The Interpreter Pipeline Problem: Why Graduation Does Not Equal Certification in the ASL Interpreting Field
Our American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting profession is at a crossroads. As you know, across the United States, interpreter shortages are affecting Deaf access in schools, hospitals, courtrooms, workplaces, and community settings. Agencies struggle to fill assignments. Educational institutions compete for qualified interpreters. Deaf consumers report increasing difficulty securing consistent access. But at the same time, interpreter training programs (ITPs) continue graduating new students every year.
So why does the shortage persist?
Well, the answer lies in the growing disconnect between interpreter education and interpreter certification. Graduation from an ITP is only one step in a long professional journey towards certified level professional interpreting. Many graduates never become certified, choose to not work because they are not certified, or leave the field within just a few years because of frustration and the lack of support.
The result is a pipeline problem that has major implications for the future of language access in the United States.
Today, interpreters may pursue several certification pathways, including:
Educational interpreting credentials through the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)
Certification through CASLI and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
State-level certifications such as the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI)
Most interpreter training programs are designed to prepare students for entry into the profession, but certification requires real-world teaming in the field, coaching, supervised experience, and ongoing professional development.
This distinction matters because many graduates complete their programs without yet reaching professional fluency or readiness for certification-level work.
The United States has dozens of ASL interpreting programs, ranging from certificates and associate degrees to bachelor’s and graduate programs. A recent overview of interpreter education noted that there are more than 100 postsecondary ASL interpreting programs nationwide. (Wikipedia)
Sadly, the number of graduates entering the workforce as certified interpreters appears far smaller than the number entering programs.
This is known as the “graduation-to-certification gap.”
Programs may successfully graduate students, but many graduates struggle to pass certification exams or transition into sustainable careers.
The Community College of Philadelphia Interpreter Launchpad Program specifically describes this problem as a “readiness-to-work gap” faced by many novice interpreters after graduation. (ccp.edu)
Also, the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing Launchpad Program was created to support novice interpreters pursuing certification because many new graduates struggle to bridge the transition from school to professional practice. (acdhh.org) These programs exist because the field increasingly recognizes that graduation alone is not enough.
In some regions, there truly are not enough qualified interpreters to meet demand. Educational systems, medical providers, and rural communities are particularly affected. (The Globe)
So how can we fix this problem?
The future of the interpreting profession depends on strengthening the pipeline from education to certification to long-term employment. This is why we created Terp Coach Network, because we see this gap and we know how to fix it.
One of the biggest challenges facing the interpreting profession today is not simply recruiting students into interpreter training programs — it is helping graduates successfully transition into certified, working interpreters.
Too many graduates leave their programs still feeling unprepared for certification exams, real-world interpreting demands, or the next steps needed to build a sustainable career. Without continued support, many talented interpreters get stuck in the gap between graduation and certification.
That is where Terp Coach Network is helping provide a real solution.
Terp Coach Network was created specifically to support interpreters who need additional guidance, coaching, and certification preparation after completing their interpreter training programs. Through coaching services, mentorship, and prep courses, interpreters receive the targeted support many programs simply do not have the time (one on one attention) or resources (recent certification test taking experience).
The interpreting profession does not just need more graduates — it needs more certified, confident, and prepared interpreters entering the workforce. Closing that gap requires ongoing education, layered feedback, and structured support systems that help interpreters not get stuck in the “gap” any longer.
As demand for qualified interpreters continues to grow nationwide, organizations like Terp Coach Network are becoming an essential part of strengthening the future of the profession.
Click here to get started with Terp Coach!
