Resources

Interpreter Training Program

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 2009, 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. As of 2012, the requirement changed to a Bachelor Degree, in any field of study.

We 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.

Screening, Evaluation and Certification

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 please visit the RID website.

The RID performance evaluations can be take at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville FL. The NIC written test is administered in many locations in Florida.   See the RID website for specifics.

Jobs and Pay Scales

The largest employer of sign language and oral interpreters is the public schools K-12, technical schools and higher education colleges and universities. 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.

State Colleges Programs in Interpreting, ASL or Deaf Studies

Name	Contact	Degree
Florida State College at Jacksonville South Campus 11901 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32346	Lori Cimino Communications/Media Dept Phone: (904) 646-2392 Website	Associate in Science
Miami Dade College North Campus 11380 NW 27th Ave. Miami, FL 33167	Josett Peat Chairperson English & Communications Dept Phone: (305) 237-1305 Website	Associate in Science
St. Petersburg College Gibbs Campus 6605 Fifth Ave North St. Petersburg, FL 33710	Carol Downing Program Director Communications Dept Phone: (727) 341-4369 Website	Associate in Science
Valencia College East Campus 701 N Econlockhatchee Trail Orlando, FL 32825	Debbie Drobney Program Chair Social Science Dept Phone: (407) 582-2881 Website	Associate in Arts

University Programs in Special Education, Deaf Education, Interpretation and Related Fields

Name	Contact	Majors	Degree
Daytona State College PO Box 2811 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32210	Margie Hensler Director Phone: (386) 506-3487 Website	Exceptional Student Education	BS
Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Rd. PO Box 3091 Boca Raton, FL 33431	Dr. Michael Brady Chair Phone: (561) 297-3280 Website	Speech Pathology and Audiology, Exceptional Student Education Communication Sciences and Disorders	BA M.Ed. Ed.D.
Florida Gulf Coast University 10501 FGCU Blvd. S. Ft. Myers, FL 33965	Office of the Dean College of Education Phone: (239) 590-7800 Website	Special Education	BA M.Ed.
Florida International University 11200 SW 8th Street ZEB Building Miami, FL 33199	Dr. Maria Fernandez Chair Phone: (305) 348-0193 Website	Exceptional Student Education Special Education	BS M.Ed. Ed.D.
Florida State University 600 W. College Ave. Tallahassee, FL 32306	Dr. Barbara Foorman Director Phone: (850) 645-7456 Website	Special Education Communication Science and Disorders	BS MS Ph.D. Specialist
University of Central Florida 4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, FL 32816	Jay Hoffman, Ph.D. Chair Phone: (407) 823-1272 Website	Communication Sciences and Disorders Exceptional Education	BS MA Ed.S. Ph.D.
University of Florida College of Education 140 Norman Hall Gainesville, FL 32611	Dr. Jean Crockett Department Chair Phone: (352) 273-4292 Website	Early Childhood (BA, M.Ed.) Special Education (Ph.D., Ed.D., Ed.S.)	BA M.Ed. Ph.D. Ed.D. Ed.S.
University of North Florida 1 Univ of North Fl Dr Jacksonville, FL 32224	Dr. Karen Patterson Department Chair Phone: (904) 620-2930 Website	Deaf Studies ASL/Deaf Studies ASL/English Interpreting Deaf Education	BA BS M.Ed.
University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue Tampa, FL 33620	Andrea Smith Program Director Phone: (813) 974-8978 Website	Audiology Communication Sciences & Disorders Speech Lang. Pathology	BA MS Au.D. Ph.D.
University of West Florida 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514	Charlotte Boling, Ph.D. Chair Phone: (850) 474-2646 Website	Exceptional Student Education Special Education	BA MA

Independent Colleges/Universities Offerings in Deafness, Sign Language, Interpreting and Special Education

