), I found myself having to figure it out on my own. I was asking questions, doing research, anything and everything I could do to get myself in the field without going to college. Here's how I did it.

Become Fluent

Go to silent dinners, and other ASL events. Watch YouTube vlogs made by Deaf ASL natives. Make friends! In this day and age we have video chat and apps like Marco Polo which can really help. The only true way to become fluent is by immersion.

Bonus Tip: If you can get a job that's related to the Deaf community in some way, it'll really help you build fluency. I worked as a Co-Navigator for DeafBlind as a new interpreter. I had training to become a Co-Navigator, and the role required some basic interpreting and language facilitation, as well as just conversing with DeafBlind individuals. I am very grateful I had this opportunity.

Volunteer

In college, students have internships, and that's where they learn the bulk of their practical skills. You can volunteer at Deaf kids camps, churches, not for profit, or casual events like parties. If you're stuck in this area and just not finding opportunities, try reaching out to local interpreting agencies and ask if you can do an internship with them and shadow working interpreters.

Take Interpreting Workshops, Classes, and Read Books

There is a wealth of CEU (Continuing Education Unit) workshops and classes. You can find these on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms. Some are free, and some you have to pay for. I recommend saving your certificates and keeping track of what you've done, that way you can leverage it in interviews.

Bonus Tip: Take a separate but detailed study on interpreting ethics. It's very important for protecting the Deaf community and also yourself. A lot of interpreting written tests are based on ethics.

Get Licensed

Check out your state laws. Some states it's illegal to interpret without a license, and some states there are no laws. In Virginia, there are no laws, but we have the VQAS (Virginia Quality Assurance Screening). This is a test that interpreters can take and how you score shows which area of work you're recommended for. Other states have a Quality Assurance Screening, see if yours does! Some states require National Certification (NIC test) in order to work at all.

Get a Job

Preferably your first interpreting jobs will be with a team. I would recommend community interpreting (onsite) for all new interpreters. But interpreters have succeeded with all kinds of 'first jobs'. You'll need to steer clear of legal, mental health, and medical interpreting as a new interpreter, because these fields require specialized training and experience to do properly.

Final Note

Although I am writing here how to become a community raised interpreter without an ITP, I want to add a disclaimer that RID national certification requires a Bachelor's degree. Currently the Bachelor's degree can be in anything, it doesn't have to be in interpreting or Deaf studies. Right now, they have Alternate Pathway where you can submit all your experience and workshops and they can count some or all of it in lieu of a Bachelor. Interpreters that have gone the Alternate Pathway route don't tend to recommend it. So all that to say, college is still required. But everyone has a different background and education. I've heard of interpreters that have a Bachelor in medical or a STEM field and it equipped them to be very good at specializing in those fields.