Approved Courses
We approve courses that meet agreed professional standards. If you are interested in joining a Register you must have successfully completed an approved course.
Before we approve a course we assess its content to ensure it meets agreed professional standards and to make sure graduates are appropriately trained. If you want us to assess your course please contact us.
If you are searching for further information on what our Professionals do please refer to the Registration Categories page.
Sign language interpreters
To become a Registered Sign Language Interpreter, you need to show us that you are highly skilled in a sign language such as BSL or ISL and a second language that can be either another signed language or a spoken language. One of those languages must be native to the UK and Ireland.
You must hold one of these interpreting qualifications:
- University of Wolverhampton MA Interpreting: Graduates of this course or those graduating with the Postgraduate Diploma in Interpreting can apply to register as RSLI with NRCPD.
Graduates graduating with the Postgraduate Certificate having studied both ‘ 7IG003 - Critical Reflective Interpreting Practice’ and ‘7IG006 - Conference Settings’, as well as studying one of the following modules: ‘7IG004 - Interpreting in Healthcare Settings’ or ‘7IG005 - Interpreting in Legal Settings’ can apply to be RSLI with NRCPD.
- University of Lancashire Postgraduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting and Translation.
- Heriot-Watt University MA (Hons) in BSL (Interpreting, Translating and Applied Language Studies) and a Certificate of RSLI Attainment from the University.
- Heriot-Watt University MA (Hons) in Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating). Graduates must be studying British Sign Language as one of their languages on the course.
- Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation (2020).
- University of Wolverhampton BA (hons) British Sign Language (Interpreting). (Graduates who achieve a First-class degree and show evidence of this).
- SRLPDC British Sign Language/English Interpreting Qualification 2025
- Queen’s University Belfast MA Interpreting and Translation (BSL/English, ISL/English) 60% or above
- University of Wolverhampton MA Interpreting Qualification as below from 2026 (under the current MA requirements)
- 7DI004 - Conference Interpreting ( Mandatory )
- 7DI002 - Healthcare Interpreting
- 7DI003 - Legal Interpreting
Alongside also holding one of these language qualifications:
- University of Lancashire Postgraduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting and Translation.
- University of Lancashire British Sign Language and Deaf Studies, BA (Hons) (Module SI3400 50% or above)
- Heriot-Watt University MA (Hons) BSL (Interpreting, Translating and Applied Language Studies) and a Certificate of RSLI Attainment from the University.
- Heriot-Watt University MA (Hons) Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) and a Certificate of RSLI Attainment from the University. (Graduates must be studying British Sign Languages as one of their languages on the 4-year course.)
- Signature Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language (2019).
- IBSL Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language Studies.
- University of Wolverhampton BA (hons) British Sign Language (Interpreting). (Module 5DI004)
- SCQF Professional Development Award in British Sign Language Studies – Level 8
If you have another qualification or have found another course that you wish to undertake, please contact us on enquiries@nrcpd.org.uk to see if this is suitable as a route to registration.
Sign language translators
- University of Lancashire Postgraduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting and Translation
- University of Wolverhampton MA Interpreting. (course available from 2018) Graduates of the MA Interpreting or those exiting with the Post Graduate Diploma interpreting can apply to register as RSLT.
Graduates exiting with a Post Graduate Certificate having studied:- 7IG003 - Critical reflective interpreting practice and;
- 7IG004 – Interpreting – healthcare settings; and
- 7IG005 – Interpreting – Legal settings
- University of Wolverhampton MA Interpreting Qualification as below from 2026 (under the current MA requirements)
- 7DI004 - Conference Interpreting ( Mandatory )
- 7DI002 - Healthcare Interpreting
- 7DI003 - Legal Interpreting
- Durham University MA in Translation Studies (graduates successfully completing the professional pathway including MELA43930 addressed using static and scrolling English and BSL) (Registration will be accepted from graduates up to and including July 2014. This course is not currently being offered).
- Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Translation
- Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation (2020)
- Queen’s University Belfast MA Interpreting and Translation (BSL/English, ISL/English) 60% or above
You will need to hold a recognised Level 6 BSL qualification or equivalent.
Alongside also holding one of these language qualifications:
- University of Lancashire Postgraduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting and Translation.
- University of Lancashire British Sign Language and Deaf Studies, BA (Hons) (Module SI3400 50% or above)
- Heriot-Watt University MA (Hons) BSL (Interpreting, Translating and Applied Language Studies) and a Certificate of RSLI Attainment from the University.
- Heriot-Watt University MA (Hons) Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) and a Certificate of RSLI Attainment from the University. (Graduates must be studying British Sign Languages as one of their languages on the 4-year course.)
- Signature Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language (2019).
- University of Wolverhampton BA (hons) British Sign Language (Interpreting). (Module 5DI004)
If you have another qualification or have found another course that you wish to undertake, please contact us on enquiries@nrcpd.org.uk to see if this is suitable as a route to registration.
Registered Speech to Text Reporter
- Signature 2022 STTR Endorsement
Interpreters for deafblind people
- Signature Level 6 Certificate in Working Effectively with Deafblind Manual and Visual Frame and Hands On Signers (Applicants to the register will also require a recognised Level 6 qualification in BSL or other sign language as appropriate)
Notetakers
- Signature Notetaking Pilot 2023/24
Relay-Intralingual interpreters
To become a Registered Sign Language Interpreter in the Relay-Intralingual category, the approved routes to registration are:
- University of Lancashire Postgraduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting and Translation
- Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation (2020). (Having successfully completed the Relay stream).
- University of Wolverhampton MA Interpreting. (Having successfully completed the Relay stream). You will also have to complete three mandatory modules: ‘7IG003 - Critical Reflective Interpreting Practice’, ‘7IG004 - Interpreting in Healthcare Settings’ and ‘7IG005 - Interpreting in Legal Settings’.
- University of Wolverhampton MA Interpreting Qualification as below from 2026 (under the current MA requirements)
- 7DI004 - Conference Interpreting ( Mandatory )
- 7DI002 - Healthcare Interpreting
- 7DI003 - Legal Interpreting
An approved British Sign Language Level 6 qualification (or equivalent) is also required.
You can become a Regulated Trainee Sign Language Interpreter in the Relay-Intralingual category if you are currently undertaking one of the two courses above.
Alongside also holding one of these language qualifications:
- University of Lancashire Postgraduate Diploma in BSL/English Interpreting and Translation.
- University of Lancashire British Sign Language and Deaf Studies, BA (Hons) (Module SI3400 50% or above)
- Heriot-Watt University MA (Hons) BSL (Interpreting, Translating and Applied Language Studies) and a Certificate of RSLI Attainment from the University.
- Heriot-Watt University MA (Hons) Modern Languages (Interpreting and Translating) and a Certificate of RSLI Attainment from the University. (Graduates must be studying British Sign Languages as one of their languages on the 4-year course.)
- Signature Level 6 Certificate in British Sign Language (2019).
- University of Wolverhampton BA (hons) British Sign Language (Interpreting). (Module 5DI004)
If you have another qualification or have found another course that you wish to undertake, please contact us on enquiries@nrcpd.org.uk to see if this is suitable as a route to registration.