The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters will soon be developing its exam in Arabic and Mandarin.

“The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) recently received a $308,750 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop the Certified Healthcare Interpreter™ (CHI™) examination in Arabic and Mandarin. This effort will help healthcare practitioners and limited English proficient (LEP) speaking patients focus directly on quality healthcare rather than an inability to communicate with each other….The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant will support a one-year program of work that will develop the Certified Healthcare Interpreter™ (CHI™) examination in Arabic and Mandarin as well as conduct educational and outreach activities to understand the need for and use of CCHI certifications.

CCHI’s Associate Healthcare Interpreter™ (AHI™) credential is the entry point for all healthcare interpreters into professional certification regardless of the language(s) in which they interpret. Once a healthcare interpreter passes the AHI™ exam, she is eligible to sit for the Certified Healthcare Interpreter™ (CHI™) examination, an oral performance exam that tests consecutive and simultaneous interpreting plus sight translation in one or more languages in which they interpret.

‘The timing is critical for going further with certification, into as many languages as possible with the same level of credibility, validity and adherence to national accreditation requirements set forth by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence,’ said Mara Youdelman, J.D., Chair of CCHI….

The first cadre of Mandarin and Arabic interpreters will sit for their examination in early 2012. Those who apply by November 30th will receive a discount of over $100 from regular examination fees.”

Source: CCHI News Release, November 3, 2011

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