The state’s Office of Multicultural Health & Services has awarded a grant for the development of certification exams in five languages

The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters, which launched the first national certification exam in Spanish in October 2009, will now be creating similar exams in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian. This expansion of the Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) designation to five additional languages will be made possible through a grant from the Oregon Office of Multicultural Health & Services.

Oregon, which already implements the Board’s existing credential system in Spanish, will extend certification in the “new” languages once the exams are developed.

 “’Oregon has long been a trailblazer in the area of language access for limited English speaking patients, being one of just a handful of states that have any formalized standards for medical interpreter certification,’” said Nelva Lee, PhD, Chair of the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters in a press release.

Indeed, the state’s involvement in guaranteeing health care language services dates back to 2001, when the 71st Oregon Legislative Assembly passed Senate Bill 790, calling for provision of healthcare interpreters for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). The state’s LEP population has almost tripled since 1990.

The National Board estimates that it will take about six months to design the oral certification tests, following the same standards and processes used to design the Spanish certification test.

Interpreters who would like to participate in pilot testing of these exams are encouraged to contact the Board.

Betty Carlson

See Also

• Language Translation, Inc.
  A leading language translation and interpretation service provider for more than 20 years.