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Official court interpreter education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an official court interpreter. Official court interpreters usually study business, english, or communication. 69% of official court interpreters hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 53 real official court interpreter resumes to see exactly what official court interpreter education sections show.

The most common colleges for official court interpreters are the Ashford University and the Ashford University.

There are also many online official court interpreter courses to help get the education required to be an official court interpreter.

What education do you need to become an official court interpreter?

What degree do you need to be an official court interpreter?

The most common degree for official court interpreters is bachelor's degree, with 69% of official court interpreters earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 17% and master's degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 69%
  • Master's, 17%
  • Doctorate, 8%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become an official court interpreter?

You should major in business to become an official court interpreter. 14% of official court interpreters major in business. Other common majors for an official court interpreter include english and communication.

Most common colleges for official court interpreters

Official court interpreters often get their degrees at Ashford University, Empire College, and Temple University. Here are the most common colleges for official court interpreters in the US based on their resumes.
Official court interpreter common collegePercentages
Ashford University21.05%
Empire College10.53%
Temple University10.53%
St Louis College of Pharmacy5.26%
University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College5.26%

Best majors for official court interpreters

RankMajorPercentages
1Business14.3%
2English14.3%
3Communication11.4%
4Linguistics8.6%
5Psychology8.6%

Best colleges for official court interpreters

The best colleges for official court interpreters are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.

An official court interpreter with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for official court interpreters. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become official court interpreters.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

4. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

5. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

20 best online courses for official court interpreters

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1. Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases

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This course offers an introduction to the U.S. Constitution and landmark Supreme Court cases interpreting it. It explores the Constitution’s origins, its amendment over the years, and methods of constitutional interpretation. Topics include the nature and structure of the federal government, the powers of the federal government, and individual rights...

2. International Law in Action: A Guide to the International Courts and Tribunals in The Hague

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International Law in Action explains the functions of each international court and tribunal present in The Hague, and it looks at how these institutions address contemporary problems. On the basis of selected cases, and through interviews with judges and lawyers, you will explore the role of these courts and tribunals and their potential to contribute to global justice. The first module of the course will investigate how judicial settlement is different from other more political forms of...

3. Legal English

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4. Effective Legal Office Administration

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Effective Legal Office Administration...

5. Legal Tech and the Digital Transformation of Law

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The digital revolution changed the way we communicate and trade. Now, it is coming into the world of law. This program will give you a broad overview of the main trends that are affecting the legal industry: - The birth of the legal tech market and the application of technology in law. - The role of artificial intelligence in the automation of the work of lawyers. - Blockchain technology and its impact on the way we sign and execute contracts. - Initiatives to ensure access to justice through...

6. Helping Families Avoid Negative Court Involvement Teach-Out

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This course will teach learners how to understand when issues can become legal issues, encourage learners to recognize legal problems early, identify possible “legal soft spots” in their own situations, and act when issues are identified to avoid them escalating. This course will also teach and encourage learners to think preventatively and provide some tools to use with an eye toward preventing future legal issues. Finally, this Teach-out seeks to expand the idea of legal health checks to a...

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8. Employment Law Compliance Made Easy

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A comprehensive course for management to understand key employment law issues in the workplace...

9. International Law In Action: Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes

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‘Investigating and Prosecuting International Crimes’ is the second course in Leiden University’s new series on International Law in Action. The first course covered international courts and tribunals in The Hague in general. This second course provides an insider perspective into the work of international criminal courts and tribunals. You will learn about the investigation and prosecution of international crimes in The Hague. Atrocities produce unspeakable forms of violence. We will explore...

10. Analysis and Interpretation of Large-Scale Programs

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This course is for implementers, managers, funders, and evaluators of health programs targeting women and children in low- and middle-income countries as well as undergraduate and graduate students in health-related fields. Course participants will learn how to 1) transform quantitative components of an evaluation measurement plan into a sound analysis plan to address the evaluation questions, 2) conduct quantitative analyses of primary or secondary surveys or other available data, 3) interpret...

11. Legal English Language Certificate (LELC) Level 1 - CPD

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Learn from Lawyers - Learn the CORRECT use of articles, prepositions, legal terms & start writing your letter!...

12. COBIT® 2019 Foundation - official, accredited

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Prepare for your COBIT 2019® Foundation certificate and manage your IT with confidence...

13. Cross-border road transport in EU law context

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Have you ever wondered which legal rules are applicable to cross-border EU road transport? Are you interested in the issues revolving around EU employment law in the international road transport sector? Then, on behalf of the University of Antwerp, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Gdańsk, University of Luxembourg and Tilburg University, we would like to welcome you to this MOOC on Cross-border Road Transport in EU law context. This MOOC is a part of the Erasmus + Project funded by...

14. ERPO: A Civil Approach to Gun Violence Prevention Teach-Out

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Evidence shows that 1 life is saved for every 10-20 Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) issued. ERPOs are legally issued civil orders that allow people on the front lines to ask a court to prevent a person at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms during a critical period of risk. As of October 2020, ERPO laws have been enacted by nineteen states and the District of Columbia and while some aspects differ by state, the general process for applying...

15. The Constitution and American Government

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16. Data Analysis and Interpretation

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Learn SAS or Python programming, expand your knowledge of analytical methods and applications, and conduct original research to inform complex decisions.\n\nThe Data Analysis and Interpretation Specialization takes you from data novice to data expert in just four project-based courses. You will apply basic data science tools, including data management and visualization, modeling, and machine learning using your choice of either SAS or Python, including pandas and Scikit-learn. Throughout the...

17. Health, Housing, and Educational Services

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Course 5 discusses policies in four areas: housing, education, healthcare, and immigration, with an optional fifth module in child protection. This course addresses issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy. -First we’ll look at housing policy, with its contrasting supports for homeowners and renters. -Then we’ll interpret the structure that provides education and examine debates about its future. -The third module will differentiate the issues in the U.S. healthcare system and develop...

18. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

19. Population Health: Governance

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How can we organise care in such a way that we optimize experience, quality and costs? What type of governance is needed? And how should healthcare organisations collaborate? These are central questions in this course. In answering them, we depart from a recognition of the impact of three crucial global shifts in health care governance: 1) the change in focus from cure to population health, 2) the increased attention to social determinants of health, and 3) the stronger involvement of...

20. Global Health Policy

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In this course, learners will become familiar with principles and theories of global health problems, and major challenges and controversies in improving global population health as well as practical applications of quantitative methods to analyze and interpret issues and challenges for policy. Topics will include health and foreign policy, health governance, acute disease surveillance, non-communicable diseases, burden of disease, universal health coverage, health systems strengthening, health...

Top 10 most affordable universities for official court interpreters

The most affordable schools for official court interpreters are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and baruch college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for official court interpreters are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for official court interpreters.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

7. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

8. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for official court interpreters

The hardest universities for official court interpreters to get into are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.

Some great schools for official court interpreters are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for official court interpreters based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

6. University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,520

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

9. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

10. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for official court interpreters

The easiest schools for official court interpreters to get into are Barry University, holy names university, and wayland baptist university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an official court interpreter without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for official court interpreters.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

3. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

5. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

6. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

7. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

8. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

9. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

10. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

Average official court interpreter salary by education level

Official court interpreters with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $50,979 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, official court interpreters earn a median annual income of $46,699 compared to $46,438 for official court interpreters with an Associate degree.
Official court interpreter education levelOfficial court interpreter salary
Master's Degree$50,979
High School Diploma or Less$41,781
Bachelor's Degree$46,699
Some College/ Associate Degree$46,438

Official court interpreter education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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