Education · 1 of 4

The path

Being bilingual is the starting point, not the qualification. The job is a separate skill on top of it.

1. 1

   Get truly fluent in two languages

   Years

   Fluent enough to handle a doctor explaining chemotherapy or a lawyer arguing procedure. School Spanish is not this.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Usually in the language, linguistics, or a subject you want to work in such as biology or law. A degree in the subject plus fluency is often worth more than a language degree alone.

3. 3

   Specialist training

   Weeks to 2 years

   A 40 hour medical interpreter course, a court interpreter program, or an interpreting degree in American Sign Language.

4. 4

   Get certified

   Months

   The American Translators Association for translation, healthcare bodies for medical work, your state or the federal courts for legal work.

5. 5

   Build a client list

   3 to 5 years

   Agencies first for volume, then direct clients at double the rate. Most people take three to five years to get there.