Medical Interpreting
nurse speaking

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This program is designed to train interpreters who facilitate linguistic and cultural communication between patients and healthcare providers at doctors’ offices, hospitals, emergency rooms, and other medical facilities. Experienced medical interpreters, physicians and other healthcare providers have designed this interdisciplinary curriculum. The program also includes a clinical internship.

Our Medical Interpreting Certificate Program includes:

  • Interpreting skills (consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, and sight translation)
  • English medical terminology
  • Language-specific medical terms and expressions
  • Ethics & roles of the medical interpreter
  • Cultural competency
  • Experience through a clinical internship
  • Preparation to work as interpreters in any medical setting

This program is available for the following languages:
Spanish + Vietnamese + Chinese + Arabic + Navajo
ASL Interpreters, please go to the ASL Medical Interpreting page.

Courses

Introduction to NMCLA & Online Learning

4 weeks

Fundamentals of Translation & Interpreting

8 weeks

Ethics & Best Practices

4 weeks

Terminology for medical Interpreters

4 weeks

Medical Interpreting

8 weeks

Intership at UNM Hospital

Orientation (1hr)

Operations Block (4 hrs)

Interpreter Skills Block (36 hrs)

  • Face-to-face interpreting
  • Video interpreting
  • Telephonic interpreting

Immunization requirements

  1. Positive MMR (measles/mumps/rubella)
    • Two (2) doses required and provider signature; or
    • If born prior to 1957, proof of 1 MMR; or
    • Proof of positive titer for each
  2. Tetanus within the last 10 years
  3. Polio
    • Childhood series of 4 completed; or
    • Adult Booster
  4. Annual PPD or form of positive PPD history
  5. Hepatitis B Vaccine
    • Proof of Completion of 3 dose series; or
    • Proof of positive titer
    • Varicella
      • Varicella Vaccine two (2) doses are required; or
      • Proof of positive titer.
      • Documentation of illness at time of occurrence from treating provider.

Final Examinations

This certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete the program.

Duration: 20 weeks + internship
Tuition: $2,500 + Registration fees +
Background Check Fees (required for internship at UNMH)

* previously called Bilingual Communication

NMCLA partners: New Mexico Judiciary - Administrative Office of the Courts, UNM Hospitals, NM Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons, UNM Los Alamos, NM State University - Dona Ana Community College, CNM