- 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?
Here is the low-down on interpreting in Pennsylvania!
First of all, take a look at the link on the right called "Interpreting Laws". Pennsylvania enacted legislation that ensures Deaf consumers of all ages will receive interpreting services from not only qualified interpreters, but also credentialed interpreters.
I Want To Work as a Freelance or Community Interpreter (with Deaf adults primarily)
PA requires interpreters to register with the state's Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH). You must hold a national certification, such as RID, NAD or NIC certificates to register and be considered qualified to work in PA for pay. There are several exemptions to the law, such as church interpreting & volunteer interpreting (for ex. interpreting a story-time at the public library). The full list of exemptions is available by reading Act 57 of 2004.
If a Deaf friend or family member requests your interpreting services, AND they give you the signed form that states they are requesting your services even though you do not hold PA state registration, then you can do the assignment for payment.
To register in Pennsylvania as a freelance interpreter, you follow the directions on the ODHH site. There is a $100 fee that is paid every other year to remain registered. You will also be required to maintain membership in RID, which requires interpreters to earn 8.0 CEUs every four years. If the state ODHH sees your RID membership has lapsed, then your name will be removed from the registered interpreters list.
If you work in Pennsylvania, for more than 14 days in a one year period, and do not register with the ODHH OR if you work in Pennsylvania, are not registered and do not have requests from Deaf consumers for your services, then you are breaking the law and could be subject to penalties.
Finally, interpreting in the PA legal system adds another layer of complexity. Sign Language interpreters who work in police departments or the court systems must also be registered with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) as specified in Act 172 of 2006.
Finding Employment as a Community Interpreter
The ODHH maintains a list of all the registered interpreters in the state and that list can be found here.
Agencies which are organizational members of PARID are:
- 360 Translations
- ASL Services
- Deaf-Hearing Communication Center, Inc.
Additionally Pennsylvania has a Vendor List of interpreters who wish to contract with state agencies, for hourly or on-going assignments. For more information see the information here.
There are both profit and not-for-profit Interpreter Referral Agencies who hire interpreters. ODHH has a partial list of them here.
Some hospitals and colleges hire full and part-time staff interpreters.
I Want to Work as an Interpreter in a K-12 School Environment
The Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Chapter 14 Regulations, require all K-12 sign language interpreters to hold either a score of 3.5 on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment or EIPA OR be registerd with the PA ODHH. For further information about the EIPA, see the website: www.classroominterpreting.com. For further information about taking the EIPA here in Pennsylvania, contact PaTTAN consultants here.
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 to you. In addition, this web site provides a School Profile of information about each school district and each public school in Pennsylvania.
Several other organizations also maintain lists of job vacancies.