If you’ve already achieved an interpreting qualification – whether that’s the Level 6 Diploma in Community Interpreting (DCI) or the Level 6 Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) – you’ll know the value it brings to your professional practice.
But here’s an important question: do you work in more than one language?
With upcoming and proposed changes from the Ministry of Justice, interpreters working in courts and other justice settings will increasingly be required to hold the Level 6 interpreting qualification in each individual language they interpret. Similar expectations already apply in many cases across organisations such as the Home Office and police services.
At the same time, across community and public-facing settings, there is a growing expectation that interpreters hold recognised qualifications in each language they work in. So whether you are working with the DCI or DPSI, having your skills formally recognised in a second language is becoming more important than ever.
If you speak another language professionally, gaining a second qualification (DCI or DPSI, depending on your preference) could be a very worthwhile step.
Achieving a qualification in an additional language can:
• Increase your income potential
• Set you apart from other interpreters in the market
• Reinforce your professional credibility and status
• Support registration of an additional language with professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) and the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) (where applicable)
• Expand your working opportunities across more sectors and assignments
Many interpreters are now considering completing a partial qualification in a second language, depending on their existing qualifications and experience.
If this is something you’ve been thinking about – or if you’d simply like to explore whether it could be the right option for you – it’s worth looking into your options now.
Take the next step in your interpreting career!