Author Archive

Volunteers Needed to Create New Items for the CHI Exams

We are calling for volunteers to participate in creating new questions for the CHI™ exams! Please fill out the application below and submit it by May 5, 2025. We are looking to convene 2 groups of volunteer Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) – (1) Item Writers and (2) Item Reviewers. Group 1 will work from May 17 through June 10, and Group 2 will work from May 17 through June 18. The task is to create scripts of items for the CHI exams in English. After this phase is complete, these items will be transadapted by other SME panels of Arabic, Mandarin, and Spanish volunteers for the corresponding CHI exams.

CCHI will provide all the necessary orientation and training via online collaboration tools. All tasks will also be performed remotely via video conference calls and other online applications. Please read about the commitment below so that you understand the scope of work.

Please apply only if you are available on the specified days for live Zoom meetings.

Who should apply?

Our goal is to convene a diverse panel of SMEs, CCHI-certified interpreters, who represent healthcare interpreters in the U.S. in a comprehensive manner. We are looking for volunteers – practicing interpreters who have CoreCHI™, CoreCHI-P™, or CHI™ certification (this requirement is mandatory) – who:

  • have various years of experience – from 1 to 10+
  • work in different modalities and different healthcare settings
  • represent different regional varieties of their LOTE (Language Other Than English)
  • may also be managers (but still practicing interpreters)
  • are not trainers of introductory interpreter courses (but may be trainers of continuing education courses).

What are your commitments (if selected)?

  • Sign CCHI’s Confidentiality and Content Security Agreements. (Review our SME Participation Policies prior to applying.)
  • Live participation in two-hour meetings on the dates specified below and several hours of independent work
  1. Be able to complete a self-paced online orientation module between May 17-27, which would require approximately 3-4 hours of time.
  2. Be available for live Zoom video conference meetings, of 2-hour duration each, at 8-10 pm Eastern Time on these dates:

Group 1 – Item Writers – one live meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 (and writing assigned number of items between May 29 and June 10)

Group 2 – Item Reviewers – three (3) live meetings on these Wednesdays:
June 4, 11, and 18

  1. Be available for independent remote assignments between the meetings.

This is a volunteer project. CCHI will not pay any honorarium for participation in this project. However, CCHI will grant 4 general CE instructional and 2 CE non-instructional hours for participation, and issue a voucher of $100 value that can be applied towards the certification renewal fee.

How to apply?

Click here to download CCHI’s SME Application in MS Word format and here to download it as a fillable pdf file (you’ll have to create a separate file for the essay and bio).

Please fill it out completely (choose the CoreCHI exam and indicate if you wish to be an item writer or item reviewer), and to submit, email the application (including 2 references) AND your current full resume, to solutions@cchicertification.org by 05/05/2025. Only electronically submitted, complete applications will be considered.

If you have any questions about this project or about the SME application, contact us at solutions@cchicertification.org.

You will be notified if you are selected to participate in this project by May 13, 2025.

Thank you for your interest and support!

Joint Statement on Executive Order 14224

CCHI joined the five associations for interpreters and translators in stating our opposition to Executive Order 14224 that designated English as the official language of the United states and revoked Executive Order 13166 that was in effect since August 2000.

We strongly oppose the designation of English as the official language and the weakening of existing language access protections. Language access may be under threat, but the fight isn’t over. As interpreters (and members of our respective communities) we must:

  • Educate LEP individuals about their rights under Title VI and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.
  • Support providers in maintaining language access services despite the chilling effect of this executive order.
  • Support policies that expand language access and speak out against efforts to weaken it.

The full text of the Joint Statement (live document with organizations endorsing currently) is available here.

The pdf file of the Joint Statement original version (03/12/25) is available here.

CCHI’s support for certificants and candidates affected by current and recent disasters

CCHI Commissioners and staff believe in supporting our certificants, candidates, and the interpreting profession as a cornerstone of our mission. We deeply care for those whose lives, families, and livelihoods have been impacted by recent and ongoing disasters. We understand the overwhelming challenges of rebuilding after such devastation and are here to help ease some of the burden.

To support our community, CCHI is committing $10,000 to assist certificants, affected by the natural disasters, with their renewal fees. This initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to standing with interpreters during times of need, ensuring they can continue their vital work of bridging communication and fostering understanding in every corner of society.

