English Medical Interpreters: A Beginner's Guide

English medical interpreters provide an essential service to communities around the world. Whether traveling for recreational purposes, for a job or as an unfortunate result of global conflict forcing people out of their country- there are a million reasons why the job is necessary. Having worked throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, English medical interpreters have assisted those who speak little to no English communicate and receive critical care and treatment. The job requires commitment, dedication and needs to be taken seriously as people's lives depend on your correct translation. Every online interpreting course is taught online, via LIVE webinar conference✅ technology that provides the best remote learning experience possible. Taught by experts✅ in their field, our instructors give students an opportunity to learn from experience. Here's everything you need to know:

💭What do English medical interpreters do?

Medical interpreters attend doctor's appointments (either physically or remotely) with patients who are limited or non-English speaking. They are more than just bilingual; they must also be culturally competent and have a very strong knowledge of the English lanugage and medical terminology. They work either for hospitals, primary care or a local translation agency, and keep patients safe by ensuring accurate translations of verbal and written information.

📚Education & training requirements for English medical interpreters

To become a medical interpreter, you must have formal medical interpreter training. A good interpreter training program will cover medical terminology, basic anatomy & physiology, as well as the interpreter code of ethics. Students who have successfully completed our 60-hour medical interpreter training course will learn all of this and more✅. Whether becoming a medical translator or an interpreter is your goal, requirements and recommendations for our introduction to medical interpreting course include:

📍Course Requirements:

Reliable internet connection
A computer with a microphone and speakers
A high school diploma or equivalent
Register online with a non-refundable $50 registration fee
Demonstrating fluency and literacy skills in English and a target language by passing the language assessment pre-test 2 weeks before class

✏️Training Recommendations:

While it is not required, we recommend a 15-hour practicum (either during or after) completing our online training course. A trained interpreter can provide real-world experience that you can only obtain outside the classroom.

💸What do English medical interpreters need to be successful?

While we can't predict your success- because ultimately, that is completely up to you- after passing our basic online interpreter training program students can find employment at a hospital or interpreter agency. Being able to read, understand and translate medical diagnosis and treatment plans is more complex when you must do it in 2 languages; while adhering to confidentiality and legal requirements makes a successful, confident interpreter.

If you wish to obtain your official NBCMI (National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters) state interpreter license, our 60hr interpreter program will exceed requirements✅ needed to register for the exam. For students who have already passed our basic course, we have designed an accelerated interpreter certification program designed for those who want to obtain their translator license. Similar to SAT prep programs, advanced medical interpreter training is not required but provides extra help for those who want to prepare for the translator certificate exam.

Our online interpreter classes are taught by expert instructors ✅ who have real-world experience in their interpreting specialty. They have worked hard to make fully remote online courses unique and engaging ✅ through a hands-on approach to remote learning. All of our online interpreting courses are 100% LIVE via video conferencing technology✅to provide students the best remote experience possible, with the advantages of having an in person class. If you or someone you know is interested in our unique and engaging online Medical Interpreter Training Programs with live instructors, classes are offered in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, Farsi, French, Hindi, Korean, Somali, Urdu, Ukrainian languages online and onsite.