National Medical Interpreter
Certification: A Primer for Trainers
First National Symposium on Medical Interpreter Education
New Brunswick, NJ
June 12th, 2010
Elena Langdon, MA, CT
Secretary of the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters
National Certification for Medical
Interpreters Launch - October 2009
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Interpreter Education
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PROGRESS REPORT
 Registration automated on newly designed
website
 International job analysis launched in
partnership with Global Advisory Council
 Close to 250 registrations received and
processed
 Candidates have passed the written exam
 Oral exams for Spanish are underway
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Interpreter Education
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DEFINITIONS FOR STUDENTS
Certification:
To go through a process where a certifying body certifies
that you meet a specified standard, based on a series of
requirements, including passing certification exams
Certificate:
Completed a course of study or training in interpreting, and
received a certificate of completion
License:
Typically regulated and provided by state or federal entity,
this is a work permit required in many professions.
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Interpreter Education
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PREREQUISITES
Interpreters with 1 year proven work experience through
employer letter (this offer will expire in May, 2011).
Interpreters with less than 1 year proven work experience:
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Age: at least 18 years old
General education: Minimum High School Diploma or
equivalent
Medical interpreter education: At least 40 hours program
Oral proficiency: in English and the other language: High
school or higher education or ACTFL LTI Exam at Advanced Mid
level minimum.
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Interpreter Education
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CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Step 1 Register - Fee $30
Step 2 Take the National Board Written Exam (in English)
Fee $150 ($75 for those who participated in the
pilots)
Step 3 Depending on the non-English working language
Take the National Board Oral Exam
Fee $250
Step 4. Get Recertified (Available Fall of 2014)
Every 5 years – no retesting required/ proof of 3.0 CEUs
NOTE: All fees are payable to the National Board and go towards processing registration, administering the exams,
or further development of new test versions.
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
TIMELINE FOR CERTIFICATION
Complete Online
Registration (one
time registration)
Take Oral Exam at
ISO Location (within 6
months)
Notified of pass or fail
via mail
(4-6 weeks)
Notified of
approval/denial
or of further
documentation
needed
(2-4 weeks)
Take Written
Exam at PSI
Location
Immediate
notification of
pass or fail
If Passed: Receive
email if Spanish from
National Board and
ISO to take Oral
exam
(4-6 weeks)
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Interpreter Education
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CREDENTIALS
1.
CERTIFIED MEDICAL INTERPRETER (CMI)
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2.
Successful completion of certification process with written & oral
exams
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Initially available in Spanish. It will be available in 21 more
languages, eventually expanding to 30
QUALIFIED MEDICAL INTERPRETER (QMI)
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Successful completion of process with written & qualification exams
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3.
For minority languages done in partnership with other national
testing providers
SCREENED MEDICAL INTERPRETER (SMI)
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Successful completion of process with written & review of portfolio
(similar to Canadian & Australian recognition processes)
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For newly emerging languages
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
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NEXT STEPS
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Develop Oral exam for remaining 21 languages
Arabic
Bosnian
Cambodian (Khmer)
Cantonese
Croatian
Farsi
French
German
Haitian Creole
Hmong
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Mandarin
Polish
Portuguese
Russian
Serbian
Somali
Spanish
Tagalog
Vietnamese
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Interpreter Education
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Written Exam Testing Sites
PSI LOCATIONS: www.psionline.com
All interpreters, all languages, 600 locations
Oral Exam Testing Sites
ISO LOCATIONS:
www.isoqualitytesting.com/locations.aspx
Language specific, over 300 locations
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Interpreter Education
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WRITTEN EXAMS TOPICS
Exam is in English
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Medical Terminology – not translation of terms,
but understanding of terminology
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75% of exam is medical terminology
Roles of the Medical Interpreter
Medical Specialties
Medical Interpreter Ethics
Cultural Awareness
Interpreter Standards of Practice (IMIA, CHIA,
NCIHC)
Legislation and Regulations (HIPAA, CLAS)
Note: Content is based on Job Analysis Data statistics.
