Interpreter Training Program Advising and FAQs
Interpreter Training Program (ITP) Advising and Other FAQs
ITP Advising
Any Collin College student can register for SGNL 1401 or SLNG 1347, but all other
SGNL and SLNG courses after that require a permit for registration. In order to obtain
this permit, students must meet with an administrator for ITP advising.
Goals of ITP Advising:
- Discuss educational goals
- Determine whether to pursue the AAS or Certificate option
- Declare ITP as your degree plan
- Determine course path
- Obtain registration permit for ITP coursework
Please note that the ITP advisor does not register you for your classes. Once you finish the advising appointment, it is your responsibility to register yourself for the necessary coursework.
Scheduling an ITP appointment:
You must be a Collin College student before you can schedule an advising appointment. Once you are a student, you can contact one of the two individuals listed below, based on the first letter of your last name:
- If your last name begins with A-L, contact Rachel Walker at RaWalker@collin.edu or by calling (972) 881-5603 in order to schedule an IEP advising appointment with Associate Dean Mark Fischer.
- If your last name begins with M-Z, contact Professor Kenya Rutherford at krutherford@collin.edu to schedule an IEP advising appointment with her.
Other FAQs:
- Does this program prepare me for state licensure as an American Sign Language interpreter? The Collin College ITP program prepares you for licensure in a few areas.
- The Associate of Applied Science in ITP degree prepares students to take the BEI exam at the Basic Level. Passing this exam is required for obtaining state licensure as an ASL interpreter.
- The Certificate in ASL Studies does not prepare students for the BEI evaluation, but does prepare them for taking the Texas Assessment of Sign Communication (TASC) (teachers of Deaf students) or the TASC-ASL (ASL teachers and bilingually certified teachers), which are exams for those who plan on working in Deaf Education.
- Should I complete the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in ITP degree or the Certificate in ASL Studies? The AAS degree path is for students who want to work as ASL-English interpreters. This may include being a court interpreter, medical interpreter, etc. The Certificate path is for individuals who wish to work with Deaf students in an educational environment, such as a being special education teacher or serving as a teacher's aid. You can further explore this topic in your IEP advising appointment (see above).
- Could I still pass the BEI with just the Certificate in ASL Studies? The Certificate does not prepare you for the BEI exam. If you plan on pursuing that licensure, you must complete the AAS degree.
- Can I complete the Interpreting Program completely online? Unfortunately, students are not able to complete the program completely online. however, we offer many courses online and at varying times to help accommodate students with work, familial, or other personal obligations.
- I want to enroll in this program. Where do I start? Step 1 is always gaining admission to the college. If you are not yet a Collin College student (with CWID), you can apply to the college online here. Once you are a student and you have completely taken care of the admissions process, you'll need to schedule an ITP advising appointment. See the ITP Advising section above for more information.
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