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How to Become a Medical Interpreter

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Written by Ann Real, BSN, RN Content Writer, IntelyCare

A medical interpreter helps a patient understand their X-ray results.

Imagine a scenario: A person arrives at the emergency room with a serious injury. When the nurse asks about allergies, the patient responds, “No hablo Inglés.” This is a critical situation that needs immediate attention. That’s where a medical interpreter comes in — these trained professionals facilitate communication between healthcare providers and patients who speak languages other than English.

The U.S. is a country with over 45 million immigrants, of whom nearly half have limited English proficiency. Interpreters are essential for helping all patients get the care they need and deserve.

If you want to explore languages, healthcare, and helping others, this profession could be a great fit for you. Read on to find out how to become a medical interpreter and turn your passion into a fulfilling career.

A career summary graphic for the role of a medical interpreter, including duties, workplaces, path, and key skills.

What Is a Medical Interpreter?

A medical interpreter works in healthcare facilities and accurately interprets information — like diagnoses, care plans, and discharge instructions — for patients who speak a language other than English. This helps promote patient safety by ensuring that patients understand their healthcare options, and that doctors have all the necessary details on hand to provide the best care.

Note, this role is different from that of a medical translator, who works primarily with written material like consent forms and discharge instructions.

What Does a Certified Medical Interpreter Do?

While the job may seem straightforward — just translate, right? — there’s more to this profession than initially meets the eye. In addition to language skills, interpreters must be culturally competent and knowledgeable in medical terminology in order to establish informed consent. Here’s a glimpse into their common duties:

Translating medical terminology and complex information for patients
Maintaining confidentiality and professional ethics
Clarifying cultural misunderstandings during medical consultations
Advocating for patients‘ understanding of diagnoses, treatment plans, and medications
Assisting with scheduling appointments, obtaining medical records, and filling out forms
Providing emotional support to patients during medical procedures or consultations
Collaborating with healthcare team members for effective patient care
Staying updated on medical terminology, procedures, and culturally congruent care

5 Steps to Become an Interpreter in Healthcare

Getting into this meaningful specialty may be simpler than you think. Let’s explore the key steps to start your journey as an interpreter:

1. Complete High School

First, you’ll need at least a high school education (e.g., a high school diploma, GED, or any higher education degree). Having a bachelor’s degree has the potential to set you apart in the eyes of employers, particularly if it’s in fields like communication or medicine (such as nursing), foreign languages, linguistics, social work, or international relations.

2. Learn a Foreign Language

Fluency in at least two languages is essential for medical interpreting. If you’re not already bilingual, start learning a foreign language. You can take language courses, use language learning apps, or practice with native speakers to build your skills. Among U.S. immigrants, the most commonly spoken languages are:

Spanish: 42%
Chinese: 6%
Hindi: 5%
Filipino/Tagalog: 4%
French: 3%
Vietnamese: 3%
Dravidian: 2%
Arabic: 2%

That being said, all languages are valuable. Less common languages can be just as essential as the most widely spoken ones.

3. Complete Medical Interpreter Training

Enroll in a specialized training program or course. You’ll need to learn topics like medical terminology, cultural competency, ethics, and professional standards to qualify for medical interpreter certification. Online and in-person programs are available. Look for programs that are accredited by the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA).

4. Apply for Medical Interpreter Certification

Next, apply for national certification to demonstrate your qualifications to employers. There are several certification options available, such as those offered by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) or the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI):

Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CHI)
Core Certification Healthcare Interpreter (CoreCHI)
CoreCHI-Performance (CoreCHI-P)
Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI and Hub-CMI)

For American Sign Language interpreters, consider Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) certification.

5. Gain Experience

One of the perks of this profession is that you can work in diverse care settings. Here are a few of your location choices to gain hands-on experience in medical interpreting:

Acute care facilities, such as hospitals and clinics
Assisted living and skilled nursing facilities
Community health centers
Doctors’ offices
Interpretation agencies
Mental health facilities
Nursing homes
Public health departments
Rehabilitation centers

How Much Do Medical Interpreters Make?

The typical medical interpreter salary in the U.S. is about $63,080 per year, but your paycheck can vary based on factors like your facility type, certifications, experience, and geographic location.

Thinking about working in a general or surgical hospital? The average annual salary for interpreters in this setting is $60,340 per year. If you decide to work in other professional or scientific settings, you’re looking at about $63,470 per year.

Interpreters in Healthcare: Frequently Asked Questions

CHI vs. CMI certification — what’s the difference?

The main difference between a certified healthcare interpreter (CHI) and certified medical interpreter (CMI) certification comes down to their certification bodies. Both aim to ensure competence and professionalism in medical interpreting, but they may have slightly different prerequisites, exam formats, and continuing education requirements. Here is the key info for each:

Hub-CMI vs. CMI certification — what’s the difference?

The Hub-CMI is a credential available to all interpreters, regardless of target language. The CMI certification is offered in six languages:

Spanish
Russian
Korean
Cantonese
Mandarin

Can a nurse be an interpreter?

Yes, healthcare professionals, including nurses, can certainly work as interpreters. In fact, many bilingual nurses choose to take on this role alongside their nursing duties, often providing interpretation services on-call when needed.

Can interpreters work online?

Yes, interpreters working in healthcare can work remotely. Many interpreters, especially those specializing in rare languages, provide their services virtually, facilitating communication between patients and healthcare providers regardless of geographical location.

Is certification required to work in this field?

These professionals are often certified. Although it’s not always required to work in the field, it’s often preferred by employers and institutions to ensure quality and professionalism in interpreting services. However, specific requirements vary by state and employer, so check local regulations.

Ready for a Fulfilling Career in Healthcare?

Being a medical interpreter is just one of the fulfilling medical roles you can choose. IntelyCare specializes in personalized job matching for nurses to help you find a role you’ll love — in the right specialty, facility, and location.