Best Medical Interpreter certifications

Medical interpreter certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an medical interpreter to employers. However, not all medical interpreter certifications provide the same value for job seekers.

The best certifications for a medical interpreter are Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI), Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI), and Medical Assistant.

Below is a list of the best medical interpreter certifications. Obtaining an medical interpreter certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

Medical Interpreter Jobs

9 best medical interpreter certifications

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1. Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI)

To be granted a CMI credential individuals must meet all of the eligibility prerequisites and pass BOTH the written and oral examinations. The CMI credential is awarded in the specific language(s) for which the oral exam is passed (for example CMI-Spanish). The National Board only awards the CMI credential to individuals who meet the eligibility criteria and successfully complete the written and oral examinations.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying Organization
The National Board of...
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2. Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI)

The mission of the National Board is to foster improved healthcare outcomes, patient safety and patient/provider communication, by elevating the standards for and quality of medical interpreting through a nationally recognized and accredited certification for medical interpreters.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
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3. Medical Assistant

The medical assistant job description varies depending on the employer's needs. A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional and an asset to a physician.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying Organization
American Society of Phlebotomy...
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4. Certified Translator

ATA has established a certification program to enable individual translators to demonstrate that they meet professional standards. Translators who pass a written examination are certified by ATA in a specific language pair and direction (from or into English).

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying Website
Certified Translator
Certifying Organization
American Translators Association
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5. Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CHI)

CCHI Certified Healthcare Interpreter™ certification consists of a two part examination that covers the basics of healthcare interpreting and a demonstration of interpreting skills in both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 4 year(s)
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6. Certified Interpreter

Certified interpreters have passed the Administrative Office certification examination. To date, certification programs have been developed for Spanish, Navajo and Haitian Creole. In these languages, the courts will select interpreters who have met the Administrative Office's criteria for certification if the judge determines that certified interpreters are reasonably available.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? 
Certifying Website
Certified Interpreter
Certifying Organization
Administrative Office of the...
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7. Core Certification Healthcare Interpreter (CCHI)

The CHI Core Healthcare Interpreter Examination is a computer-based, 100-question, multiple-choice exam in English that covers the basics of healthcare interpreting.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 4 year(s)
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8. Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)

A Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) primarily focuses on converting a medical procedure, diagnosis, or symptom into specific codes to submit a claim for reimbursement.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)
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9. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying Organization
National Registry of Emergency...

Medical Interpreter Jobs

What is the best certification for a medical interpreter?

The best medical interpreter certification is Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI). The Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) is awarded by the The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this medical interpreter certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI), you need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 5 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for medical interpreters?

The most in-demand medical interpreter certification is Certified Medical Interpreter based on all active job postings. Having this medical interpreter certification will give you access to more medical interpreter jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact a medical interpreter career and salary?

The Medical Assistant certification will help you to secure a medical assistant position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A medical assistant's average salary is $32,314 whereas medical interpreters make an average salary of $43,593.

Best Certifications

The most common combination of medical interpreter certifications include: Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI), Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI), and Medical Assistant.

Online courses for medical interpreters to earn certifications

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1. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

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In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...

2. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

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Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

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This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

6. Introduction to Medical Software

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In this class, we present a broad overview of the field of medical software. You will learn from Yale professors and a series of industry experts who connect the course concepts to their real world applications. We begin by discussing medical device regulatory structures, data privacy and cybersecurity regulations, and key support technologies such quality management systems and risk management. We then take a detailed look at the medical software life cycle, starting with identifying user...

7. AMCI Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course

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8. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding

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