CCHI Commissioners offer the following support to the certificants residing in the areas affected by the wildfires in Southern California as well as those still recovering from the hurricanes in the Southeastern United States:

  1. The certification renewal deadline for the current four-year cycle*  is extended until September 1, 2025.
  2. All certificants in affected areas are eligible to receive a $50 discount towards their certification renewal fee. Please contact us at apply@cchicertification.org to request a disaster relief discount.

* For Southern California certificants affected by the fires: the extension and discount are applied if the renewal deadline is between January 1 – June 31, 2025. For certificants affected by the fall 2024 hurricanes in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina: if the renewal deadline is between September 25, 2024 – July 31, 2025.

CCHI Commissioners offer a 6-month extension to candidates residing in the areas affected by the wildfires and recent hurricanes for scheduling their exams.

Please contact us at info@cchicertification.org with questions (please use “Disaster Relief” in the subject line).

CCHI is looking for certified interpreters of any language to volunteer to create new questions for the CoreCHI exam

We are calling for volunteers to participate in creating new questions for the CoreCHI™ exam! Please fill out the application below and submit it by January 20, 2025. We are looking to convene 2 groups of volunteer Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) – (1) Item Writers and (2) Item Reviewers. Group 1 will work from January 30 through February 25, and Group 2 will work from February 12 through April 10.

CCHI will provide all the necessary orientation and training via online collaboration tools. All tasks will also be performed remotely via video conference calls and other online applications. Please read about the commitment below so that you understand the scope of work.

Please apply only if you are available on the specified days for live Zoom meetings.

Who should apply?

Our goal is to convene a diverse panel of SMEs, CCHI-certified interpreters, who represent healthcare interpreters in the U.S. in a comprehensive manner. We are looking for volunteers – practicing interpreters who have CoreCHI™, CoreCHI-P™, or CHI™ certification (this requirement is mandatory) – who:

  • have various years of experience – from 1 to 10+
  • work in different modalities and different healthcare settings
  • represent different regional varieties of their LOTE (Language Other Than English)
  • may also be managers (but still practicing interpreters)
  • are not trainers of introductory interpreter courses (but may be trainers of continuing education courses).

What are your commitments (if selected)?

  • Sign CCHI’s Confidentiality and Content Security Agreements. (Review our SME Participation Policies prior to applying.)
  • Live participation in two-hour meetings on the dates specified below and several hours of independent work
  1. Be able to complete a self-paced online orientation module between January 30 – February 8,which would require approximately 2-4 hours of time.
  2. Be available for live Zoom video conference meetings, of 2-hour duration each, at 8-10 pm Eastern Time on these dates:

Group 1 – Item Writers – one live meeting on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (and writing 20 questions between Jan 30 and Feb 25)

Group 2 – Item Reviewers – six (6) live meetings on these Wednesdays:
February 26
March 5, 12, 19, 26
April 2

  1. Be available for independent remote assignments between the meetings.

This is a volunteer project. CCHI will not pay any honorarium for participation in this project. However, CCHI will grant 4 general CE instructional and 2 CE non-instructional hours for participation, and issue a voucher of $100 value that can be applied towards the certification renewal fee.

How to apply?

Click here to download CCHI’s SME Application in MS Word format and here to download it as a fillable pdf file (you’ll have to create a separate file for the essay and bio).

Please fill it out completely (choose the CoreCHI exam and indicate if you wish to be an item writer or item reviewer), and to submit, email the application (including 2 references) AND your current full resume, to solutions@cchicertification.org by 01/20/2025. Only electronically submitted, complete applications will be considered.

If you have any questions about this project or about the SME application, contact us at solutions@cchicertification.org.

You will be notified if you are selected to participate in this project by January 24, 2025.

Thank you for your interest and support!

2024 in Review: End of the Year Message from CCHI Chair Vonessa Costa

Dear CCHI Community and Friends:

As we close this calendar year, we recognize the profound challenges that have shaped our world – political divides, economic uncertainties, and societal fears. Yet, through it all, you have stood resilient in your respective communities as beacons of hope, compassion, and justice.

Your work as healthcare interpreters is nothing short of heroic. Daily, you are the bridge that connects patients to life-saving care, the voice that brings clarity in moments of confusion, and the advocate for those who might otherwise be silenced. In times of uncertainty, your roles as language access champions and health equity catalysts have never been more vital.