Name	Contact	Majors	Degree
Barry University 11300 NE 2nd Ave Miami Shores, FL 33161	Dr. Judy Harris-Lobby Department Chair Phone: (305) 899-3709 Website	Exceptional Student Education	MS Ph.D.
Bethune-Cookman College 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114	Dr. Leslie Sena Chair Phone: (386) 481-2303 Website	Exceptional Student Education	BS
Flagler College 74 King St. St. Augustine, FL 32084	Dr. Michele Gregoire Chair Phone: (904) 819-6271 Michella Maiorana-Basas Deaf Ed Program Director Phone: (904) 819-6277 Website	Elementary Ed/-Deaf and Hard of Hearing Elementary Ed/ Exceptional Student Education	BA
Florida Memorial University 15800 NW 42 Ave. Miami Gardens, FL 33054	Dr. Mildred Berry Dean Phone: (305) 626-1444 Website	Exceptional Education	BS MS
Florida Southern College 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. Lakeland, FL 33801	Dr. Perry Castelli Chair Phone: (863) 680-6289 Dr. Kathleen Milburn Coordinator of Special Ed Phone: (863) 680-4176 Website	Specific Learning Disabilities (Optional, Varying Exceptionalities)	BA BS
Lynn University 3601 North Military Trl Boca Raton, FL 33431	Priscilla Boerger Director Phone: (561) 237-7082 Website	Exceptional Student Education	BS M.Ed.
Nova Southeastern University 3301 College Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314	Dr. Sidi M Lakhdar Phone: (954) 262-8638 Website	Communication Disorders Exceptional Student Education Special Education Speech Language Pathology	BS MS Ed.D.
Saint Leo University 33701 St. Rd 52 Saint Leo, FL 33574	Dr. Carol Walker Dean School of Ed. & Social Services Phone: (352) 588-8283 Website	Exceptional Student Education	M.Ed.
St. Thomas University 16400 NW 32nd Ave. Miami, FL 33054	Dr. Hilroy Thomas Assoc. Dean/ Director Phone: (305) 628-6756 Website	Special Education	Masters
Stetson University 421 N Woodland Blvd. DeLand, FL 32723	Dr. Christopher Colwell Director Phone: (386) 822-7073 Website	Varying Exceptionalities	Masters
University of Miami School of Education 5202 University Dr. Merrick Build. Rm. 312 Coral Gables, FL 33146	Dr. Elizabeth Harry Chair Phone: (305) 284-5363 Dr. Robert F. Moore Assoc. Chair Phone: (305) 284-3187 Website	Elem/ Exceptional Student Education Early Childhood Special Education	BS M.Ed. Ed.S. Ph.D.
Warner University 13895 Hwy 27 Lake Wales, FL 33859	Dr. Steven Darr Dean of Faculty Phone: (863) 638-7230 Website	Exceptional Student Education	BA

Colleges/Universities Distance Learning Offerings in Deafness, Sign Language, Interpreting and Special Education

Name	Contact	Majors	Degree
Daytona State College PO Box 2811 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32210	Margie Hansler Director Phone: (386) 506-3487 Website	Exceptional Student Education	BS in Education (partially online)
Troy University 600 University Ave Troy Campus Troy, AL 36082	Cynthia Dodzik ITP Faculty Advisor Phone: (334) 808-6375 Judy Robertson ITP Faculty Advisor Phone: (334) 808-6331 Website	Interpreter Training Program	BS (on-campus, blended or fully online)
University of Northern Colorado Distance Opportunities for Interpreter Training Center 1059 Alton Way Box 7 Denver, CO 80230	Leilani Johnson, Ed.D. Director Phone: (303) 365-7688 Susan Brown Coordinator Phone: (303) 637-3078 Website	ASL-English Interpretation Program	BA (fully online or onsite)
University of North Florida 1 Univ of North Fl Dr Jacksonville, FL 32224	Sherry Shaw, Ed.D. Interpreting Program Phone: (904) 620-1811 Website	ASL/English Interpreting	BS / MS (blended or onsite)
John A. Logan College 700 Logan College Rd. Carterville, IL 62918	Paula Willig Advisor Phone: (618) 985-3741 x8456 Website	ASL/Deaf Studies and Interpreter Preparation Program	AAS Degree or Certificate (fully online)
Siena Heights University Distance Learning Programs 1247 E. Siena Heights Drive Adrian, MI 49221	Lori Timmis Assistant Dean Phone: (517) 264-7687 Mary Roberts Advisor Phone: (517) 264-7189 Website	Sign Language Interpreting	BS (fully online)
University of Cincinnati Uptown (Main) Campus 2600 Clifton Ave Cincinnati, OH 45221	Suzanne Ehrlich Director Phone: (513) 556-1670 (513) 556-6161 Website	Signed Language Interpreting Deaf Studies	BS (online or onsite) Certificate
Spartanburg Community College PO Drawer 4386 Spartanburg, SC 29305	Denise Huff Program Director Phone: (864) 592-4883 Website	Basic Interpreting	Certificate (fully online)