Mission Statement
The Healthcare Interpreter Certification Program is dedicated to promoting excellence and professionalism in interpretative services to enhance the provision of health and social services to ethnic communities.
Goals
- Provide a model approach to the provision of linguistic and cultural services to the limited-English proficient (LEP) population
- Provide an influential voice in shaping the role of the medical interpreter in the changing healthcare system
- Promote active communication between service providers, communities and interpreters
- Arrange professional training and continuing education with focus on a code of ethics
- Promote the value of interpreter services with articulating institutions
Health Care Interpreter Credit Certification Program
This program consists of 3 college courses for a total of 15 college credits (288 to 300 hours; 2 semester program). Classes are to run consecutively and concurrently depending on need.
Classes are scheduled to be held on the Reedley College campus or at Fresno Community Hospital. Classes will meet two times per week.
Health Care Interpreter Credit Certification Curriculum
The curriculum for the Health Care Interpreter Certificate is designed to train bilingual and bicultural students to develop an awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary for effective language interpretation in health care settings. Through academic preparation, practical skills training, and service in community based health care settings and educational organizations, certificate candidates learn:
- roles and responsibilities of a health care interpreter
- basic knowledge of common medical conditions, treatments, and procedures
- insight in language and cultural nuances for specific communities
- application of interpreting skills in English and language of service
Minimal Requirements
It is strongly recommended that enrolled students be able to demonstrate fluency in speaking English and fluency in the language of service, which is Spanish in the current cohorts. It is also recommended that students have completed a course in Medical Terminology (OT 10) and be eligible for English 125 and English 126.
Requirements for Certificate of Completion
Each course must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher for credit. Students must complete the following sequence of required courses:
- HEALTH 14 - Interpreting in Health Care I (5 units)
- HEALTH 15 - Interpreting in Health Care II (5 units)
- HEALTH 16 - Field Experience in Health Care Interpreting (5 units)
Medical Terminology along with Human Anatomy & Physiology will be extensively integrated into all three courses - with fluency in the language of service (Spanish) being an important part of all class activities.
Our Staff
Program Lead Instructor: Rosie Carrillo, M.S., C.R.C.
Other faculty members Gloria Walker, and Stela Gallegos
Certificated Language Coach: