Online 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.
Job Outlook for Spanish/English 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 fluencyEthical conductCross-cultural understandingHealth and medical terminologyReal time interpreting skillCorrect 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
Prerequisites and Requirements
There is no formal education requirement for either language, but bilingual Spanish and English fluency is required.
Curriculum
I. INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL INTERPRETATIONMEDICAL VOCABULARY – THE HUMAN BODYPRE-ANESTHESIA RECORD FORMMEDICAL VOCABULARY – SYSTEM AND SENSESREFUSAL TO PERMIT BLOOD TRANSFUSIONMEDICAL VOCABULARY – SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSMEDICAL CONDITION FORMINTRAVENOUS CONTRAST INJECTION CONSENTMEDICAL VOCABULARY - FACILITIES AND STAFFDISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONSCOLLOQUIALISMMEDICAL VOCABULARY - TREATMENT PROCEDURES, INSTRUMENTS, SUPPLIES AND MEDICATIONSINDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS - WORKERS' COMPENSATIONMEDICAL VOCABULARY - PREGNANCY AND DELIVERYSIMULTANEOUS TECHNIQUESCONSECUTIVE TECHNIQUESINTERPRETING LABORATORY PRACTICES
II. INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL INTERPRETATIONMEDICAL VOCABULARY - PEDIATRIC/NEONATAL CAREMEDICAL VOCABULARY - FAMILY PLANNINGINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS – PARENTS' RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIESMEDICAL VOCABULARY - COMMUNICABLE DISEASESINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - TAKING CARE OF MOMINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - THE "BABY BLUES"MEDICAL VOCABULARY - SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASESINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - CONSENT FOR CATH LAB PROCEDUREMEDICAL VOCABULARY - DENTAL HEALTHINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY FORM FOR PEDIATRIC ASTHMA PATIENTMEDICAL VOCABULARY - SUBSTANCE ABUSEINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - OSHA REQUIREDIDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS - ENGLISH INTO SPANISHINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - ADULT HISTORY FORMINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OR DISCLOSURE OF IMAGING INFORMATIONLEGAL TERMINOLOGY USED IN MEDICAL MATTERSINTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - ADVANCE DIRECTIVEINTERPRETING LABORATORY PRACTICES
III. SIGHT TRANSLATION FOR MEDICAL INTERPRETERSPRINCIPLES OF LOCALIZATIONRE-STRUCTURING TECHNIQUESPRINCIPLES OF REVERSIBILITY AND NON-REVERSIBILITY OF MEDICAL TERMSINTERFERENCES – FILTERING SYNTACTICAL AND GRAMMATICAL INTERFERENCESSTYLE IN THE DELIVERYEXAM TAKING TECHNIQUES - OBJECTIVE VERSUS SUBJECTIVE GRADINGTRANSFERRING OF LOW, REGULAR AND HIGH REGISTER DOCUMENTS INTO THE OPPOSITE LANGUAGESTABILITY IN THE TRANSFERINTERPRETING LABORATORY PRACTICES
Nestor Wagner
Nestor Wagner is a certified Court and Medical Interpreter who has been teaching interpreting courses since 1990. He has the highest pass rate of certified court interpreters in the nation. He has published several books in the interpreting community. Mr. Wagner is involved in the examination process for Immigration Interpreters and Analytical Linguists. He participates as speakers in national and international conferences on Criminal, Civil and Immigration Court terminology, advanced interpreting skills, and localization in the transfer of legal and non-legal terminology. Mr. Wagner holds a master’s degree from the University of Washington.
Registration and Enrollment
This course is open enrollment. You may enroll and start anytime.
Register for Summer and Fall