Dual Language Proficiency

CCHI’s eligibility requirement related to language proficiency in the Language Other Than English (LOTE) was updated based on the results of the national survey “Language Proficiency for Interpreters (LPI)” conducted by CCHI in the fall of 2022. The changes took effect on November 15, 2023, i.e., all applicants whose applications have not been accepted by November 15 and all CoreCHI certificants who seek to obtain the CoreCHI-Performance credential, must comply with the new requirements.

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.

English Language Proficiency

The requirements related to language proficiency in English have not changed since 2010. Evidence of at least one of the following will meet the proficiency requirements:

• 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.

Proficiency in the Language Other Than English (LOTE) (documents must be translated into English)

The essence of the eligibility requirement for language proficiency in LOTE has not changed since 2010, i.e., all applicants must demonstrate that they are proficient in a LOTE. However, in 2023, the Commissioners defined the scope of accepted documentation verifying language proficiency in the LOTE more clearly, based on the national survey results.

If you work in more than one LOTE, you need to select the primary LOTE and submit your application with the documentation for that LOTE. Once you are awarded a certification credential for that LOTE, you may seek recognition of your skills in other LOTEs. Keep in mind, that if one of your LOTEs is Arabic, Mandarin, or Spanish, you must obtain a CHI credential for those languages (i.e., CoreCHI-P credential is not awarded to interpreters of Arabic, Mandarin or Spanish). See more info about multiple credentials here.

For CHI™-Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish Certifications

Evidence of at least one of the following will meet the proficiency requirements:

• A high school diploma, or its equivalent, with classes taught in Arabic, Mandarin, or Spanish (diploma or transcript as long as the country of origin can be established and high-school-level instruction in that country is conducted in the corresponding LOTE).
• A U.S. high school diploma from a school with the Seal of Biliteracy, with the instruction in the corresponding LOTE.
• A diploma in any major and at any level from a college where the instruction is conducted in the corresponding LOTE.
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in the corresponding LOTE (e.g., the major is Spanish) from any country.
• A master’s degree in Interpreting/ Translation in the corresponding LOTE from any country.
• Successfully passing a language proficiency or interpreting skills test in the corresponding LOTE from a testing organization approved by CCHI (see Testing Vendors of the Language Proficiency (LP) Tests). The minimum accepted levels are Advanced-Mid on the ACTFL scale and 2+ on the ILR scale (or an equivalent to these levels established for other tests).
• 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) language-specific exam;
  • Other national or state certification exams, e.g., ATA, NBCMI.
  • Language-specific performance-test certifications from other countries, e.g., NAATI

For CoreCHI™ and CoreCHI-Performance™ Certifications for Spoken Languages

CCHI recognizes a diversity of languages and the corresponding educational and professional experiences represented by our applicants. Therefore, CCHI divides all languages into three (3) Tiers (for more information about the tiers, see Language Tiers for Establishing Language Proficiency).

If your LOTE is a language from Tier 1

Evidence of at least one of the following will meet the proficiency requirements:

• A diploma in any major and at any level from a college where the instruction is conducted in your LOTE.
• A master’s degree in LOTE (i.e., the major is LOTE) from a country where this LOTE is one of the primary languages spoken in that country (e.g., the major is Portuguese from Brazil or Swahili from Kenya). E.g., a MA in Korean from the US is NOT accepted.
• A master’s degree in LOTE Interpreting/ Translation with English as a second language from any country. E.g., MA in Korean/English Translation from US (or France or Korea) is accepted.
• Successfully passing a language proficiency or interpreting skills test in LOTE from a testing organization approved by CCHI (see Testing Vendors of the Language Proficiency (LP) Tests). The minimum accepted levels are Advanced-Mid on the ACTFL scale and 2+ on the ILR scale (or an equivalent to these levels established for other tests).
• Successful passage of an established interpreter/translator certification exam (that includes a language-specific performance test), such as:
  • Any National Center for State Court (NCSC) language-specific exam;
  • Other national or state certification exams, e.g., BEI, RID, NBCMI (CMI only, not Hub-CMI).

If your LOTE is a language from Tier 2 or 3

Evidence of at least two (2) of the following will meet the proficiency requirements:

• An attestation from an employer that meets CCHI’s parameters (for more information, see Employer Categories from Which CCHI Accepts Attestations about Language Proficiency in a LOTE).
• An attestation from a community organization that meets CCHI’s parameters (for more information, see Community Organization Categories from Which CCHI Accepts Attestations about Language Proficiency in a LOTE).
• A college transcript confirming passing a course of Interpreting/Translation in your LOTE.
• Documentation confirming passing a language course in your LOTE where components of the course included a LOTE language immersion or living abroad in the country where the LOTE is spoken (e.g., language courses by Peace Corps, Foreign Service).
• Documentation confirming passing a non-concordant evaluation interview conducted by a trained evaluator.
• Refugee status documentation.

OR evidence of successfully passing a language proficiency or interpreting skills test in your LOTE from testing organization approved by CCHI (see Testing Vendors of the Language Proficiency (LP) Tests). In this instance, only one document is needed to meet the requirement. The minimum accepted levels are Advanced-Mid on the ACTFL scale and 2+ on the ILR scale (or an equivalent to these levels established for other tests).

For CoreCHI™ and CoreCHI-Performance™ Certifications for Sign Language Interpreters

CoreCHI™ Certification – same as for spoken languages of Tier 1 and from Gallaudet University (American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI), https://www.gallaudet.edu/the-american-sign-language-proficiency-interview).

CoreCHI-Performance™ Certification – successful passing of an interpreting certification exam that includes a performance test in ASL, e.g., by BEI or RID.