Remember a few years ago when we had issues with people pretending to be interpreters and ending up on TV or standing near the President?
Yeah…that led a lot of businesses to start asking, “How do I know my interpreter is qualified to be in the room?”
That is a solid question because the ADA requires businesses to provide effective communication for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. They are spending a lot of money to make that happen, so it’s reasonable to ask: Is my interpreter qualified?
The Education Behind An Interpreter
The traditional route for interpreters is to attend an ITP (Interpreter Training Program). Here in Minnesota, we have three programs. Two are through private colleges, and one starts at a community college where you earn a two-year degree before transferring to complete a four-year degree. All of these options require an internship. During that time, interpreters learn the skills needed to become professional interpreters. They also begin to discover what types of interpreting they enjoy. For example, concert interpreting may be a great fit for one interpreter but not another.
Becoming A Certified Interpreter
Once they have graduated and are out interpreting, they have the opportunity to take certification exams. The most recognized national certification is the NIC (National Interpreter Certification) through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). Another credential you may hear about is the BEI (Board for Evaluation of Interpreters), which is a certification system used by several states. If an interpreter wants to work primarily in K–12 education, there is also the EIPA (Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment).
Interpreting for Schools or Educational Institutions
Many states have laws regarding educational interpreting that require either a national certification or a minimum EIPA score. A rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 is often considered the benchmark, although requirements vary by state. The nice part is that interpreters can continue improving their skills and retake the EIPA to earn a higher score. Now that you know the educational background, let’s look at some of the other components that make an interpreter a good fit.
Interpreters Across Multiple Fields
There are interpreters who are CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults), meaning they grew up immersed in both the language and culture before they ever entered an Interpreter Training Program. There are interpreters, like myself, who bring backgrounds in the military and medicine—I was an Army medic. Others come from theatre, education, social work, or business. Some interpreters even pursue advanced education or specialized training in areas such as legal or medical interpreting.
All of those different backgrounds can make an interpreter better suited for a specific assignment.
Tying this all together, when you request an interpreter, you can ask for someone with experience in a particular field. Maybe you need someone with a finance background for a board meeting or someone with theatre experience for a production. Believe it or not, my military background comes in handy more often than people realize, although it isn’t
always requested.
How To Choose The Right Interpreter?
You can ask for a certified interpreter. You can ask about an interpreter’s experience in a specific setting. You can even ask whether there have been any concerns or complaints about an interpreter’s performance. The most important thing to take away from this is that you have the right to ask questions. You have the right to make sure the interpreter assigned to your event or appointment is qualified for the situation. And if an interpreter isn’t the right fit, you also have the right to request someone different the next time.
Finding the right interpreter isn’t about checking a box—it’s about making sure communication is effective for everyone in the room.