Dual Language Proficiency

We require that you upload documentation (in an electronic format) to prove your language proficiency in English and the other language (i.e. primary language of interpreting) in the application. If you wish to submit several documents as evidence of proficiency in one language, please scan them as 1 (one) file in a .pdf or .jpg format.

Adequate mastery of two languages is the baseline proficiency necessary to consider serving as a healthcare interpreter. Evidence of at least one of the following will meet the proficiency requirements:

English Proficiency

• A high school diploma, or its equivalent, from an English-speaking country (diploma or transcript as long as the country of origin can be established).
• Successful completion of extensive coursework at the post-secondary level, resulting in a degree, with the majority of classes conducted in English.
• Time spent studying and/or working in an English-speaking country, where you were required on a daily basis to perform tasks at a professional level in English.
• Successfully passing any English language proficiency test from a reputable testing organization (See the Note below).
• Successful passage of an established interpreter/translator certification exam (that includes a language-specific performance test), such as:
  • The Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam (FCICE);
  • Any National Center for State Court (NCSC) exam;
  • Other national or state certification exams, e.g., ATA, BEI, NAJIT, NBCMI, RID, State of Washington Medical Interpreter Certification.

Other Language Proficiency (documents must be translated into English)

• A high school diploma, or its equivalent, with classes taught in your other language (diploma or transcript as long as the country of origin can be established).
• Successful completion of extensive coursework at the post-secondary level, with the majority of classes conducted in the other language.
• Time spent studying and/or working in a country where you were required on a daily basis to perform tasks at a professional level in the other language.
• Successfully passing a proficiency test of the language other than English from a reputable testing organization (See the Note below).
• Successful passage of an established interpreter/translator certification exam (that includes a language-specific performance test), such as:
  • The Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam (FCICE);
  • Any National Center for State Court (NCSC) exam;
  • Other national or state certification exams, e.g., ATA, BEI, NAJIT, NBCMI, RID, State of Washington Medical Interpreter Certification.
• Refugee status documentation (if above documentation is not available due to refugee experience).

Note: CCHI does not have a preference about and does not approve/recommend any specific language proficiency testing services. In addition to the testing entities like LTI (the exclusive licensee of ACTFL assessments, https://www.languagetesting.com), TOEFL (English proficiency, https://www.ets.org/toefl), Gallaudet University (American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI), https://www.gallaudet.edu/the-american-sign-language-proficiency-interview), such testing can be provided by a college, a language company or an employer utilizing their specific vendor.