This year may have tested your resolve, but it also showcased your strength. Every encounter you facilitated, every barrier you broke down, and every life you touched is a testament to your power. You are more than interpreters – you are agents of system transformation and guardians of dignity in healthcare.

As we move into a new calendar year, remember:

  • You are needed now more than ever. Your work ensures that language access in healthcare remains a right for all, not just a privilege for some.
  • You are part of something greater. In communities worldwide, healthcare interpreters are laying foundations for a future rooted in compassion, understanding, and equity.
  • You have the strength to persevere. Today’s uncertainties will not last forever, but the legacy of your work will.

Take pride in your contributions, and let them strengthen your resolve. Celebrate your victories, big and small, and find moments of joy in the difference you make daily. As you care for others, remember to care for yourself, and to let others care for you. Rest, recharge, and reflect regularly on the extraordinary work you do.

Speaking of extraordinary, 2024 has been a momentous and historic year for CCHI. Some of its highlights included:

  • The year-long celebration of the 15th anniversary of CCHI’s incorporation as a 501(c)6 nonprofit and its public debut as a national certifying body offering a valid, credible, and vendor-neutral certification program for healthcare interpreters in the United States.
  • The 2nd National Healthcare Interpreter Certification Summit (April), themed “Setting the Course for the Next 15”. Click here for our Summit video playlist.
  • The inaugural cycle of the EtoE scholarship (Spring), supporting interpreters in taking their CoreCHI certification to the next level with the performance-based CoreCHI-P credential, the most inclusive healthcare interpreter certification to date!
  • The launch of the #EquityStartsLocally pledge campaign (July), challenging healthcare leaders, language companies, interpreter associations, and other stakeholder groups to strengthen language access infrastructure in the communities to which they provide service and invest in building community capacity for language justice.
  • The “Practiquemos y Crezcamos Microconferencia” (September), a day of virtual learning for Spanish healthcare interpreters which offered a unique combination of expert perspectives from top leaders in the field and interactive skill-building sessions. Save the date for our next virtual learning event, “The Power of Practice” (2/22/25), open to interpreters of all languages!
  • The convening of an Advisory Council (November) to develop the Global Workforce Survey of Healthcare Interpreters, the first of its kind designed to gather comprehensive data about healthcare interpreters’ qualifications, working conditions, and compensation. The survey will reach a wide audience, including freelance and staff interpreters, remote and onsite interpreters, sign and spoken language interpreters, as well as interpreters working both within the U.S. and internationally. The Commissioners see this as a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful change by fostering greater transparency within our profession. Stay connected with the CCHI Community on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram or subscribe to the CCHI News Digest for announcements about the survey launch!

As we conclude our 15th anniversary year, we also celebrate a groundbreaking achievement  – the CoreCHI-P™ certification has been accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)! This prestigious recognition affirms that the CoreCHI-P™ credential meets the rigorous NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs, reflecting modern standards of practice for the certification industry. The CoreCHI-P™ credential stands out as the only accredited monolingual performance certification for interpreters of all languages! This 7-year journey from concept to validation is a major step forward for healthcare interpreting and health equity. We extend heartfelt gratitude to the interpreters who participated in the trailblazing EtoE Study, past and current Commissioners for their vision and steadfast support, all of our certificants whose trust and commitment fuel our mission, and our Executive Director Natalya Mytareva, whose expertise and tireless dedication guided the application process to success!

Accreditation is not just about meeting standards; it’s about setting them. We look forward to many more milestones! You can help CCHI now by making a monetary gift to advance national certification. Thank you for being a part of the progressive and pioneering community that moves our mission forward.

The road ahead may not always be smooth, but you are not alone. You have a community of professionals who share your calling and stand with you in solidarity. Together, we will continue to create in our respective communities everywhere an environment where every person’s voice is heard, and every life is valued.

Thank you for your courage, dedication, and heart. Keep going – you are making a difference that will carry far beyond this moment.

Warmly, and with deep gratitude,

Vonessa Costa, CCHI Chair

Fall 2024 ETOE™ Exam Scholarship Awards

December 15, 2024

Washington, DC

Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
Health Care Interpreter Network (HCIN)

We are excited to announce the five recipients of the Fall 2024 cycle of the ETOE™ Exam Scholarship! This scholarship supports interpreters who wish to take their CoreCHI certification to the next level with the performance-based CoreCHI-P™ credential. This scholarship cycle is sponsored by HCIN (https://www.hcin.org/).

