University of Arizona: The University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Deaf Studies with an emphasis of your choosing (educational interpreting, counseling, family studies, or psychology). 

Phoenix College: Phoenix College offers a Certificate in Deaf Studies and an Associate of Arts degree in ASL/English Interpreting. 

Coconino Community College: Coconino Community College offers an Associate of Arts degree in ASL & Interpreting Studies.

Interpreters in Arizona can take a variety of diagnostic and credentialing exams depending on the settings in which they plan to work.

Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA): The EIPA Performance Test evaluates the ability to expressively interpret classroom content and discourse and the ability to receptively interpret student sign language. The EIPA is often required for ASL interpreting work in the K-12 setting.

The EIPA is not considered a certification test and does not qualify interpreters for a General License, which is required to work outside of the K-12 setting in Arizona. This test is currently only available for hearing interpreters.

Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI): CASLI administers the exams that the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) uses for their national certification programs.  Candidates must meet certain RID Certification eligibility requirements AND pass both a knowledge exam and a performance exam in order to receive their national certification.

Both the CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam and the CASLI Generalist Performance Exam are available for hearing and Deaf interpreters. Passing both the Knowledge Exam and the Performance Exam may qualify an interpreter for an Arizona General License, which is required to interpret outside of the K-12 setting in Arizona.

Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Certification Program (BEI): The BEI certification program is managed by the Texas Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS). The BEI consists of two tests, the Test of English Proficiency and the BEI Performance Test.

Both the TEP and the BEI Performance Test are available for hearing and Deaf interpreters. Passing both the Knowledge Exam and the Performance Exam may qualify an interpreter for an Arizona General License, which is required to interpret outside of the K-12 setting in Arizona.

For more information about these tests, see the "Interpreting Exams" section of this webpage.

The law that established licensure, A.R.S. 36-1946, was passed by the Arizona State Legislature in 2000. This law was designed to create a statewide standard for Sign Language Interpreters. 

Provisional License: New interpreters to the field may qualify for a Provisional License. This license allows novice interpreters to work in limited, supervised settings to gain the skills and experience needed for national certification.

General License: Once an interpreter passes the CASLI or BEI certification tests, they may be eligible for a General License, which allows interpreters to work in any setting (excluding settings legal in nature).

Legal License: Interpreters wishing to work in legal settings are required to pass a legal certification test, which then qualifies the interpreter for a Legal License.

For more information about Arizona Interpreter Licensure, check out our Licensure page.

Interpreter Education Programs for Deaf Interpreters 

University of Arizona: The University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Deaf Studies with an emphasis of your choosing (educational interpreting, counseling, family studies, or psychology). 

Phoenix College: Phoenix College offers a Certificate in Deaf Studies and an Associate of Arts degree in ASL/English Interpreting.   

Coconino Community College: Coconino Community College offers an Associate of Arts degree in ASL & Interpreting Studies. 

National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Certificate in Deaf Interpreting: This 20-week non-credit certificate program trains Deaf professionals to interpret a variety of discourses in educational, international, legal, medical, mental health, business, and DeafBlind settings. The program is delivered using an online blended format with two-thirds of instruction occurring synchronously in Zoom and one-third completed asynchronously online. 

Sorenson Deaf Interpreter Academy: The Sorenson DIA program offers several programs designed to support your journey to becoming a professional interpreter or provide additional training to those already working as a Deaf Interpreter. 

Deaf Interpreter Online Training: The DITO program, offered through True-Biz ASL, has a series of courses that prepare Deaf Interpreters for the RID Knowledge and Performance exams. The program is 5 months long with asynchronous and synchronous work. 

Testing for Deaf Interpreters 

The certification tests accepted in Arizona for Deaf Interpreters are the CASLI  Exams for Deaf Interpreters and the BEI. For more information on testing, check out the Interpreting Exams section.