- Are you an interpreter considering a move to Pennsylvania?
- Are you a recent graduate of an Interpreter Training Program?
- Are you a CODA and wondering if you could be employed as a Sign Language Interpreter?
- Have you taken a few sign language classes and now you are ready to try your hand at interpreting?
Laws in Pennsylvania regarding Sign Language Interpreting
Pennsylvania has enacted legislation that ensures Deaf consumers of all ages will receive interpreting services from not only qualified interpreters, but also credentialed interpreters. The link on the right, “Interpreting Laws”, provides the details and requirements for sign language interpreters working in Pennsylvania.
Employment as a Community Interpreter
The Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) maintains a list of all registered interpreters in the state. That list can be found here. Follow the instructions on the ODHH website to register and have your name added to the list.
Employment with an Interpreter Referral Agency
There are both for-profit and not-for-profit interpreter referral agencies in Pennsylvania. The ODHH website has a partial list of interpreter referral agencies that provide services in the state. The following Interpreter Referral Agencies are organizational members of PARID*:
Center for Hearing & Deaf Services
Deaf-Hearing Communication Center, Inc
Easter Seals Interpreting Services
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living
*PARID does not endorse any of these agencies. This list is provided for your convenience.
Employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) has a vendor list of interpreters who wish to contract with state agencies, for hourly and on-going assignments. this contract is open for bidding periodically. For more information visit the DGS website.
Employment with Individual Businesses
Many businesses, colleges and hospitals contract with individual interpreters and interpreter referral agencies. Contact the specific businesses to establish a contract.
Employment with the Pennsylvania Court System
The Pennsylvania State and District Courts contract with individual interpreters and with interpreter referral agencies. Contact the court or an interpreter referral agency to establish a contract. To see the requirements for court interpreting in Pennsylvania view our webpage on Interpreting Laws.
Employment in the K-12 School Environment
The State Board of Education has established requirements for sign language interpreters in the K-12 education setting. The requirements are under Chapter 14 (Section 14.105. Personnel) of the PA School Code. School Districts and Intermediate Units hire full-time and part-time staff interpreters, contract interpreters, and interpreter referral agencies to fill sign language interpreter positions. See: Education Job Vacancies in Pennsylvania and Miscellaneous Positions (for non-certified staff).
School staffing is the responsibility of the administrators in each school district and applicants seeking positions in Pennsylvania schools must correspond directly to the district administrators or human resources directors in the district(s) where employment is desired. For the names and addresses of all Pennsylvania school districts, use EdNA to access information about districts in the geographic area of interest. In addition, this web site provides a School Profile of information about each school district and each public school in Pennsylvania.
For information about the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA), see the website: www.classroominterpreting.com. For further information about taking the EIPA here in Pennsylvania, contact the PaTTAN consultants.