Did you know that there are more Spanish speakers in the U.S. than Canadians in Canada? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 41 million Spanish speakers in the U.S., with almost 8 million Spanish speakers in Texas alone. 

Austin Community College District (ACC) Continuing Education Division works to support the growing need for interpreters and translators. Registration is now open for the 2024-25 cohort of the Translation and Interpreting Program. It offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for careers in translation and interpreting. The noncredit, three-semester online certificate program provides three specialized tracks: Translation, Community and Medical Interpreting, and Court Interpreting.

The U.S.’s diverse population, international trade expansion, and the digital age fuel a strong demand for translators and interpreters. The Department of Labor forecasts a 24% growth in this field by 2032, with a median annual wage of $57,090 in May 2023. This demand spans education, healthcare, legal, and business sectors.

The program offers opportunities for practical experience, with students volunteering as interpreters at various community events and clinics such as the Texas School for the Blind, Sacred Heart Community Clinic, Foundation Communities Prosper Centers, and ACC’s Ascender to College Mini Majors Day.

For more information, visit https://continue.austincc.edu/register or https://continue.austincc.edu/translation.

Tags: certificate, Continuing Education, Interpreting, Translation