How to Grow Your Career as a Professional ASL Interpreter
Whether you’re newly certified or have years of experience, growing your career as a professional ASL interpreter takes more than strong interpreting skills. Building a successful career often involves earning recognized credentials, developing specialized expertise, expanding your professional network, and finding opportunities that align with your goals. At HIS Sign, we support qualified interpreters throughout their careers by connecting them with assignments that match their experience, specialties, and availability.
Below, we share five ways to grow your career as a professional ASL interpreter:
1. Earn (or Renew) Your Certification
Certification remains the clearest signal of credibility in this field. RID certification, in particular, is widely recognized as the standard clients and agencies look for when vetting ASL interpreters, and it often opens the door to higher-paying assignments that are unavailable to uncertified interpreters. Many certifying bodies now offer digital credentialing as well, so an interpreter can display a verified badge alongside their qualifications. Renewing certification on schedule keeps that credibility current instead of letting it lapse. See our specialty list for more information on requirements for different assignments.
2. Choose a Specialty That Sets You Apart
General interpreting skills matter, but a defined specialty tends to open more consistent, better-paying work. Medical interpreting is one of the most in-demand specialties, since clinical settings require precise terminology and a steady, trained presence. Legal and educational interpreting offer similar paths. Building expertise in one or more of these practice areas can prepare you for a wider range of assignments while strengthening your professional skill set.
3. Partner With an Agency Like HIS Sign
Independent interpreters often spend as much time finding work as they do interpreting. Partnering with an interpreting agency like HIS Sign can help reduce that burden. We match qualified freelance interpreters with assignments based on their credentials, specialties, availability, and the clients needs. This allows interpreters to focus more on their profession while gaining access to a steady variety of opportunities across multiple industries they may not reach on their own. From healthcare settings to classrooms to corporate events, our agency connects interpreters with a wide range of clients who need reliable, qualified communication support.
4. Build Your Network Within the Deaf Community and Industry
Relationships play an important role in a successful interpreting career, and that starts with staying connected to the Deaf community, fellow interpreters, and the organizations that serve them. Participating in local events, professional associations, and continuing education opportunities can help you build meaningful professional relationships while staying informed about changes in the field. A strong professional network supports ongoing growth, expands learning opportunities, and helps establish the trust and reputation that interpreting agencies and organizations value.
5. Commit to Ongoing Skill Development
Language, technology, and accessibility needs continue to evolve, making ongoing professional development an important part of a successful interpreting career. Workshops, conferences, and continuing education help interpreters stay current with changes in language, culture, ethics, and interpreting best practices. Expanding your experience with services such as video interpreting or CART captioning can also broaden the types of assignments you’re qualified to accept. Demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning helps position you for new opportunities throughout your career.
Take the Next Step With HIS Sign
Growing your career as a professional ASL interpreter takes more than experience alone. Continuing to build your skills, strengthen your professional network, and explore new specialties can open the door to meaningful opportunities throughout your career.
At HIS Sign, we’re committed to supporting qualified freelance interpreters by providing the resources, flexibility, and professional support they need to succeed. Learn more about joining our team and how to become a HIS Sign interpreter.