Advanced Medical Interpreter

Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in the U.S., sparking the need for professional interpreters. If you are bilingual in both English and Spanish, you can use your fluency to help others communicate. As a professional interpreter, you can assist those in vulnerable situations, such as refugees and immigrants, acting as their communication bridge.

This medical interpreter training program prepares you to work in hospitals, medical offices, and in any healthcare environment where a...

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6 Months / 145 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
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Lenape Tech

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Advanced Medical Interpreter

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Course code: GES1007

What you will learn

  • Learn how to transfer information in multicultural situations
  • Develop interpreting-specific skills such as short-term memory retention, shadowing, note-taking, sight-translation, consecutive interpreting, and more
  • Gain best practice interpreting techniques – simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation
  • Understand protocol when interpreting for a Spanish-speaking patient
  • Master the code of ethics of the medical interpreter
  • Understand all material tested in a Spanish medical interpreter exam

How you will benefit

  • Have your professional profile listed in an employer-searchable directory
  • Use your skill set to help a growing number of people in need of interpretation services
  • Be prepared to start a career as a public services interpreter or medical interpreter
  • Become ready to successfully take a medical interpreter certification exam
  • Use your understanding of medical terminology in both Spanish and English to improve your marketability

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 145 course hours
  1. Professional Interpreter
    1. Introduction
    2. Learning Styles Assessment Exercise
    3. Basic Concepts of Language Interpreting
      1. Basic Concepts: What is language interpreting? What is language translation?
      2. Contrasting the interpretation and translation tasks
      3. Translation and adaptation: Localization and transcreation
      4. What does it take to become a professional interpreter?
      5. Certificate vs. Certification vs. Professional Licensure
      6. Where do interpreters work?
      7. Message delivery: The techniques
      8. Consecutive interpreting video demonstration
      9. Sight translation video demonstration
      10. Review Questions
      11. On-Site interpreting
      12. Remote and Telephonic Interpretation
      13. Telephonic interpreting, continued
      14. Video remote interpreting and video relay interpreting
      15. Sight translation
      16. Vocabulary Game
      17. Review Questions
      18. The Evolution of Interpreting in the Community
      19. The Evolution of Interpreting in the Community: Steps Toward Professional Recognition
      20. The Evolution of Interpreting in the Community: Professional Associations
      21. Public Services Interpreting Drivers
      22. Standards Guiding the Interpreting Profession
      23. Associations: Why are they important?
      24. Module 1 Self-assessment
      25. Resources
      26. Module Feedback
    4. Interpreting Skills and Techniques
      1. Preparing yourself for this module
      2. Active listening
      3. Active listening: Suspending yourself
      4. Emotions and Culture
      5. Level of Interest and Objectivity
      6. Capacity to Concentrate
      7. Who you are influences greatly the way you listen and communicate
      8. Listening Exercises: Introduction
      9. Shadowing: Introduction
      10. Short-Term Memory Retention: Visual
      11. Short-Term Memory Retention: Auditory
      12. Note-Taking
      13. Sight Translation: Introduction
      14. Putting It All Together: Interpreting
      15. Module Vocabulary Game
      16. Module 2 Self-Assessment
      17. Resources
      18. Module Feedback
    5. Ethics and standards: Expected professional behavior
      1. What are Professional Standards?
      2. The Interpreter's Professional Profile
      3. Accuracy
      4. Acting Ethically and Honestly
      5. Confidentiality
      6. Competence
      7. Neutrality
      8. Reliability
      9. Respect for the Profession
      10. Role Preservation
      11. Scenarios and Exercises
      12. Resources
      13. Module 3 Self-Assessment
      14. Module Feedback
    6. The Business of Interpreting
      1. Basic public services interpreting market concepts
      2. The Supply
      3. The Demand
      4. Working as a freelance interpreter
      5. Interview video
      6. Working as a Full-time Interpreter
      7. Interview video
      8. Building a Resume
      9. Formatting a resume
      10. Resume Sample
      11. Writing a Cover Letter
      12. Joining professional associations
      13. Joining online professional directories
      14. Continued Education
      15. Resources
      16. Module Feedback
  2. Medical Interpreter
    1. Becoming a Medical Interpreter
    2. Interpretation Ethics
    3. Cultural Competencies
    4. Medical Terminology for Medical Interpreters
    5. Midterm Exam
    6. Interpreting Skills and Techniques
    7. Interpretation in Different Health Care Settings
    8. Certification
    9. Preparing for Your Career
    10. Final Exam

