Thanks to everyone who helped make the 2024 CITI a success!
Below you'll find info about the 2025 CITI
We'll be opening the application process soon!
About the CITI
The CITI is an intensive professional development program for Spanish/English legal interpreters. Interpretation is both an art and a science, requiring very specialized training. Our federally certified and highly experienced instructors, combined with our extensive curriculum, offer a level of quality not easily matched. The CITI is committed to providing students with individual attention. The CITI program is also an ideal way to prepare for both the written and oral portions of the State or Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE).
Objectives of the CITI
- First and foremost, to improve participants' interpreting proficiency.
- To provide maximum time-on-task to increase the benefit gained from practice sessions and critiques with instructors.
- To provide diagnostic testing at the start and end of each institute so that participants can see how their language and interpreting skills have improved.
The CITI is a fully online program, combining asynchronous and synchronous instruction to maximize its impact. The CITI is an intensive program that improve interpreting proficiency. The time commitment and technical requirements are:
- May 19-June 13: 10-20 hours/week (can be covered during evenings and weekends)
- June 16-27: 40 hours/week (must be available all day--plan on taking time off work)
- A quiet place to work with a good internet connection
- Laptop or desktop with webcam (do not rely on a tablet or cell phone)
- Headset/earbuds that include a microphone (do not rely on built-in mic and speakers)
- A device to record audio (your phone works just fine)
Below you’ll find more details about the CITI time commitment and a sample schedule to review. The 2025 CITI will provide 120 total hours of specialized interpreter training.
Application Process
Online application is fast, secure and convenient with our online ordering system. NCI can receive payment only by credit card, debit card, or pre-paid cards. Checks or cash are not accepted.
Important Deadlines
- Deadline to apply to the CITI: April 28, 2025
- Deadline to pay CITI deposit: May 1, 2025
- Deadline to pay CITI tuition balance: May 1, 2025 (or according to the Payment Plan schedule)
- CITI program starts: May 19, 2025
Application and Tuition Costs
- Application Fee: $50 (non-refundable)
- CITI Deposit: $295 (non-refundable)
- CITI Tuition Balance: $2500
Payment Plan Available!
What Our Students Are Saying
"As a Spanish interpreter for over twenty years, I never took any training that came close to the CITI program. This was the most challenging and rewarding training that I have been a part of. I was nervous and excited because I knew of the program reputation. This program met all my expectations and then some, the instructors, the labs, the workshops, and the interactions were amazing. This program challenged us to be better, the instructors taught how to practice and what to focus on to use our time wisely and get results. You’ll learn new techniques for better interpreting, increase vocabulary and make connections with other interpreters. This is worth every penny and it will change the way any interpreter performs."
―2021 Online CITI Student
"I have just finished the intensive online Court Interpreter Training Institute. Despite the fact that we weren't able to travel to Tucson and meet in person, I really want to thank the Institute for such a comprehensive learning experience. I highly recommend the CITI for anyone planning to pursue the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination or to gain invaluable experience as an interpreter for any court or out-of-court legal proceedings."
―2020 Online CITI Student
>Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must provide the following three documents to ensure that they possess a sufficient level of bilingualism and interpreting/translating experience to benefit from the CITI:
- Letter of Interest
Applicants must submit a letter of interest indicating why they want to attend the CITI. The letter should also describe how the applicants acquired their bilingualism and what kind of experience they have had with interpreting or translating. - Résumé
Applicants must submit a current résumé. The résumé should highlight the applicants’ language experience and any interpreting or translating credentials earned. - Letter of Recommendation OR Other Supporting Document
Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from a current employer, volunteer coordinator, recent educator, or other professional with knowledge of the applicants’ interpreting/translation experience or ability. The letter should include a description of the applicants’ bilingual skills in a professional context. This requirement may also be met by submitting a copy of a relevant degree or certificate, an interpreting or translation certification, a results letter from a certification test, or a similar document. Please contact us to discuss options if you'd like! ncitrp@arizona.edu
Program Details
The 2025 CITI runs May 19 - June 27.
May 19-24: CITI Orientation and Diagnostic Pre-Testing
- There is a live introductory meeting on May 19, 5-7pm Pacific Time. Between May 20 and May 24, there will be a couple of options for taking the diagnostic pre-test in the evening.
May 22-June 12: A series of live webinars taught by highly experienced federally certified court interpreters to introduce techniques and terminology, coupled with online interpreting exercises and extensive peer review. In addition, a series of pre-recorded lectures coupled with live Q&A sessions will be held (approximately 10-20 hours/week).
- From May 22 through June 12, there are webinars scheduled for Thursdays 5-8pm Pacific Time and Saturdays 10am-1pm Pacific. These are live, but will be recorded so you can catch up in case you have to miss one. You’ll also have about 4+ hours/week on self-paced online exercises. In weeks three and four, the amount of online work will increase, but you'll still be able to address it as your schedule permits.
June 16-27: Intensive instruction and interpreting practice with instructors and fellow students on simultaneous and consecutive interpreting and sight translation techniques and strategies (approximately 40 hours/week).
- From June 16-27, CITI gets much more intensive, requiring about 40 hours/week of work. M-F, you should expect to be online most of the day (with scheduled breaks) for live work, which will be combined with additional online work to be completed on your schedule. The lab work you'll do during this time will not be recorded; you need to attend it live.
This Sample CITI Schedule will give you a clear sense of the time commitment for the 2025 CITI.
There is a $50 Application Fee for 2025 CITI. Upon acceptance, the total tuition is $2795.
There are a few steps in the payment process for the CITI:
- $50 Application Fee: When you apply, there is a $50 non-refundable application fee
- $295 Deposit: Upon acceptance to the program, there is a $295 non-refundable deposit that needs to be paid within 30 days of your acceptance.
- The remaining tuition balance is $2500. You have two options to pay this balance.
- You can pay the balance in full any time before May 1, 2025
OR - You can take advantage of our new Payment Plan!
- You can pay the balance in full any time before May 1, 2025
NOTE that discounts or scholarships cannot be combined.
Once you’ve been accepted for the 2024 CITI and paid the deposit, you can pay the remaining tuition balance through five payments of $500 at your convenience. Here are the deadlines for each payment:
- Payment #1: May 1, 2025
- Payment #2: May 15
- Payment #3: May 29
- Payment #4: June 12
- Payment #5: June 26
Each payment must be made by the deadline. If it is not, you will be dropped from the program.
You will not receive a certificate of completion for the CITI unless all payments are completed on time.
Per NCI refund policy, all payments made after May 1 are non-refundable.
NOTE that discounts or scholarships cannot be combined.
Because the CITI is professional development rather than a traditional credit-bearing university course, the usual sources of college financial aid don’t apply. However, Arizona residents may be able to take advantage of job training funds through this program:
Arizona WIOA Funding
- Arizona residents may be eligible for funding through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Learn more by contacting your local Arizona One-Stop Service Center. Residents of other states may also inquire at their local One-Stop Service Center to see if they are eligible in their state.