By: Kendall Upton
Updated: February 6, 2026
Learn how to become a sign language instructor
Sign languages are full, rich languages expressed by movements of the hands and face, but deaf and hard of hearing individuals existed long before formal sign language developed. Communication was no doubt difficult and was mostly done through “home signs,” or signs that the person’s family and close circle understood. Although the exact origins of American Sign Language (ASL) are unclear, some people suggest it arose over 200 years ago as local sign languages in the U.S. and French Sign Language (LSF, or Langue des Signes Française) began to blend.
Today, ASL is used and taught all over North America. Although ASL is the sign language of the United States, there are other sign languages worldwide including British Sign Language (BSL), Chinese Sign Language (CSL or ZGS) and many more which are completely distinct from ASL.
Sign language instructors play a vital role in expanding sign language acquisition in Deaf and hearing communities alike. They can teach a wide range of ages and abilities in numerous settings, bridging communication gaps and empowering individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to express themselves and connect with the world—and connect the hearing world with them. This rewarding career path can take many shapes, meaning there are several ways you can become a sign language teacher. All of them begin with mastering the language and getting the proper education.
What do sign language teachers do?
Sign language instructors are key bridges between the Deaf and hearing communities. They are language experts in ASL (or another sign language) that may teach deaf or hard of hearing students at specialized schools in traditional subjects such as mathematics, English, science, history and more. They might also teach hearing students that want to learn ASL and communicate better with the Deaf community.
Sign language teachers also function as cultural mediators by educating their students about Deaf culture, just like other foreign language teachers.
ASL teachers may also teach parents of deaf children that wish to learn sign language. Given that over 90% of children that are born deaf have hearing parents, many parents decide to learn ASL so that they can communicate easily with their children.
Work settings for sign language instructors
Sign language instructors can work in a variety of environments and teach learners of all ages and backgrounds.
Schools for the deaf: Instruct deaf and hard of hearing students in traditional subjects like math, English, history and more that would otherwise be difficult to learn if they were taught in spoken language by hearing teachers.
Adult education programs: Teach sign language to adults seeking to learn for personal or professional reasons, such as healthcare workers, interpreters or parents of deaf children.
Mainstream schools: Offer sign language programs to hearing students to foster inclusivity and promote cross-cultural understanding. Although it’s less common compared to languages like Spanish or French, many high schools now offer ASL as foreign language option. The same can be said for colleges universities that offer ASL as a foreign language major.
Online platforms: You can develop and deliver sign language courses online to expand your reach to students in geographically diverse locations. For example, some people sell their courses through massive open online course (MOOC) platforms like Coursera, Udemy, edX and more.
Private businesses: Some people fluent in sign language may choose to open their own business and offer sign language classes to groups or individuals, in-person or online.
Requirements for becoming a sign language instructor
Requirements to pursue a career as a sign language instructor depend on what kind of job you wish to pursue and any state-specific laws where you live. Many sign language teachers need the same teaching credentials as other teachers, which typically includes having a bachelor’s degree and completing a teacher training program in order to get certified.
No matter what you intend to do as a sign language teacher, mastering the language is a must. You could study sign language in college, take local language classes, find online language learning resources and immerse yourself in the Deaf community—all of these can help build your skills so that you are on your way to becoming fluent.
Get your bachelor’s degree
If you intend to become a certified teacher to teach in elementary schools, secondary schools or colleges and universities, you need a bachelor’s degree. Someone who wants to become a sign language teacher would benefit in majoring in subjects such as:
- Education (e.g. general education studies, elementary education, early childhood education, etc.)
- Special education studies
- ASL and Deaf studies
Even though there are some teaching opportunities that don’t require having a specific degree—creating a private tutoring business, for example—holding a degree can not only equip you with valuable teaching skills but make you appear more credible to potential students and employers.
Complete teaching training requirements and get certified
Teacher training requirements vary by state. Many undergraduate education degrees have this teacher training built into the program which sometimes extends into a fifth year. During this time, you are typically assigned to a local school where you assist a classroom teacher and conduct some lessons to practice what you’ve learned in school.
Be sure to check your state’s teacher certification requirements to understand exactly what you need to do to get certified in your state.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another subject, you might want to look into certification-only or master’s programs in education, as these programs are often designed for adults that have other degrees but want to transition to a teaching career.
Keep up with continuing education
Sign language is a living language that continues to evolve. All teachers must commit themselves to lifelong learning in order to stay current with new signs, cultural trends and best practices in Deaf education. Taking continuing education classes, participating in workshops or attending conferences are all ways a sign language teacher can keep up their continuing education.
Additional certifications
The American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) also offers certification for sign language teachers. Some states may require ASLTA certification in order to teach ASL.
There are two tiers of ASLTA certification: “Certified” and “Master.” In order to qualify for both levels, you need a bachelor’s degree or higher (or 20+ years of experience teaching ASL) and you need to score high enough on an ASL proficiency exam of your choice: the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) or the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI:ASL).
After that, certification candidates must also show that they’ve taken enough college-level credits in ASL linguistics, literature and Deaf culture. Candidates for the “Master” certification must have taken even more college courses and demonstrate teaching experience, course development experience and other contributions to the field of ASL education.
Qualities and skills of successful sign language teachers
If you want to increase your chances of finding fulfillment and success in your career, it’s important to develop several key skills that sign language teachers should possess.
How much can I make as a sign language teacher?
It’s a little difficult to pin down how much you can make as a sign language teacher given all the different factors that can affect an individual’s earning potential, such as education level, years of experience, location and more. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t track data for sign language teachers specifically. Sign language teachers could fall into several other types of professionals depending on their particular job scope, such as special education teachers or foreign language teachers. Furthermore, the BLS divides salary data for these two groups based on what level they teach at (elementary, middle school, high school or postsecondary).
The median annual salaries for special education teachers are incredibly similar no matter what grade level they teach:
General elementary, middle and high school teachers, on the other hand, had median annual salaries of $62,340, $62,970 and $64,580 respectively.
At the postsecondary level, foreign language and literature teachers had a median annual salary of $77,010.
Additional career paths for ASL teachers
The skills that an ASL teacher possesses can be highly transferrable to other career paths.
Resources to learn more
To learn more about becoming a sign language teacher, Deaf education or find continuing education opportunities, check out some of the leading organizations within the industry:
The American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) is a membership organization for ASL educators and who offers a certification program for ASL teachers. They also put on an annual conference.
Established in 1880, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the premier civil rights organization by, of and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the U.S.
The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is a parent-led organization dedicated to supporting parents of deaf and hard of hearing children.
As a part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) “conducts and supports research in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech and language.”
Summing it up
If you’re passionate about language and communication, pursuing a career as a sign language instructor could be your calling. The most important step is learning the language yourself, which is now offered as a foreign language option at many colleges and universities nationwide. After that, you’ll likely need traditional teaching credentials in order to teach in most schools. Based on your unique career aspirations, start by researching sign language, education or Deaf studies programs today to embark on your journey to becoming a sign language teacher.
