Minimum requirements to work as a health care interpreter vary from state to state, but the necessary skills don’t.

Few educational institutions offer training courses in health care interpreting, and a national certification process is just getting underway. Yet, health care interpreting is a fast-growing job sector.

So, what exactly does one need to know and be able to do in order to perform successful language interpreting in a medical setting?

According the NCIHC (National Council on Interpreting in Health Care), six key elements make up the core skills set necessary for health interpreters:

• Language skills
• Knowledge of the medical Code of Ethics
• Sensitivity to cultural issues
• Mastery of healthcare terminology
• Integrated interpreting skills
• Ability to produce oral translations, or, where appropriate, brief written translations

(Source: NCIHC FAQs for Translators and Interpreters)

This list makes several interesting points about language interpreting.

First, the term “language skills” embodies both mastery of the target language(s) and a general gift for oral communication.

“Knowledge of healthcare terminology” isn’t all about translating words; interpreters must first have a strong knowledge of what these terms mean in their native language.

Finally, while medical translators are seldom called upon to do oral interpretation, interpreters, can be expected to perform certain types of translation – for example, translating a prescription out loud, or providing a short written translation of a sign or notice.

However, they should not be asked to produce long written translations of medical studies or articles.

Betty Carlson

See Also

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