Rocío Txabarriaga

Rocío Txabarriaga, MA is vice president of Content Development and co-founder of the Virginia Institute of Interpreting. She is responsible for course planning, development, validation, and maintenance. Ms. Txabarriaga has over 20 years of experience in language services and international business management ranging from independent consulting to senior executive positions, and business ownership. Her extensive experience spans operations, ISO-quality processes, interpreter recruiting and training, qualitative and quantitative research and analysis, as well as in-depth involvement with several language technology platforms. Ms. Txabarriaga has several degrees, including a master's degree from Monterey Institute of International Studies, has earned many certificates, and speaks five languages fluently. Ms. Txabarriaga is also a NASBITE-Certified Global Business Professional and an accomplished writer and public speaker.

Diana Lara

Diana Lara is a licensed court interpreter and Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CHI™–Spanish) with extensive experience in medical, legal, and community interpreting. She has worked across healthcare systems, public health initiatives, nonprofit organizations, and government settings, providing both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting. Diana currently serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she teaches courses in translation and interpreting. She is passionate about preparing future interpreters and translators through practical, real-world training and emphasizes accuracy, ethics, and professional standards in her teaching.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Prerequisites:

In order to sit for CoreCHI™ certification, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent; therefore, it's recommended that you have completed this qualification before enrolling in this course.

You must speak English and Spanish fluently. There is no requirement regarding formal education in either Spanish or English. However, you must be able to speak English and Spanish without any hesitations.

Please note: As part of the professional interpreter portion of the program, you will take a spoken language fluency assessment in your 'A' (native) and 'B' (second) languages. Certified testers will have a phone-based conversation with you in your languages, designed to assess your level of fluency on a 1-5 scale. You must achieve at least a level 3 in both languages to pass the course and qualify as an interpreter, requiring full verbal fluency in both. You should be familiar with using a personal computer, mouse, and keyboard.

You should be comfortable in a Windows or Mac environment, and have the ability to launch and close activities.

Certification Requirements:

No certification offered through this course.

Certification Exam Prerequisites:

Students intending to apply for CoreCHI™ certification must meet the following requirements:

  • Age 18+ with a high school diploma/GED (or equivalent) 40 hours of health care interpreter training (which this course will provide)
  • Demonstrated proficiency in English and a second language

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 10 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Microsoft Word Online
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this program are listed below and included in enrollment.

  • The Medical Interpreter (eBook)
  • Medical Terminology for Interpreters: A Handbook (eBook)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for interpreters and translators is $59,440. Salary can vary widely based on specialization, experience, and location. Data from ZipRecruiter shows that medical interpreters in the U.S. typically earn between $34,500 and $89,500 per year, with an average salary of around $70,410.

A medical interpreter is a trained language professional who facilitates communication between patients and healthcare providers who do not share the same language. Most commonly, this involves interpreting between English and another language, such as Spanish, to ensure accurate understanding in medical settings. Medical interpreters play a critical role in patient care by helping reduce language barriers, improving outcomes, and ensuring that patients fully understand diagnoses, treatment options, and medical instructions.

Yes. As part of the professional interpreter portion of the program, you will take a spoken language fluency assessment in your 'A' (native) and 'B' (second) languages. Certified testers will have a phone-based conversation with you in your languages, designed to assess your level of fluency on a 1-5 scale. You must achieve at least a level 3 in both languages to pass the course and qualify as an interpreter, requiring full verbal fluency in both.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

After you register, you will receive 6 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

If you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee will be charged. If you are funded through a third-party organization, approval may also be required.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."