Professional Development for Interpreters

Overview

RIT/NTID offers non-credit online certificate programs for professional sign language interpreters to develop specialized interpreting skills in a broad range of settings. All certificate programs are taught by experts in interpreting and sign language translation. All programs offer CEUs from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

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Certificate in Educational Interpreting

  • Provides specialized professional development to ASL-English interpreters working in educational settings
  • Employs innovative teaching by experts in Deaf education and educational interpreting
  • Delivered in a blended online format, with asynchronous coursework supplemented by Zoom sessions from September to May

Certificate in Healthcare Interpreting

  • Provides specialized professional development to ASL-English interpreters working in healthcare settings
  • Employs innovative teaching strategies by nationally recognized healthcare and interpreter education experts
  • Delivered in a blended online format, with asynchronous coursework supplemented by Zoom sessions from September to May

Certificate in Deaf Interpreting

  • Trains Deaf professionals to interpret in a variety of discourses: educational, international, legal, medical, mental health, business, Deaf-Blind Protactile, and government settings
  • Delivered in a blended online format, with Zoom sessions every Monday and Wednesday from 7-9 PM Eastern, supplemented by asynchronous coursework
  • Includes a required three-and-a-half day on-campus DeafBlind Protactile training session
  • Offered in two sessions:
    • Session 1: delivered from September to December
    • Session 2: delivered from January to May

Certificate in Trilingual Interpreting

  • Provides professional specialized development for trilingual interpreters and aspiring trilingual interpreters with fundamental tools that contribute to their growth as interpreters and help them build skills for their trilingual work
  • Participants practice their skills in bilingual interpretation between ASL and Spanish, English and Spanish, and ASL and English.
  • Offers supplemental content for participants who are fluent in Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin)
  • Delivered in a blended online format, with asynchronous coursework supplemented by Zoom sessions every other Wednesday from 4-6 PM Pacific from September to May

Certificate in Signed Language Translation

  • Focuses on translation between ASL and English and other signed languages.
  • Instruction provided by mostly Deaf instructors and designed for learners who have SLPI rating of Advanced Plus or ASLPI skills with 4+
  • Delivered synchronously online through Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7–9 PM Eastern

Certificate in International Sign Interpreting

  • Prepares interpreters to facilitate communication between International Sign and English or International Sign and another national signed language
  • Open to both Deaf and hearing interpreters from any country
  • The 20-week program is delivered entirely online in an asynchronous format and consists of two required parts:
    • Part 1: from February to May
    • Part 2: from September to December