Becoming a Medical Interpreter

Training

Massachusetts has a number of programs for people to become familiar with the field of Medical Interpretation. You can visit the International Medical Interpreters Association IMIA website to get the list of the training programs.

The Cross Cultural HealthCare Program (CCHP) offers Medical Interpretation training around the country.

Resources For Prospective Medical Interpreters

The following resources are a good starting point to obtain information about Medical Interpreting, medical topics that interpreters need to know, and training and education programs available. We do not endorse any particular training program and encourage prospective medical interpreters to thoroughly research training programs available. Interpreting skills are best developed in a combination of formal training and extensive guided practice and independent study.

Associations

• Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters
• IMIA - International Medical Interpreters Association
• NCIHC - National Council on Interpreting in Health Care

Resources for Medical Terminology

• The Merck Manual
• Medline Plus

Information about Civil Rights & Language Access

• LEP.gov - Meaningful Access for People who have Limited English Proficiency
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Service - Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Service - Culturally Linguistic Appropriate Standards (CLAS)
• Office of Minority Health (OMH)

Professional Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics

• International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) - Standards of Practice
• National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) - Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics
• The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters
• Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters