Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English)

The medical interpreter training course prepares you to work in hospitals, medical offices, and in any healthcare environment where a Spanish interpreter is needed. While this program is not tied to a specific medical translator certification, it prepares you to sit for many of the medical interpreting examinations available in the country. Note: This course is language-specific – Spanish/English.

As one of the most comprehensive medical interpreter courses available online, you will acquire the...

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6 Months / 105 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
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California State University Pomona College of Professional and Global Education

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Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English)

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Course code: GES1125

What you will learn

  • Build practical medical interpreting skills, including consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation
  • Accurately interpret English and Spanish medical terminology used in clinical encounters
  • Follow medical interpreting protocols and role boundaries when supporting communication with Spanish‑speaking patients
  • Apply the medical interpreter code of ethics, including confidentiality, impartiality, and professional conduct
  • Prepare for Spanish medical interpreter certification exams through focused review of core competencies
  • Demonstrate professionalism, cultural awareness, and accuracy across diverse health care settings

How you will benefit

  • Prepare for a job as a certified or non-certified medical interpreter
  • Become ready to successfully take a Spanish medical interpreter certification exam
  • Master medical terminology in both Spanish and English and take these language skills to any medical-related job
  • Access the course's online laboratory to practice your skills

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 105 course hours
  1. 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

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.

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.

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:

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 11 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 12 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • 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, this course prepares you for any Medical Interpreter certification exam as a Spanish Medical Interpreter.

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.

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.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

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."