With the population becoming more and more bilingual, employers are demanding that their medical interpreters are highly skilled and able to speak multiple languages in order to help patients break down complex medical terminology. Finding a school in Massachusetts that offers classes in this field should be quite simple, especially since there are so many. Many classes require 60 hours of training. At the end of the course, students are able to enter into the field easily.
Boston Area Health Education Center
By enrolling into the Boston Area Health and Education Center, you will take a course that introduces you to medical interpretation. You can find the 60-hour beginner course available during semesters in the fall and spring. Some of the areas that are gone over during the course include health care delivery, medical terminology basics and mental health problems. If you are bilingual, you are deeply encouraged to apply for training as a medical interpreter, especially since there is a strong need for medical interpreters in the MA healthcare industry. In order to get into a training course, you will need to have a high school diploma, as well as working experience in the medical field. Once you complete the course, you will receive a certificate.
More info here: http://www.bphc.org/programs/cafh/cah/bahec/Pages/Home.aspx
Cross Cultural Communication Systems, Inc.
At Cultural Communications Systems, you can look to pay about $800 for training and materials. At this institution, you will find medical interpretation classes that offer certification that can be used to enter into the working field. The class is a 60-hour program that has emphasis on ethics, techniques and medical terminology that pertain to the medical interpreting industry. You will have to master medical terminology to become highly skilled. In many classes, you will have to role-play scripted problems an interpreter may run into in the field. Most class sizes are kept small, with 30 students or less. A training manual called The Art of Medical Interpretation, is also given out to the students. It is also used as a resource while working in the field.
More info here: www.cccsorg.com
University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts is one of the most respected institutions in the state. Here, you will also find the medical interpreting course available. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services and Office of Medicaid offer support to the program in the university. Students with all skill levels, from beginner to expert, can obtain training as an interpreter. A language assessment quiz is given to all student enrollees, which must be passed with a 75 percent or higher. Also, students are required to take a pre-program overview. The coursework of the individual is determined by the language assessment and prior working experience. Once the course is completed, a certificate is issued to passing students.
More info here: umassmed.edu/ocp/mit/index.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=47676
