Online Career Courses

Medical Interpreter Training

 
Become a Spanish/English Medical Interpreter
Medical interpreters work in hospitals, clinics and healthcare environments where patients and healthcare professionals require interpretation between Spanish and English. This 100% online course will prepare you to interpret medical terminology between English and Spanish. Using simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation skills you will be ready to serve in a variety of hospital and medical specialties.
 
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Job Outlook for Medical Interpreters

• The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects interpreters and translators to earn around $24.92 per hour or $51,830 per year on average.

 

• Specializing in medical terminology and earning certification as a medical interpreter greatly enhance career opportunities for interpreters who wish to serve in the healthcare field.

 

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates 19% job growth among interpreters and translators over the coming decade, which is faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.

 
Medical Interpreter FAQs
WHAT DOES A MEDICAL INTERPRETER DO?
According to the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC), the interpreter's most important role is to facilitate comfortable and clear communication between patients and healthcare professionals.
 
WHERE CAN MEDICAL INTERPRETERS WORK?
Generally, medical interpreters work in any healthcare setting where health-related interviews between a healthcare provider and a patient are held. Interpreters may also serve in other healthcare-related services such as financial assistance.
 
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXCELLENCE AS A MEDICAL INTERPRETER?
The NCICH lists six key qualifications for effective medical interpreting:
Language fluency
Ethical conduct
Cross-cultural understanding
Health and medical terminology
Realtime interpreting skill
Correct interpretation of instructions
 
HOW DO MEDICAL INTERPRETER GET CERTIFIED?
Certification is an assessment process by which a professional organization tests and approves a medical interpreter's qualifications. Certification includes the assessment of language, terminology, ethics and the interpretation process.
 
IS CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT FOR MEDICAL INTERPRETERS?
Certification indicates that a professional has undergone a rigorous and well-organized program of study and passed a recognized examination. It provides a clear understanding of an interpreter's capabilities and commitment to excellence.
 
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN "INTERPRETER" AND A "TRANSLATOR"?
"Interpreting" involves spoken communication while "translation" is dedicated to written documents. Medical interpreters help patients and healthcare professionals communicate through spoken conversations and interviews.
 
Course Objectives
Develop best-practice interpreting techniques using simultaneous, consecutive and sight translation methods.
Learn medical terminology in Spanish and English and transfer terms into the opposite language.
Understand social and personal protocols for interpreting on behalf of Spanish-speaking patients.
Master the medical interpreter's code of ethics.
Prepare to sit for a Spanish Medical Interpreter examination.
 
Prerequisites and Requirements
There is no formal education requirement for either language, but bilingual Spanish and English fluency is required.

Instructor
Nestor Wagner
Nestor Wagner is a Certified Medical Interpreter as well as a Certified Court Interpreter. He has been teaching interpreters since 1990. He contributes to the certification process for Immigration Interpreters and Analytical Linguists. He is active in the professional and scholarly community for advancing interpreting skills. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Washington.
 
Registration and Enrollment
This course is 100% online. Start anytime.
 
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