The Health Care Interpreter Network (HCIN) is a mission‑driven, non-profit membership organization comprising dozens of hospitals and health systems nationwide. Their members share a commitment to eliminating barriers to care for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, and to elevating the profession of healthcare interpreting. HCIN connects hospital-based interpreter programs in a ‘co-op’ sharing model. This model allows organizations to access highly qualified hospital-based medical interpreters from participating entities, at a relatively low cost. It also provides hospital language access programs with the means to maximize staff efficiencies and control cost and quality of interpreter services. Additionally, HCIN operates an  online continuing education platform for professional interpreters HCIN Learn at https://www.hcinlearn.org/.

The Fall 2024 recipients of the ETOE™ Scholarship, sponsored by HCIN, are:

1. Juliana Barbosa Flores (Portuguese, NC)
2. Olga Chamberlain (Russian, FL)
3. Maria LeVering (Russian, UT)
4. Yasaman Pourkhorsand (Farsi, CA)
5. Blia Yang (Hmong, MN)

CCHI and HCIN celebrate these interpreters’ accomplishments as well as their commitment to professional success. They have much to be proud of, and we wish them the best of luck on their testing and certification journey.

CCHI Commissioners and Staff
Health Care Interpreter Network

CoreCHI-Performance™ Certification is Accredited by NCCA!

We’re overjoyed to announce that the CoreCHI-Performance™ (CoreCHI-P™) certification has been accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for five years! This prestigious recognition affirms that the CoreCHI-P credential meets the rigorous NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs, reflecting modern standards of practice for the certification industry.

NCCA, the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, has upheld these standards since 1977 and most recently updated them in 2021. CCHI now joins an elite group of 130+ organizations and 310+ programs accredited by the NCCA, representing excellence across a range of diverse allied health professions, from nurses to EMTs to counselors and beyond. CCHI is the only organization certifying interpreters that has its certification programs accredited by NCCA: CoreCHI, CoreCHI-Performance, and CHI-Spanish!

The CoreCHI-P™ credential stands out as the ONLY accredited performance certification for interpreters of ANY language! This 7-year journey from concept to validation is a groundbreaking achievement and a major step forward for healthcare interpreting and health equity.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to:

  • The interpreters who participated in the trailblazing EtoE Study and the study sponsors,
  • The subject matter experts (SMEs) who developed the EtoE exam,
  • Our past and current Commissioners for their vision and steadfast support,
  • All of our certificants whose trust and commitment fuel our mission, and
  • Our Executive Director Natalya Mytareva, whose tireless dedication and expertise guided the exam development and accreditation application process to success!

This recognition is not just about meeting standards; it’s about setting them. Here’s to many more milestones to come!

P.S. You can read more about what accreditation means to us here.

Welcoming Four New Commissioners in 2024

CCHI welcomes four new Commissioners, representing different stakeholders of the medical interpreting field, to start their three-year term on our Board this year: Amanda M. David, MA, BEI:III, Medical, & Master; RID CI/CT; CoreCHI-P™, William Giller, M.A., CHI™-Spanish, Michael Paasche-Orlow, MD, MA, MPH, and Marisa Rueda Will, CHI™-Spanish.

Amanda M. David has been a practicing sign language interpreter since 2000.  She holds an undergraduate degree from McNeese State University (Lake Charles, LA) in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, a Certificate of Interpreter Apprenticeship from Collin County College (Plano, TX), and a Master’s in Interpreting Studies and Communication Equity from St. Catherine University (St. Paul, MN). Amanda specializes in interpreting for Deaf and hard of hearing medical professionals in their training programs, and interpreting with Deaf/hoh professionals in conference environments.  In 2020, she joined the staff at Dell Med School at UT Austin as a Designated Medical Interpreter. Originally from southwest Louisiana, Amanda has lived in Texas and Florida.  She currently splits her time between Austin, TX, and her hometown in South Louisiana.

William Giller grew up in a bilingual household and was exposed equally to English and Spanish during his formative years. He was educated in both languages and have lived, studied, and worked in both the United States and Spain. He holds a master’s degree in Translation and Interpretation from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in English, French, and Spanish. William has been working for Stanford Medicine Children’s Health as a Lead Interpreter and Translator for 5 years. As an interpreter at a pediatric teaching hospital, he has encountered every specialty under the sun and the energy and variety in his day-to-day work has solidified his passion for this field in the profession. Additionally, William sits on the Board of Directors of the Northern California Translators Association as the Digital Content Director.

