Associate of Science

ASL Admission Requirements  

This program provides the solid foundation necessary to lead to an interpreting career.  The educational philosophy of the ASL-English Interpreting program at CCAC centers on providing students with the superior language skills and ethical competencies needed by today’s interpreters.  Interpreting is a diverse career, offering a wide variety of settings in which to work.  Through foundational interpreting courses, observations in the field and practicum placement, students become skilled professionals. Students who successfully complete the program will be prepared to sit for the  Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) and/or the National Interpreter Certification (NIC) written exam. The National Interpreter Certification (NIC) performance exam requires a Bachelor’s degree or 120-credit equivalence.

Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate will:

1. Demonstrate bilingual and cultural competence, both receptively and expressively, while working with a multicultural Deaf community.
2. Produce a consumer-driven interpretation that employs a meaning-based approach in a variety of settings.
3. Apply appropriate controls to identified demands before, during and after assignments.
4. Investigate interpreters’ legal and ethical responsibilities in various settings, adhering to the registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Code of Professional Conduct.
5. Self-assess interpreting work to ensure it meets the professional standards for credentialing.

Prior to the practicum requirement, students must be eligible for clearance through the Federal Criminal History Record (PA Act 114), Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Check (PA Act 34), Pennsylvania Public Welfare Child Abuse History Clearance Act (PA Act 151), sign a background check affidavit (PA Act 24), complete mandated reporter training (PA Act 126), and have a negative TB test. Practicum students will be required to meet local requirements of the practicum placement site.

Upon completion of this program, students will be prepared to seek provisional registration with the state for employment as an interpreter in the community, or as an educational interpreter upon taking the EIPA and scoring 3.5 or higher.

Students may enter the program in three ways:

• Complete CCAC’s 20-credit American Sign Language certificate program;
• Earn a level 2+ or higher on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) or:
• Pass a CCAC ASL proficiency exam, offered throughout the year.