UCSD Extension's Professional Certificate in

What level of English and Spanish do I need? The program is designed for individuals who are already completely bilingual in Spanish and English as determined by a Pass grade on the program's Entrance Exam. “Completely bilingual” signifies verbal and written fluency, and an ability to complete second year college-level studies in both languages. All students who pass the entrance exam are eligible to enroll in the certificate program.

How often is the entrance exam offered? The entrance exam is offered three times a year in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. Students can only take the exam on the scheduled date each quarter.

How do I prepare for the entrance exam? The exam is an oral and written assessment of your speaking skills, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and spelling in both languages. It is not a standardized test, and there are no accompanying test preparation books or materials. The following suggestions have been helpful for past students who were preparing for the exam:

Listen closely to radio and television programs in both Spanish and English, while simultaneously interpreting into the other language in your head.
Read diverse sources in both languages and pay close attention to correct spelling, accents, dialect, slang, etc.
Translate articles and excerpts from books with published translations (such as parallel texts) and compare your rendition to the published versions for accuracy. • Study vocabulary from works in English and Spanish at the university level.
Review SAT test prep materials in both Spanish and English

Are there any courses I can take before I have to take the exam? Students are eligible to take the following required program courses prior to taking and/or passing the Entrance Exam:

Who grades the entrance exam and will I be able to keep the graded exam? The exam is graded by a qualified, bilingual practitioner in the field of translation and interpretation. All results are reported to students on the same day of the exam to allow adequate time to enroll in courses. Students do not have access to graded exams.

What if I fail the entrance exam? Nearly thirty percent of the students who take the entrance exam do not pass it. If a student does not pass the exam, the student is eligible to retake the exam as many times as they like after a suggested three month waiting period. During this time, we recommend enrolling in some courses to continue to practice and develop your skills.

When can I enroll in the certificate program? You may officially register for the certificate program after you pass the entrance exam. The certificate fee is $50. Students are not eligible to receive financial assistance until they have passed the entrance exam and registered for the certificate program.

When and where are the classes offered? The program is designed for adults who have traditional job schedules. Courses are offered in the evenings, Monday through Thursday, and/or during the day on Saturday. Classes are held at the Extension complex on the UCSD campus in La Jolla.

Do I have to take classes in a certain order? Yes, to some extent. Before you enroll in any advanced level translation course, you must successfully complete:

Entrance Exam
Spanish to English Translation I
English to Spanish Translation I
Introduction to Translation and Interpretation
Theory and Practice of Translation (recommended but not required that it be taken concurrently or after Introduction to Translation and Interpretation).

Before you enroll in any advanced level interpretation course, you must complete:

May I waive any of the program requirements? No, all program requirements must be completed. No exception. In some cases, credit received from another accredited institution may be applied to this program if the coursework was completed within the previous three years. To receive the certificate, you may only transfer two courses. The course description, syllabus, sample assignment, and offical transcripts of each course must be submitted for formal review. Upon review, notification in writing whether or not the courses may be applied to our certificate program.

May I waive any of the individual course prerequisites? No, individual course prerequisite may not be waived.

May I transfer coursewhere completed elsewhere? In some cases, credit received from another accredited institution may be applied to this program if the coursework was completed within the previous three years. To receive the certificate, you may only transfer two courses. The course description, syllabus, a sample assignment, and offical transcript for each course must be submitted with a written petition.

May I skip a quarter? Yes. You may resume taking classes at any time as long as you complete the certificate program in five years. After you have passed the entrance exam, you must enroll in your first course within six months.

Is financial assistance available? Yes. Students in any of the professional certificate programs offered through UCSD Extension are eligible for financial assistance. For detailed information, please contact Susan Kelly at (858) 822-1366 or skelly@ucsd.edu.

I never went to college. Will I be able to handle the courses in the program? We strongly recommend that you have completed at least two years of college-level coursework prior to taking the entrance exam and enrolling in the program. In most cases, students who pass the entrance exam are able to handle the courses in the program as long as they attend class regularly and do the required coursework.

What are classes like? The classroom is designed to be relaxed and supportive. With the exception of the introductory course, most of the classes have fewer than 16 students. The relatively small class size allows you the opportunity to interact closely with other students and the instructor, who provides useful and current information about career trends.

Who are the instructors? The faculty is comprised of translators and interpreters who are active professionals in their fields of expertise and are dedicated to providing a supportive and dynamic learning environment.

Does the program offer job placement or internships? Yes, volunteer, internship, and work opportunities are available to students who have completed the 6 required program courses with a grade of B or higher. Additionally, UCSD Extension offers students career assistance. Contact the Career Services department at (858) 882-8016.

Who hires professional translators and interpreters? Interpreters and translators may be employees of private companies or work in the public sector, own and operate their own translation and interpretation service companies, or work freelance. Professionals are needed in a wide variety of fields, such as law, health care, media, customer service call centers, general business, education, and social services.

How do I know if this is the right career for me? Where can I learn more about the profession? If you are unclear about the profession, you are strongly encouraged to take the course, Introduction to Translation and Interpretation. This course gives an overview of the different aspects of the translation and interpretation field. You can also attend a free information session to learn more about the program and the field.

What is a court interpreter? According to the Judicial Council of California, "a court interpreter is anyone who interprets in a court proceeding (e.g. arraignment, motions, pretrial conference, preliminary hearing, deposition, trial) for a witness or defendant who speaks or understands little or no English. The interpreter interprets everything that is said in English into the language of the defendant or witness, and everything stated by the defendant or witness into English."

View the Judicial Council of California's Court Interpreter Packet for additional useful informaiton.

What kind of person makes a good court interpreter? The Judicial Council of California provides an excellent answer to this question:

In addition to total fluency in English and a second language, a court interpreter should have excellent public speaking skills. Sometimes the testimony to be interpreted is shocking or traumatic, and the interpreter must be able to deal with such matters without becoming emotionally involved. The interpreter must also be able to refrain from expressing personal opinions or acting as an advocate for one side or the other in a court case, and must be able to work unobtrusively. The interpreter must be able to work well under pressure and react quickly to solve complex linguistic and ethical problems as they arise. On the other hand, when a problem cannot be solved by the interpreter alone, the interpreter must demonstrate the good judgment required to inform the court of that fact and take whatever steps are necessary to resolve the situation. And finally, a good court interpreter constantly strives to improve his or her skills by reading widely, attending conferences, researching new terms and concepts, and honing techniques of interpreting.

What is the job market like for court interpreters? The large immigrant populations in California have created demand for certified court interpreters. Most court interpreters freelance or work as per-diem interpreters rather than being permanent employees of the courts. Current state rate is $265/full day and $147/half day. Current federal rate is $355/full day and $193/half day. Trial courts have highly competitive permanent positions for court interpreters that pay between $30,000 and $60,000 per year, depending on location and experience. The most recent recruitment for a staff court interpreter at the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego listed an annual salary range of $66,861 to $75,296. The most recent round of recruitment for staff court interpreters at the Federal court listed an annual salary of $74,156 to $120,569. A freelance interpreter must be willing to travel from one court to another.

Will this program prepare me for the state and federal certification exams? While we offer an Examination Preparation Workshop to teach our students the strategies for successfully passing the State, Federal, Medical, and American Translators Association examinations, this certificate program is designed to provide students with the technical skills to work as a professional translator and interpreter. It is not designed as a preparatory course for a specific certification exam.