REGISTER ONLINE

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 fluency
Ethical conduct
Cross-cultural understanding
Health and medical terminology
Real time 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.

REGISTER ONLINE 

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 INTERPRETATION
MEDICAL VOCABULARY – THE HUMAN BODY
PRE-ANESTHESIA RECORD FORM
MEDICAL VOCABULARY – SYSTEM AND SENSES
REFUSAL TO PERMIT BLOOD TRANSFUSION
MEDICAL VOCABULARY – SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
MEDICAL CONDITION FORM
INTRAVENOUS CONTRAST INJECTION CONSENT
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - FACILITIES AND STAFF
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS
COLLOQUIALISM
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - TREATMENT PROCEDURES, INSTRUMENTS, SUPPLIES AND MEDICATIONS
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS - WORKERS' COMPENSATION
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY
SIMULTANEOUS TECHNIQUES
CONSECUTIVE TECHNIQUES
INTERPRETING LABORATORY PRACTICES

II. INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL INTERPRETATION
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - PEDIATRIC/NEONATAL CARE
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - FAMILY PLANNING
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS – PARENTS' RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - TAKING CARE OF MOM
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - THE "BABY BLUES"
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - CONSENT FOR CATH LAB PROCEDURE
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - DENTAL HEALTH
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY FORM FOR PEDIATRIC ASTHMA PATIENT
MEDICAL VOCABULARY - SUBSTANCE ABUSE
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - OSHA REQUIRED
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS - ENGLISH INTO SPANISH
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - ADULT HISTORY FORM
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OR DISCLOSURE OF IMAGING INFORMATION
LEGAL TERMINOLOGY USED IN MEDICAL MATTERS
INTERPRETING FOR HOSPITALS - ADVANCE DIRECTIVE
INTERPRETING LABORATORY PRACTICES

III. SIGHT TRANSLATION FOR MEDICAL INTERPRETERS
PRINCIPLES OF LOCALIZATION
RE-STRUCTURING TECHNIQUES
PRINCIPLES OF REVERSIBILITY AND NON-REVERSIBILITY OF MEDICAL TERMS
INTERFERENCES – FILTERING SYNTACTICAL AND GRAMMATICAL INTERFERENCES
STYLE IN THE DELIVERY
EXAM TAKING TECHNIQUES - OBJECTIVE VERSUS SUBJECTIVE GRADING
TRANSFERRING OF LOW, REGULAR AND HIGH REGISTER DOCUMENTS INTO THE OPPOSITE LANGUAGE
STABILITY IN THE TRANSFER
INTERPRETING LABORATORY PRACTICES

Instructor

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.

Enroll Now!