Medical Interpreter Certificate | KSU CPE

Medical Interpreters bridge the communication gap between non-English speaking patients and medical personnel. As a critical member of the healthcare team, you will be trained to communicate and translate patient materials, informational brochures, and other items into an easily understood and culturally-sensitive format for patients.

Tuition$1,499
Contact hours40
CEUs4
FormatIn Person

Upcoming offerings

In Person

Meets on campus at the KSU Center.

See all in person dates and details in the course catalog

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About this course

The Medical Interpreter Certificate includes theory and hands-on instruction during the ten-week program. Students will learn and identify human anatomy in both languages, translate medical documents from English to Spanish, communicate common medical terminology in written and verbal formats, and understand the code of ethics and roles of a Medical Interpreter. Students will also focus on Hispanic cultural appreciation and participate in bilingual discussion, interviews, and presentations. Individuals interested in starting a career in the medical field, nurses or medical office staff, or those looking to develop skills may benefit from this program.

There are two national certifying bodies: International Medical Interpreters Association and Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI). Each has its own specific requirements. Our course satisfies the requirements of the CCHI for a 40-hour pre-exam course in medical interpreting. Please contact the certifying bodies with any questions regarding the exams.

Textbooks are required at the first class meeting and is available through the KSU Main Campus Bookstore website. Call 470-578-6261 for questions, pricing, and availability. Be sure to identify yourself as a CPE student.

This 40 hour program requires students to be fluent in Spanish and English.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Describe the responsibilities of a medical interpreter
  • Define the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) code of ethics and standards of practice
  • Identify the anatomy of the body in both English and Spanish
  • Translate medical forms from English to Spanish
  • Recite medical terminology in both Spanish and English
  • Conduct a health related interview using appropriate medical vocabulary
  • Recognize the unique traits of Hispanic culture
  • Recognize the boundaries of professional practice by abstaining from personal involvement
  • Accurately interpret and translate all spoken messages, medical forms, procedures, and symptoms in a healthcare environment

Prerequisite: Receive a 75% or higher on the Interpreter Written Skills Assessment and submit the Program Application. Working knowledge of computers and access to a laptop or desktop computer and internet are required. By registering for the class, you acknowledge that you are fluent in both Spanish and English. Should you not meet the language requirement, no refunds or transfers will be approved.

Meet your instructor

Carolina Talbot, Medical Interpreter Certificate instructor

Carolina Talbot

Certified Medical Interpreter, Instructor since 2018

Carolina Talbot has been a certified medical interpreter for 12 years, with experience interpreting in a wide range of medical, educational, and community settings. Her work has included mental health hospitals, psychiatric evaluations, special education meetings, disability adjudication, insurance companies, autism centers, hospitals, emergency rooms, and community settings.

Carolina provides Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), Over-the-Phone Interpreting (OPI), and on-site interpretation services and works with several interpreting agencies. She also has experience working in a Georgia Pre-K program, where she provided interpretation for staff and parents during parent-teacher conferences and over the phone. Earlier in her career, she spent a year and a half as an interpreter recruiter for a language company in Atlanta.

Since 2018, Carolina has shared her expertise as an instructor for the 40-hour training course for medical interpreters at Kennesaw State University Community and Professional Education. Her background also includes a D.D.S. degree from Universidad de Los Andes in Mérida, Venezuela, where she practiced dentistry for several years after graduation. Carolina moved to the United States in 2004 and has continued to build a career centered on language access, communication, and helping others navigate important healthcare and community services.

Payment and funding options

  • Payment plans available
  • MyCAA approved
  • VA education benefits accepted