Interpreter Education

Becoming an American Sign Language - English Interpreter
Students who wish to become qualified sign language interpreters must develop fluency in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. The Interpreter Education curriculum prepares individuals to work as entry-level ASL - English interpreters making it possible for Deaf and hearing people to communicate with one another in a variety of interactive settings.

The AAS in Interpreter Education (A55300) is a 70-credit program that typically takes up to five semesters to complete because foundational ASL skills must be acquired before learning to interpret between ASL and English.  The full-time program is spread out over five semesters, with most semesters requiring between 12 and 17 credits hours of study. Because of course sequencing, students wishing to complete the AAS in Interpreter Education are strongly encouraged to begin their studies with ASL and IPP course in the Fall term.  Students should seek academic advising directly from the program faculty regarding their course sequence and career.

Certificate in Basic ASL Communication
Some students take ASL classes to satisfy foreign/modern language requirements in other degree programs and only take two or three semesters of ASL instruction. Some students seek more in-depth ASL instruction but do not wish to become ASL-English Interpreters. For those students, a Certificate in Basic ASL Communication Skills (C55300-C6) is available to document a social level of ASL proficiency for a variety of employment or personal reasons.  Please note: A certification in Basic ASL Communication will not provide the qualifications to work as a sign language interpreter, but can be obtained as a preliminary step to completing the AAS degree in Interpreter Education.  ASL 111, ASL 181, ASL 112, ASL 182, ASL 211, ASL 281, ASL 212, ASL 282 are transferable courses under the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.

Employment Opportunities
Entry-level employment for professional interpreters is available in a variety of community and educational settings. Interpreters may consider part-time, full-time, self-employment, and independent contracts or apply American Sign Language skills to other related areas of human services such as Support Service Providers.

AAS in Interpreter Education graduates interested in working in the K-12 educational setting can qualify to enter the workforce in NC Public Schools by obtaining a 3.3 or higher on the Educational Interpreters Performance Assessment (EIPA).  To qualify for a provision license to interpret in NC, a 3.5 on the EIPA is needed.

For specific information about potential positions and wages in interpreter education employment, visit the Central Piedmont Career Coach website.

Interpreter Education (A55300)

Degree Awarded

The Associate in Applied Science (A55300) degree - Interpreter Education is awarded by the college upon completing this program.

Admissions

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Central Piedmont placement tests are required in English, reading, and mathematics. Students must take and pass ENG 111 with a grade of “C” or better, successfully pass a credit by exam, or transfer an ENG 111 equivalent course.
• Students must attain a minimum required score on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) to major in the Interpreter Education program and take advanced ASL, IPP, or WBL prefix courses: ASL 250, IPP 112, IPP 130, IPP 152, IPP 153, IPP 161, and IPP 245.
  Eligible Scores: SLPI ratings older than one year cannot be accepted for admission into the program.

Expired Placement Tests

• Students for whom an ASL placement interview or SLPI tests have expired must repeat the placement interview and/or achieve an intermediate score on the SLPI to enter or return to the Interpreter Education program.

Coursework

Many courses have prerequisites or co-requisites; check the Courses section for details.

Coursework includes: 

• Acquisition of American Sign Language (ASL): grammar, structure and socio-linguistic properties, cognitive processes associated with interpretation between ASL and English, and Deaf culture
• Ethical decision-making, and
• Acquisition of translation, consecutive, and simultaneous interpreting skills.
• Students must earn a grade “C” or better in all ASL, IPP, and WBL prefix courses to advance to the next level of courses and for those course credits to count toward satisfying degree completion requirements.  

See the Interpreter Education Program website for more information.

Lapse in Proficiency

• Students for whom two or more consecutive terms have lapsed since taking an ASL course must take a placement interview before registering for ASL courses (except for ASL 111 and 181, Beginning ASL 1) to determine proper placement in ASL and IPP (Interpreting) courses. Courses may need to be repeated if skills have declined significantly.  This requirement includes students transferring ASL credit from another college or university.

A student must receive a final grade of “C” or higher in all ASL, IPP, or WBL courses to receive credit for that course toward an Interpreter Education A.A.S. (A55300) degree or to advance to the next level of coursework.

Articulation Agreement

An articulation agreement is in place between the Central Piedmont Interpreter Education program and Gallaudet University - Bachelor degree in Interpretation (BAI).  At Gallaudet University, students must apply for acceptance into the program and pass an ASL placement test. Once accepted, Gallaudet guarantees the transfer of Central Piedmont college-level credits with a grade of “C” or equivalent and requires that a grade of "B" or higher be maintained in all interpreting courses.

Contact Information

The Interpreter Education program is in the Education & Training Division at the Cato Campus. For more information about the Interpreting degree or Interpreting courses, ASL courses, ASL placement testing or the SLPI, contact the Interpreter Education Program Chair at 704-330-4886.

No diplomas are offered in Interpreter Education.

Interpreter Education Certificate (C55300)

Interpreter Education Certificate Specialization in Basic ASL Communication Skills (C55300-C6)

This certificate is available through the Career & College Promise program.

The Basic ASL Communication Skills Certificate (C55300-C6) is designed to provide students with the foundational ASL skills needed to continue in the Interpreter Education Program (A55300) AAS degree. It also serves to demonstrate basic ASL Communication proficiency for students whose primary goal is to develop ASL communication skills for either personal or employment-related reasons.

This certificate may be used to demonstrate a particular level of proficiency in ASL to employers, but it will not qualify students to work as Sign Language Interpreters in any setting in North Carolina. Students obtaining the Basic ASL Communication Skills Certificate (C55300-C6), who desire work as interpreters, must continue their studies to complete the degree requirements for the AAS (A55300) Interpreter Education degree.  

Students wishing to take more than two semesters of ASL should start their ASL studies in the Fall term with ASL 111 and ASL 181 and continue their studies without interruption each term in order to stay in sequence and ensure course availability.  Middle College and High School students taking the Basic ASL Communication Skills Certificate (C55300-C6), who ultimately wish to complete the AAS (A55300) degree in Interpreter Education, should meet with a program advisor in the Interpreter Education program to discuss degree map and course sequencing to foster correct course registration and sequence.

Interpreter Education Suggested Course Sequence

The following is the suggested plan for when to take each course to complete the Associate in Applied Science degree, based on the program requirements of the 2024-2025 catalog.  This is only a recommendation — you may take courses in another order upon consultation with your advisor. This plan is based on you starting with college-level math and English courses, starting your program in the fall, and attending full-time. You can also follow this sequence if you attend part-time. Speak with your academic advisor about the plan and any questions. This program might also offer diplomas or certificates; visit the catalog or contact the program for details.   Visit the Academic Advising page for instructions on locating your assigned advisor:    https://www.cpcc.edu/academics/academic-advising