Professional Development Courses

NAI offers in person and online professional development courses to help you learn and develop skills to advance your career.

Interpretive Guide

Designed for interpreters who conduct interpretive programming, this 32-hour course combines the theoretical foundations of the profession with practical skills to facilitate programs. You will learn the principles of interpretation, how to connect objects to ideas, and how to lead engaging experiences that meet the needs of diverse audiences.

Participants earn 32 hours of continuing education and can register for a certificate of completion.

Learn more about the Interpretive Guide course

Interpretive Host

Designed for those who work at an interpretive site but do not lead interpretive programs, this 16-hour course combines training in customer service with the principles of interpretation. You will develop your hospitality and communication skills and learn how to provide welcoming experiences for visitors.

Participants earn 16 hours of continuing education and can register for a certificate of completion.
           

Learn more about the Interpretive Host course

Coaching Interpreters

This interactive, 24-hour course will help you learn and hone more effective coaching skills, so that you can better support your team members, volunteers, or staff. You’ll discover the difference between coaching and supervision, gain new tools for facilitating coaching conversations, and practice giving coaching feedback to interpreters.

Participants earn 24 hours of continuing education and earn a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Learn more about Coaching Interpreters course

Interpretive Leadership Institute

This 24-hour, virtual course is a jumping off point for new and emerging leaders navigating the transition from front-line interpretation to leadership. From theoretical to practical, you’ll emerge with a greater understanding of the concepts surrounding leadership, an inventory of your own leadership strengths, and a plan to apply them to your interpretive career!

Learn more about the Interpretive Leadership Institute

Process of Interpretive Planning

This immersive, 40-hour course builds upon your experience and knowledge of interpretation to help you develop a comprehensive understanding of how to create an interpretive plan. By completing site-specific activities and group projects, you will learn the essentials of interpretive planning including identifying target audiences, developing a goal hierarchy, choosing media, and evaluating impact.

Participants earn 40 hours of continuing education and earn a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Learn more about the Process of Interpretive Planning course

Teaching a CIG or CIH Professional Development Course

Have you taken a CIG or CIH course and now have the experience and skills to teach it? NAI’s Train-the-Trainer program is for individuals who wish to teach the CIG or CIH curriculum to others and award certificates on behalf of NAI. To enroll in a Train-the-Trainer course you must have successfully completed the course you wish to teach: CIG or CIH, and already be a Certified Interpretive Trainer™ (CIT) with NAI. For more information on CIT prerequisites visit the CIT page.

Learn more about Train-the-Trainer™ courses

Hosting a Professional Development Course

To ensure interpreters across the country have access to professional development, NAI relies on host sites to offer in-person courses. In exchange for providing a meeting space and basic training needs, host sites receive one free registration in the course they host.

Learn more about hosting a professional development course