Do you need to have interpreter background studies in order to be an interpreter?

Alessandra Garattini asked:

Do you need to have interpreter background studies in order to be an interpreter? Can a person that has studied specialized translation work as an interpreter occasionally or it's too difficult?

  • You'll need to have some interpretation qualification, it's a different environment that you are walking into and it's a slightly different skill.  Maybe it's speed... I'm not sure what it is... but you do need to have some interpretation qualification behind you whether that's built through community with a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (DPSI) or through higher level conference interpreting, a university qualification.