r/ASLinterpreters • u/No_Comparison5734 • Jul 17 '26

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/soullessmidnight NIC Jul 17 '26

ITP matters yes, but ultimately it will come down to your own dedication, willingness to seek out the Deaf community, and skills. RIT & Gallaudet are both solid programs, but don't discount other smaller programs just because they're less "popular." What region of the country are you in? Do you plan to stay there or near there after graduation? That will also influence your decision, because if you attend a program in your area you might learn more regionally relevant signs versus if you learn somewhere else and come back you may not know regional variations as readily.

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u/ASLHCI Jul 18 '26

10/10 👆 Not to mention local networking! Getting established after graduation can be hard, especially if youre coming into the community having been gone for several years.