British Sign Language Interpreter
What is the work like?
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters help deaf and hearing people to communicate with one another.
As a BSL interpreter your work would include:
- making preparations before an assignment – searching for specialist vocabulary and finding out about the subject and the people involved
- listening carefully to, or watching, what is said or signed
- interpreting everything that is said or signed
- finding an appropriate way to express what has been said or signed in English or BSL.
You would need to maintain confidentiality and impartiality, and only give advice if it improves the communication process.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To become a qualified and registered BSL interpreter you will need interpreter and BSL qualifications recognised by the Registration Department of the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP). You can qualify in either of the following ways:
- completing a university course leading to a degree or postgraduate qualification
- completing NVQ Level 4 in Interpreting (BSL/English) and an approved qualification in BSL – you usually need to be working with deaf people on a paid or voluntary basis for this option.
Visit the CACDP website for further information on qualifications and registration.
For both routes you are likely to need qualifications in BSL up to level 2. You can complete these at many colleges and at centres for the deaf. It is advisable to contact providers of interpreter qualifications to check that your BSL qualifications are acceptable.
Getting involved in deaf clubs or centres for the deaf is a good way of making contact with deaf people and gaining an understanding of deaf culture and the deaf community. Details of deaf clubs and centres for the deaf are available from the British Deaf Association.
You can get information and training on deaf awareness and all aspects of working with the deaf through organisations such as RNID and the Royal Association for Deaf People.
What further training and development can I do?
You can complete interpreter training programmes or be assessed for CACDP NVQ Level 4 in Interpreting (BSL/English) through a number of organisations. The level at which you can register as an interpreter will depend on which qualification you have completed.
There are three registration categories:
- Junior Trainee Interpreter (JTI)
- Trainee Interpreter (TI)
- Member of the Register of Sign Language Interpreters (MRSLI).
As an MRSLI you will have full professional status. As a JTI or TI you could be more restricted in the type of assignment you can accept, depending on how much experience you have.
You can register as an MRSLI if you complete one of the following qualifications:
- University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) Postgraduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting
- Leeds University MA in Interpreting Studies
- Leeds University Postgraduate Diploma in Interpreting Studies
- CACDP NVQ Level 4 in Interpreting (BSL/English) and an approved BSL assessment.
You can do programmes leading to registration as a JTI or TI at the following universities:
- University of Bristol
- University of Wolverhampton
- University of Durham
- University of Central Lancashire
- Heriot-Watt University
- University of Leeds
- Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education
- Middlesex University.
Visit the CACDP website for full details of higher education qualifications for each level and approved centres offering the NVQ. You should check with the individual providers for the qualifications and/or experience you will need for entry.
The Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI) is the professional body for interpreters in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As a member you would have access to professional development and networking opportunities. Visit the ASL website for details.
Where can I go for more information?
South Fifth Street
Milton Keynes
MK9 2EU
Tel: 0871 474 0522
111 Westminster Bridge Road
London
SE1 7HR
Tel: 020 7379 5101
Block 4
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3UZ
Tel: 0191 383 1155
Textphone: 0191 383 7915
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
Fees and salaries for BSL interpreters vary widely depending on experience, employer and location.
As a guide, full-time interpreters can earn between £20,000 and £35,000 a year.
Freelance interpreters can earn between £20 and £30 an hour.
Interpreters may claim for expenses, unsocial hours, preparation time and other reasonable costs.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would usually work irregular hours, which may include evenings and weekends.
You could work with a variety of people and in many different situations, including schools, colleges or universities, health centres, residential homes, local government offices, hospitals, law courts and prisons, so your work would usually involve travel.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a good knowledge of the deaf community
- teamworking skills
- excellent spoken communication skills
- excellent BSL skills
- confidence when speaking in public
- the ability to keep up intense concentration and think rapidly
- integrity and a sense of responsibility.
What opportunities are there?
There is demand for BSL interpreters particularly in areas like further and higher education, employment, health and law.
As an interpreter you could work in organisations for deaf people or within social services departments, or you may be self-employed or work through an agency.
Some interpreters move into research.
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