The Translation and Interpreting Program at ACC is an online Continuing Education, non-credit, fast-track career program.

You can complete the program in three (3) semesters.

No. This program is offered only in the English <> Spanish language combination.

The program offers three (3) tracks as outlined below.

Community and Medical Interpreting Track

• FRNL-1070 Introduction to Translation & Interpreting (30 Hours)
• FRNL-1074 Basic Interpreting Skills (30 Hours)
• FRNL-1075 Medical Interpreting Skills (30 Hours)

Translation Track

• FRNL-1070 Introduction to Translation and Interpreting (30 Hours)
• FRNL-1071 Basic Translation (30 Hours)
• FRNL-1073 Advanced Translation (30 Hours)

Legal Interpreting Track

• FRNL-1070 Introduction to Translation and Interpreting (30 Hours)
• FRNL-1076 Court Interpreting Part 1 (30 Hours)
• FRNL-1077 Court Interpreting Part 2 (30 Hours)

Yes, you can. Each track is offered on a different night of the week, so you can take one, two or all three tracks. You can take translation and interpreting courses at the same time, but don't have to. The entire series takes 3 semesters to complete, you can take as few as three courses or as many as seven. You will receive a certificate of completion after each one.

No high school or college transcripts are required to enroll, but you must be fluent in English and Spanish (written and spoken). Fluency is determined by passing a language assessment in English and Spanish that includes the names of external body parts, vocabulary used in the social services field, a short translation and an interpreting demonstration.

The language assessment is a written and oral exam administered by the Translation and Interpreting instructors. It is a prerequisite and is available after the introduction course. You may start with the basic level courses offered in the fall after passing the language assessment. No one is exempt from this assessment, as it is essential that students be fluent in English and Spanish and this is the best way to prove it.

The Language Assessment is offered online via Blackboard and Zoom on four different dates in the month of August for those students who successfully completed FRNL-1070 Introduction to Translation and Interpreting.

The program opens once a year and registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please note that classes fill up fast, so make sure you register early to enroll in the program.

Please go to: https://continue.austincc.edu/register/ to register online. You can also register by phone at 512-223-7542. If you have any questions about the registration process, please email CE Registration at ceregistration@austincc.edu.

All courses in this program are online and synchronous. An online synchronous course is a type of class where students and instructors participate in real-time sessions over the internet. Unlike asynchronous courses, which allow students to complete work on their own schedule, synchronous courses require everyone to be online at the same time for live lectures, discussions, or activities. This setup mimics a traditional classroom environment, but it takes place through Zoom and Blackboard digital platforms.

All courses last 10 weeks and cost $296 (plus fees). However, ACC is offering discounted tuition at this time for $148 per course. Tuition is the same whether you live in Austin or not. The Language Assessment is $35.00. Textbooks cost approximately $75 each for the Medical Interpreting, Court Interpreting, and Basic Translation Skills courses. The other courses in the series do not require textbooks.

Since ACC is already offering a 50% discount on fast-track careers, financial aid is not available for this program. However, there are other payment options and grants available here.

There's an important difference between "certification" and "certificate."

• A certification is offered by an independent organization after you take and pass a state or national exam.
• A certificate of completion is offered by an educational institution or organization.

This program prepares students for certification exams such as the following:

• ATA (American Translators Association) Certification Exam
• Texas Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC) Court Interpreter Exam
• NBCHI (National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters) Exam
• CCHI (Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters) Exam

Upon successful program completion, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from ACC.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 24 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations."

The vast majority of translators and interpreters are freelance workers and independent contractors, either working directly with clients or through language service provider agencies.

Translators and interpreters mostly work as independent contractors for different clients, companies, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations, or subcontracted by agencies. Depending on individuals' resumes and experience, jobs available also include the following:

• Manager of Interpreter Services
• Language Services Manager
• Cultural Mediator
• Cultural and Bilingual Liaison
• Project Manager
• Medical or Healthcare Interpreter
• Court Interpreter
• Owner of Language Service Provider

Once you're enrolled in the program and need to find your courses on Blackboard, follow these steps:

Log In to Blackboard

1. Go to the ACC Blackboard login page (found on the college's website).
2. Enter your ACC credentials (username and password) to log in.
3. After logging in, you'll be directed to your Blackboard dashboard.

Find Your Courses

1. On your dashboard, look for the "Courses" section. This might be a list or a grid depending on the Blackboard version.
2. Your enrolled courses should appear here. They are typically organized by semester or term.

Click on the Course

1. Click on the course name to enter the course page. This will provide access to course materials, assignments, and other resources.

If you don't see your courses listed, make sure:

• You're enrolled in them through ACC's registration system.
• The courses have started; sometimes they become visible only at the beginning of the term.

If you encounter issues, please contact ACC's IT support here: https://students.austincc.edu/help/.