The Numbers
Interpreter Training Programs (ITPs) are now a regular part of an aspiring interpreter’s path into the field of interpreting and have been for the past few decades. Only 42% of National Interpreter Certification exam takers passed the national interpreting exam during the fiscal year 2022, which is up from 34% in the fiscal year 2021, 39% in the fiscal year 2020, and 32% in the fiscal year 2019. The Board for Evaluation of Interpreter’s Certification exam (BEI) boasts similar numbers, with 43% of basic level testers, 37% of advanced level testers, and 32% of Master level testers passing in 2019. As we can see from the data here, ITPs are not always providing interpreting students with everything they need to be fully ready to work in the field.
So, the question is: How can we fill the gap?
