Webinar from April 3, 2024.
While Utah does not require medical interpreters to be nationally certified in order to practice in the state, national certification is a trend that many employers and healthcare providers are requiring. UTIA believes that every professional should strive for national certification as it helps ensure the practitioner has met industry standards of qualify, accuracy and professionalism, which helps move the profession forward.
At the time this article is written (April, 2020) there are two national certifying bodies recognized in the United States of America: The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) and the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI). Both certifications have been validated and are recognized, but there are some differences in pre-qualification requisites, exam content, and re-certification requirements. CCHI’s Core-CHI, CHI-Spanish and Core-CHI-P performance exams are accredited by NCCA, while NBCMI’s CMI-Spanish accreditation expired in 2018. It is important to clarify that the credentials that are not accredited are still valid and recognized. Each candidate should study what both organizations have to offer, and make a determination of which body they want to be credentialed by.
The comparison table below has a summary for your consideration.
| National Board for Certified Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) | Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Credentials | 1. CMI Credential (written and bilingual oral exam): Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese 2. Hub-CMI Credential (written exam only): All other languages | 1. CHI Credential (written and bilingual oral exam): Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish 2. Core-CHI-P Credential (written and English-only oral/performance exam): All other languages |
| Requirements | 1. Minimum 18 years of age 2. High school diploma or GED diploma 3. Minimum 40 hours of health care interpreter training 4. If have worked as a health care interpreter for at least 1 year in the last 2 years for Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, or Vietnamese, then proof of employment in place of proof of language proficiency 5. Or, proof of oral proficiency in English by one below: a. Bachelor, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from any US institution of higher education b. Graduation from any high school in an English language country or from an American School abroad c. One of the following tests: i. TOEFL: 570+ on paper; 230+ on computer version; 90+ on iBT ii. ELPT: 950+ iii. MELAB: 80+ iv. ECPE: PASS v. FCE: A vi. CAE: B vii. CPE: B viii. IELTS: 7.0 6. Proof of oral proficiency in target language by one below: a. Bachelors, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from an institution of higher education where the target language is spoken b. Graduation from a high school of the country where the target language is spoken c. 24+ semester college credit hours of the target language d. ACTFL Orals Exams: Advanced Mid Level | 1. Minimum 18 years of age 2. High school diploma or GED diploma 3. Minimum 40 hours of health care interpreter training 4. Language proficiency in English and the target language Note for CHI languages: Requirements are met by describing them in the application. Providing evidence of requirements is not required at the time of application, but applicants are randomly audited and then asked to provide evidence. |
| Cost | • Registration: $35 (non-refundable) • Written Exam: $175 • Oral Exam: $275 • Total: $485 | • Registration: $40 (non-refundable) • CoreCHI Written Exam: $191 • Oral or Performance CHI or CHI-P Exam: $302 • Total for CHI level: $533 |
| Testing Details | Written Exam: • Exam is offered year round, online or at a testing center • 51 multiple choice questions, 75 minutes to complete Oral Exam: • Exam is offered year round, online or at a testing center • 12 mini-scenarios, 2 sight translation passages, 45-60 minutes to complete | CoreCHI Written Exam: • Exam is offered year round at a testing center • 100 multiple choice questions, 2 hours to complete Oral CHI Performance Exam: • Exam is offered 4 testing windows a year at a testing center • 4 consecutive, 2 simultaneous, and 1 sight translation interpreting vignettes; 1 multiple choice question; 60 minutes to complete (plus 30 min instructions/prep time before the beginning of the exam) |
| Recertification | • Every 5 years • No retesting required • 3.0 IMIA-approved Continuing Education Units (30 hours) • Application due at least 45 days before the 5 year mark • Renewal Cost: $300 | • Every 4 years • No retesting required • Years 1-2: 16 hours continuing education, 20 hours healthcare interpreting experience • Years 3-4: 16 hours continuing education, 20 hours healthcare interpreting experience • Two renewal applications (for years 1-2 and 3-4) must be submitted at least 30 days before the 4 year mark • Renewal Cost: $150 per application ($300 total). Additional languages are $30. |
| Website | http://www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/ | http://www.cchicertification.org/ |
| Contact | staff@certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org 765-633-2378 | CMSSpecialist@cchicertification.org 866-969-6665 |
This reference sheet was last updated in January 2016 and is subject to change. This information has been reviewed by the NBCMI and the CCHI for accuracy.