Medical Interpreter – Spanish/English

Are you Spanish/English Bilingual? Do you enjoy helping people? If you’ve answered yes, a career as a Medical Interpreter may be right for you. Medical Interpreters typically work in healthcare settings and help patients communicate with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Interpreters must have a strong grasp of medical terminology and the common words for those medical terms in both languages.

The Quick Careers Medical Interpreter program consists of a series of 3 courses* designed to not only prepare students for a career as a Spanish/English Medical Interpreter but also to prepare them to earn Medical Interpreter Certification.

* Awards of Completion are earned at the successful completion of all of the courses in the program.

IMPORTANT! Each course is a prerequisite to the next. Students are required to take the courses in the following order: 1, 2, 3.

This 187 hours of training includes:

National Standards & Ethical Practices for Medical Interpreters (35 hours of training)

Course 1 of 3

This course introduces the principles and standards for professional interpretation as established by the National Council on Interpreting in Healthcare. Professional skills and ethical practices for Interpreters will be taught. Students will also explore cultural awareness as it applies to interpreting in health and human services.

National Standards & Ethical Practices training includes:

  • Roles of the Medical Interpreter
  • Medical Interpreter Ethics
  • Cultural practices/awareness
  • Interpreter Standards of Practice
  • Legislation & Regulations
  • HIPPA
  • CLAS

Spanish/English Medical Terminology (96 hours of training)

Course 2 of 3

This is an introduction to the principles of medical terminology for interpreters and translators in the medical field. This course teaches the meaning and pronunciation of specific medical terms, including prefixes, suffixes, root words, and abbreviations. The student will study body systems and all medical terms will be taught in both languages.

Spanish/English Medical Terminology training Includes:

  • Medical tests and diagnostic procedures
  • Treatments
  • Acronyms and abbreviations (MRI, CAT scan, etc)
  • Medical specialties
  • Symptomatology
  • Medical terminology
  • Medical Specialties

Case Studies Practice (56 hours of training)

Course 3 of 3

Students will use case studies to strengthen interpreting skills and improve grammar, reading, and writing skills in both languages.  Listening and oral skills in Spanish and English will be emphasized.

Successful participants can opt to sit for the National Healthcare Interpreter Certification Exam to become a CHI (Certified Healthcare Interpreter).  https://www.cchicertification.org/index.php

Frequently Asked Questions

Course 1 registration fee is $133
Course 2 registration fee is $188
Course 3 registration fee is $188

Book cost is approximately $233

Total cost is $742

Payment for class is due at the time of registration. Students must pass course 1 to register for course 2 and must pass course 2 to register for course 3. 

Course Name Dates Days Hours Campus Room Register
FLI-3700-Q16 Medical Interpreter:  National Standards & Ethical Practices 1/16/24 - 2/14/24 T, W 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Greensboro CEC 238 Register Now
NUR-3235-Q16 Medical Interpreter: Medical Terminology 2/20/24 - 6/5/24 T, W 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Greensboro CEC 238
FLI-3717-Q16 Medical Interpreter:  Case Studies Practice  6/11/24 - 7/31/24 T, W 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Greensboro CEC 238

Good Computer Skills
E-mail and access to a computer with Internet
Spanish/English Bilingual

The Quick Careers Medical Interpreter program consists of a series of 3 courses; students must pass course 1 to register for course 2 and must pass course 2 to register for course 3. 

 

 

Yes.  In order to be successful in the Quick Careers program, students need to have good computer skills. If you are a beginner on the computer, you should take a course FIRST, to strengthen your computer skills before registering for a Quick Careers course. (Contact the Quick Careers Office @ 336-334-4822 extension 53108 with questions).

Individuals should also know that as a Quick Careers student, you will need to have access to a computer outside of class in order to complete required coursework. Computers used outside of class would need to be Internet connected and also have compatible software to what is used in class (e.g. Microsoft® Word, Excel, and, Power Point 2010, etc.) If you do not have a home computer, you should plan to visit a GTCC “Open Lab” to complete required course work.

The below checklist provides information regarding the minimum computer skills needed in order to register for a Quick Careers course. Potential students should thoroughly evaluate their computer skills using this checklist.

Good Computer Skills Self-Assessment

  1. You should be able to turn a computer on and off
    • Do you know the difference in an operating system versus an application software?
      (i.e. Windows® 10 versus Microsoft® Office 2019)
  2. Do you know how to use the computer desktop?
    • Do you know how to make a folder on the desktop?
    • Do you know how to save information on the desktop?
    • Do you know how to retrieve information from the desktop?
  3. Do you know how to use the internet?
    • Can you bookmark a website?
    • Can you Google search/research information on the internet?
  4. Do you have a personal or GTCC/school issued email account?
    • Can you access your personal email from a computer other than your home computer?
    • Can you send internet links via email?
    • Can you send an attachment in an email?
  5. Do you know how to create, save and use a basic Microsoft® Word document?
    • Can you use word processing software
    • Can you type at least 25-30 words per minute?
  6. Are you familiar with Microsoft® Excel?
    • Can you use spreadsheet software
  7. Are you familiar with Microsoft® PowerPoint?
    • Can you use presentation software

You may be eligible for scholarship money. Click on the link below to learn if you might meet the applicant requirements.  Scholarship have time sensitive application deadlines.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Additionally, the NCWorks Career Center may be able to assist thru the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program.  For more information call NCWorks Greensboro: 336-297-9444 or NCWorks High Point: 336-882-4141.

No textbook required for class 1 of 3

ISBN 9781260017946 Medical Language for Modern Health Care, 5th ed. From McGraw-Hill.  Approximately $136 at GTCC Bookstore: https://greensborobookstore.gtcc.edu/college
(for class 2 of 3)

ISBN 9781260467895 McGraw Hill's Complete Medical Spanish, 4th ed.   From McGraw-Hill. Approximately $28 at GTCC Bookstore: https://greensborobookstore.gtcc.edu/college                     (for class 2 of 3)

ISBN 1880594110 The Interpreter’s RX. From Acebo, Approximately $69 at GTCC Bookstore: https://greensborobookstore.gtcc.edu/college
(for class 3 of 3)

You may register online.

Register Now

Students who successfully complete all the classes in Medical Interpreter will receive an Award of Completion.  

Requirements for Successful Completion:

  • Attendance: Must be in class 90% of class hours.
  • Coursework: Achieve 80% on coursework.

If you enter after the second day of class, you will not receive credit for taking the class.  Additionally, time absent will be counted against you; students can only miss 19 hours of class total and pass the class. 

The college will make a 100% refund of registration fees if you officially withdraw from class before the first meeting.  Also if the class is canceled or full, GTCC will make a full refund. 

The college will refund 75% of the registration fee (of tuition only) if you officially withdraw from the class on the first day of class or before the class reaches the census date.  The census date varies from class to class.  Non-attendance is not a basis for a refund.