I’m Learning Sign Language and Am Interested in Taking It Further. What Jobs Can I Get With This?

The obvious one is interpreter, but this can also be a means to another end. While full-time interpreting is certainly an option, if you have other interests to pair with it, you can.

For example, one of my friends in grad school was dual majoring in ASL and social work – that way, rather than relying on interpreters, she could move specifically into casework involving deaf families. The same can be said for school/hospital nurses, counseling, psychology, or any other professional practice.

I also know several teachers who learned ASL to understand how to work with the deaf students in their classes, and though they still needed interpreters, it helped them understand the language challenge.

Word of advice: if you're near a fairly large college, contact their Special Services department and ask if you can talk to some of the interpreters. There's also a registry for interpreters for certification (a legal requirement in some fields, such as court/medical interpretation), and a degree in interpreting is a must.

Freelance volunteering (what I occasionally do) will help you get your foot in the door, but as with any job, if you intend to do it properly, you have to earn your credentials.