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American Sign Language/English Interpretation

Start Date: September
Length: 2 Years
Credential: Diploma
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Be the conduit between hearing and non-hearing worlds by interpreting between English in a hearing context and American Sign Language in a Deaf cultural context.

Program Overview

As an interpreter, you are the crucial link between two very different worlds. You take a message from English, in a hearing-world context, and place it in American Sign Language (ASL) in a Deaf-cultural context, without changing or influencing its meaning. And you do the same in reverse. Both worlds depend on you in order to understand each other. As an interpreter, you require excellent social and interpersonal skills, as well as emotional stamina and agility.

Choose NSCC


  • We are the only school east of Ontario to offer this program and one of only four of this kind nation-wide.

  • A number of our teaching faculty are Deaf, giving you an authentic one-on-one experience with Deaf culture and keeping you up to date on events in the local and regional Deaf communities.

  • In your second year of the program, you'll also have the opportunity to put your skills to work in a real-world environment during a five-week practicum.

Employment Opportunities

There is a shortage of qualified Interpreters within this province and beyond. There is a high employment rate for graduates in both full-time and part-time work. Opportunities exist in the school system from kindergarten to Grade 12, at Community Colleges and Universities, as well as in the community at large. Interpreters are needed in the legal system, in hospitals, at meetings, on TV and a wide variety of venues. Our graduates are employed by the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA), as well as several other referral agencies.

Our Grads

You'll find some of our graduates on stage interpreting at events, performances and in public forums. Many are involved in committees for national professional associations or a local chapter of professional interpreters. In addition to their work as interpreters, some of our graduates have returned to NSCC to teach or mentor the next generation of students.

Admission Requirements


  • High School Graduation Diploma or equivalent.

  • Successful completion of the Deaf Studies Certificate or equivalent.

  • As a final stage of your application process, you are interviewed in person so we can assess your ASL and English skills, as well as your knowledge of Deaf culture.

  • Detailed instructions regarding entrance requirements – PDFEntrance Requirements PDF (88KB)

Courses May Include

Course descriptions
Code Course
AEIP 1005  
AEIP 1007  
AEIP 1008  
AEIP 1011  
AEIP 2000  
AEIP 2010  
AEIP 2012  
AEIP 2014  
AEIP 2016  
AEIP 2018  
AEIP 2020  
AEIP 3000  
AEIP 3001  
AEIP 3002  
AEIP 3003  
AEIP 3004  
AEIP 3050  
AEIP 4000  
AEIP 4004  
AEIP 4006  
AEIP 4007  
AEIP 4008  
SAFE 1000  
SAFE 1001  

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