As a primary care clinician and an internationally recognized expert in the field of health literacy, Dr. Michael Paasche-Orlow has dedicated his career to improving the care of vulnerable populations. He is currently an investigator with ten clinical studies that examine health literacy and doctor-patient communication, various modes of patient education, and empowerment. Dr. Paasche-Orlow has been the lead designer of 12 patient-oriented interactive behavioral informatics programs and have helped create and evaluate a range of patient empowerment and decision support tools. With over 300 peer-reviewed papers, his work has brought attention to the role that health literacy plays in racial and ethnic disparities, improving self-care for patients with chronic diseases, and improving advanced care planning, as well as to the fact that appropriately designed information technologies can be empowering for patients with low health literacy. He has also been active as an investigator and advocate for improving cross-cultural communication and the role of medical interpreters.

Marisa Rueda Will has been a medical interpreter at a Mayo Clinic for over 18 years. She earned a degree in Spanish from Luther College in 2006. She became a Certified Healthcare Interpreter-Spanish in 2012 and a Licensed Interpreter Trainer through Cross Cultural Communications in 2017. In 2020, she became a Simulation Center Instructor. She joined the NCIHC Webinars Work Group in 2022. That same year, she was promoted to a Level III Medical Interpreter at Mayo Clinic. Marisa has presented for the CHIA and ATA conferences, CCHI Summit, Atrium Health Symposium, and NCIHC Home for Trainers Webinar Series. She was accepted to the Masters of Interpreting Studies program through Western Oregon University and will start in fall 2024. In addition to being a full-time staff interpreter and student, she owns an interpreter training and translation business. Marisa specializes in education through storytelling. Her company, Tica Interpreter Training and Translations provides interpreter training based on real patient experiences.

CCHI is hiring an Administrative Specialist

CCHI is looking for a qualified candidate, ideally a CCHI-certified interpreter or language access specialist, who possesses excellent written communication skills in English, for a part-time (20 hours per week, hourly rate at $20-26 depending on candidate’s qualifications), remote-work/telecommuting position as Administrative Specialist. The focus of the position is to provide administrative support to CCHI’s Executive Director. Job responsibilities include maintaining CCHI’s records, communicating with various stakeholders, assisting the Executive Director with projects, etc. (See a more detailed job description here.)

Required Qualifications

  • Excellent written communication skills in English
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work independently and escalate issues to supervisor as needed
  • High attention to details and good organizational skills
  • Ability to prioritize tasks, monitor multiple processes, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
  • Excellent computer skills in: Google applications (Drive, Gmail, office, search engine), MS Word, MS Outlook, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat
  • Ability to work with people from different cultures whose primary language is not English
  • Knowledge of CCHI and its programs (e.g., CCHI certification holder)
  • High School diploma or its equivalent

Preferred Qualifications

  • Work experience in the interpreting or healthcare industry
  • Experience with project management
  • Customer service experience
  • Proficiency in a language other than English
  • Bachelor’s degree in customer relations, administration, business, PR, interpreting/translation, or data management

CCHI is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive salary, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays.

Send your full resume and cover letter by August 19, 2024 to solutions@cchicertification.org.  We’ll get back to selected applicants to schedule an interview. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Interviews will be held via Zoom.

Spring 2024 ETOE Scholarship Award Winners

July 15, 2024

Washington, DC

Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)

We are delighted to announce the five recipients of the inagugural (Spring 2024) cycle of the ETOE™ Scholarship! This scholarship supports interpreters who wish to take their CoreCHI certification to the next level with the performance-based CoreCHI-P credential. This scholarship cycle is sponsored by the Commissioners of CCHI.

The Spring 2024 recipients of the ETOE™ Scholarship are:

1. Amudu Bahati Jean Pierre Salongo (Kinyarwanda, NY)
2. Chudan Li (Cantonese, CA)
3. Jacob Hogan (ASL, OR)
4. Jay Prasad (Nepali, TX)
5. Valentina Torres (Mixteco, CA)

CCHI celebrates these awardees’ accomplishments as well as their commitment to professional success. They have much to be proud of, and we wish them the best of luck on their testing and certification journey.

CCHI Commissioners and Staff

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