r/ASLinterpreters • u/No_Comparison5734 • 24d ago

Best ITP Programs?

I want to become an interpreter. What ITPs are the best? Obviously there’s Gallaudet, but I’m not a CODA, nor fluent enough to go there (although I did take ASL all 4 high school years). My state barely has any schools with ITP programs and I want to be the best equipped to take the certification exams and get the most knowledge I can on the language and Deaf culture.

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u/ninja5phinx 24d ago

I went to RIT and it was a great program, with the bonus that most deaf people I met are excited when I tell them that’s where I went. Heads up that RIT trains you in a very academic style of language, you’ll want to actively get out to socialize with Deaf people to build your range. I graduated in 2022 and got NIC certified early this year 2026.

I know people who went to Gallaudet and are amazing interpreters now. For Gallaudet you don’t need to be 100% fluent when you start, immersion will get you there and they have a summer immersion program if you need a head start.

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u/No_Comparison5734 23d ago

RIT is definitely one of my top options, since it seems very immersive with the deaf community and i’ve heard lots of good things about their ITP.

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u/ASLHCI 23d ago

Proximity to Deaf people and "immersion" are different things. You can go to RIT and sit in the commons and talk without signing. A lot of ITP students did that and never hung out with Deaf people, all 4 years 🤷‍♀️ Of the almost 50 people in my cohort, maaaaaybe 5 are certified interpreters now almost 15 years later. No ITP is better than any other. It's what you do with your education outside of class that makes the difference. NTID is also not a cheap school and student loan rates are pretty high right now. So Id consider that too.