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Interpreter Education
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Subtopics Covered in Ethics
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Confidentiality
Accuracy and Completeness
Impartiality
Conflict of Interest
Scope of Practice, Role Boundaries
Disqualification/Impediments to Performance
Professional Courtesy
Professional Development
Note: Content is based on 2009 Job Analysis Data statistics.
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Interpreter Education
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Subtopics
Medical
Terminology
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Cardiovascular
 Medical Tests and
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Diagnostics
Medical Apparatus
Pharmacology
Pathologies
Symptomatology
Anatomy
Musculoskeletal
System
Endocrine
Respiratory
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Urinary
Nervous
Digestive
Reproductive
Integumentary (skin)
Treatments
Acronyms and
Abbreviations
Note: Content is based on Job
Analysis Data statistics
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Interpreter Education
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Subtopics - Medical Specialties
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OB/GYN & Genetic
Counseling
Organ Transplant
Pharmacy
ENT
Pediatrics
Emergency medicine
Oncology
Surgery
Orthopedics
Radiology
Nutrition Counseling
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Physical Speech and
Occupational Therapy
Urology and Nephrology
Endocrinology
Ophthalmology
Neurology
Psychiatry
Cardiology
Hematology
Dermatology
Respiratory Illness
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Interpreter Education
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Sample question on the written test
If a patient has renal failure, this means that
he/she has a disease primarily related to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The pancreas
The kidneys
The liver
The spleen
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Interpreter Education
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EXAM
The oral testORAL
is proctored
at ISO sites
using web technology
The test takes 40 minutes
12 mini-scenarios - 30 minutes
1 sight translation - 10 minutes
Covers same subject matter as described
previously
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Interpreter Education
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SKILLS ASSESSED ON ORAL EXAM
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Linguistic proficiency in both working
languages
Consecutive Interpreting skills in context
Sight translation skills from English into
other language
Knowledge of medical terminology and
specialties within context in both
languages
Cultural awareness
Note: Content is based on Job Analysis Data statistics.
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Interpreter Education
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SAMPLE
ORAL
SCENARIO
 What brings
you toEXAM
the emergency
room today?
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I feel a sharp pain in my chest (in other
language).
When did it start?
This morning at two (in other language).
Is the pain constant or does it come and go?
Does it radiate to your arms or legs?
It’s a tight and localized pain (in other language).
I will examine you and also order an EKG and
some blood tests.
Thank you. I need something to make me feel
better (in other language).
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Interpreter Education
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SAMPLE SIGHT TRANSLATION
Skin care and hygiene instructions:
 Apply a hypoallergenic lotion twice a day.
 Keep your skin clean, such as with a daily
shower. This can help reduce the possibility
of infection.
 Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands
frequently, especially before taking care of
your catheter.
 Avoid direct sun exposure on your skin.
 Take your medicine for eczema as directed.
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Interpreter Education
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How can we
prepare our
students?
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
Factors to consider:
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DIVERSITY
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Age
Experience
Educational backgrounds
Cultural expectations
Languages
Technological expertise
Career goals
Certification experience
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
Standard components
Medical terminology
 Standards of practice
 Ethical guidelines
 Role plays
 Consecutive interpreting
 Sight translation
 Regulations and laws
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First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
What’s NOT on the tests
 Simultaneous
interpreting
 Written translation
 Figures/diagrams
 Essay or open-ended questions
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
Questions to ask
 How
do you currently measure
skills and knowledge?
 What areas do you cover?
 Language neutral vs. language
specific
 Learning environment
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
Testing & measurement
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Written exams:
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Multiple choice quizzes and tests
Use computers
Free programs like Survey Monkey, ProProfs
($3/mo to store scores)
Oral exams:
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Self-monitoring
Recorded role-plays
Group assessments
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
Audio Resources
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Audacity
mp3 players
Headphones w/ mics
Skype
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
Audacity
www.audacity.sourceforge.net
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education
Web 2.0 resources for trainers
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interpretertrainers.ning.com
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Join today!
http://interpreters.free.fr/practice.htm
delicious.com/elangdon
Facebook groups (Interpreter Studies and
probably others)
First National Symposium on Medical
Interpreter Education