Reasons to Become Accredited
- Provides institutions guidance for an objective, internal assessment of their programs grounded upon national standards.
- Provides institutions affirmation and assurance that their programs have received a thorough external review by highly experienced leaders in interpreter education.
- Provides institutions and administrators guidelines and standards within which to set goals and conduct strategic planning.
- Provides employers of interpreters with validation that graduates have received training and education based on national standards.
- Informs outside entities of an institution’s commitment to excellence in interpreter education by its voluntary pursuit of accreditation.
- Informs potential students and other institutions that your program meets recognized national standards of interpreter education, including curriculum and highly qualified instructional faculty vetted by external accreditors.
- Informs outside entities and potential students that your institution has made a fiscal and pedagogical commitment to sign language interpreter education.
- Ensures that your curriculum follows best practices and meets national standards, including a rigorous field experience.
- Serves as a valuable recruiting tool, enabling a competitive advantage over programs that have not received national accreditation.
- Enables programs to be endorsed and eligible to apply for federal grants through the U.S. Department of Education
- Programs that are accredited are striving to be the best in the education of sign language interpreters, sharing a common goal of graduating highly qualified interpreters. Holding accreditation provides an institution with a network of likeminded individuals nationwide.
Augustana University