Online Medical Interpreter Certificate

This course provides participants with a foundational understanding of the role of the Spanish–English medical interpreter in health care settings. It offers opportunities to develop the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to meet the standards outlined in the Standards of Practice of the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) and the Code of Ethics of the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC). Our online Medical Interpreter course is one of two CPS programs that allow participation by international students.

Participants will learn and practice essential skills, including managing interpreted communication; identifying and addressing ethical challenges and cultural conflicts; understanding clinicians’ roles and expectations; and gaining insight into the culture of health care in the United States. The course also explores health beliefs and practices within Spanish-speaking communities and emphasizes the critical role of interpreted communication in ensuring access to high-quality health care.

Instruction includes a variety of interactive exercises, such as role-plays, designed to build proficiency and mastery of core medical interpreting techniques, including active listening, short-term memory and recall, and accurate message transfer between languages. In addition, participants will receive an introduction to basic medical terminology and learn strategies for developing a personal bilingual glossary of commonly used health care terms.

The Medical Interpreter course is fully online and welcomes adult students from abroad, provided they successfully pass the required English–Spanish proficiency competency exam prior to enrollment. Certification agencies allow both U.S. residents and international students to obtain certification for professional use in the United States and internationally. Students who intend to work in the United States must meet the eligibility standards established for CPS participants.  For internationals, please have at least a HS Diploma, be 18 years of age, and pass the oral proficiency in English and Spanish.   Apply here:  CPS Online Medical Interpreter International Student Application Form – Fill out form

There are two national certifying agencies for Medical Interpreters.  We encourage prospective students to visit each organization’s website to determine which certification best aligns with their professional goals and to review eligibility requirements prior to registering for an exam.

1. National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) 

https://www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/  and

https://www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/assets/docs/NBCMI_Handbook.pdf? 

The NBCMI exams are delivered via computer-based testing (CBT) and are available in two formats: • In-person at a professional testing center • Remotely through an online proctoring platform, allowing candidates to test from home who meet the technical and security requirements with a live proctor. The written exam must be taken and passed before the oral exam may be scheduled.

2. Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)  

https://cchicertification.org/ and

https://cchicertification.org/uploads/CCHI_Candidate_Examination_Handbook.pdf

The CoreCHI™ examination is administered year-around and delivered in two secure live-proctored modalities: at test centers across the U.S. and online at the candidate’s location if their system meets our online platform requirements (see more info at https://cchicertification.org/certifications/onlinetesting/). If you prefer to test at a testing center, please locate a test center nearest to you before you apply. The list of the test centers can be found at https://cchicertification.org/certifications/ scheduling/.

• Includes consecutive, simultaneous, sight, and phone interpretation
• Member of the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC)
• Expert instructors who are practicing medical interpreters
• Preparation for national certification exam included
• Incorporates resume-building and interview skills 

• Students must have a High School Diploma, GED® or HSE Diploma
• At least 18 years of age
• If based in the U.S., you must be able to work legally in the U.S
• Oral proficiency in English and Spanish

For internationals, please have at least a HS Diploma, be 18 years of age, and pass the oral proficiency in English and Spanish.   Apply here:  CPS Online Medical Interpreter International Student Application Form – Fill out form

Required Language and Computer and Digital Competency:

• English and Spanish Language Proficiency: This course requires extensive use of medical terminology and covers complex concepts. Students must demonstrate strong proficiency in both English and Spanish, including the ability to communicate effectively and to understand and follow written materials and live lectures presented in both languages.  See details below. 

• Computer, Digital and Online Proficiency:  As this is an online course, students must possess basic computer literacy and be comfortable using various digital tools and platforms. Participants should be able to navigate the internet, access video conferencing applications such as Zoom or Brightspace and work with common file types and software, including Microsoft Word, PDF files, and PowerPoint.
  • o Students should also be able to upload and download files, open and close applications, read online documents, manage multiple open windows, access online textbooks, and use search engines effectively. The ability to create online accounts, access online services, and utilize multimedia tools within computer applications is required.
  • o Students must be capable of reading and interpreting reference materials, performing basic numerical analysis, and learning new computer applications efficiently. The course requires the ability to use multiple software programs simultaneously in an online learning environment.

Applicants must show oral proficiency in English and Spanish.

Applicants must provide documentation of proficiency in English by ONE of the following methods:

Christian González

Christian González has over 10 years experience working as a Certified Spanish Health Care Interpreter and Certified Legal Interpreter in hospitals, private medical offices, and the U.S. court system. Mr. González earned his B.A. in English/Spanish Interpretation and Translation from Hunter College of the City University of New York. He is certified by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters and the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters.