Becoming a Certified Interpreter

Becoming a Certified Interpreter: State and National Certification processes and requirements

Where:
Intermountain Medical Center Education Center
5121 S Cottonwood St, Building 6, Amicus Room,
Murray, Utah 84107

Layton Hospital Telepresence Room
201 West Layton Pkwy, Layton, UT 84041

Utah Valley Hospital, Sorenson Tower Education Center, Classroom 6
1034 N 500 W
Provo, UT 84604

Dixie Regional Medical Center Telepresence DX=RR2
1380 S Medical Center Dr, St. George, UT 84790

Utah is one of few states with a certification program for medical interpreters. This program is voluntary, but is starting to be required by some employers and recent changes to the law now requires speakers of certain languages (Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic) to obtain a recognized national certification. This presentation will explore the different requirements, benefits and advantages of certification, as well as test composition and pre-requisites of each certification body.

Learning objectives:

1. Understanding the requirements for the state certification for medical language interpreters.
2. Understanding the requirements for the national certification programs by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters and the Certifying Commission for Healthcare Interpreters.
3. Understand the benefits of certification and how to how to succeed in the testing process.

Agenda

• 6:30 — 7:00 Networking and Announcements
• 7:00 — 7:45 ASL Certification in Utah
• 7:45 — 9:00 Medical Interpretation Certification (State and National)

About the Presenters

Brent Frost

I am the Regional Marketing Director at ASL Communication. Growing up in California with 2 Deaf brothers I was “informally” tasked with interpreting often. I never considered interpreting as a career until just before I was married. My first interpreting Job was at an elementary school. I found interpreting was something I LOVE and has been one of my passions for the last 19 years.  I have worked as an interpreter in Florida, California, Hawaii, Utah, Nevada, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington DC. I have interpreted in a variety of settings; Educational (Pre-K – Post Secondary) Medical, Mental Health, Government, Conferences, Platform, Legal, Law Enforcement, State Correctional Facilities, Video Relay, and Video Remote Interpreting.

I have worked in several positions that are closely related to interpreting, as well. I worked as a VRS Center Manager where I managed a staff of over 100 interpreters in 7 locations at Sorenson Communication. I taught interpreting at Salt Lake Community College in the Interpreter Training Program. I sat on advisory boards as a Subject Matter Expert within the Department of the Treasury. Prior to my current position with ASL Communication I worked for the Federal Government as a staff interpreter at the IRS.

Outside of interpreting I have been married for 18 years to my best friend, Lisa. We have 4 amazing children that I am honored to watch grow into people I admire. I enjoy art, movies, spending time with my family, and dancing (and should you ever see me on a dance floor I will be the one winning.)

Carlos Martinez-Morales

Carlos Martinez-Morales is the Language Services Manager for Intermountain Healthcare, a department with over 70 medical interpreters spread over the Utah-Idaho region. He has over 15 years of experience as an interpreter, and obtained his national certification (CMI) through the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI). Carlos is an instructor for Bridging the Gap: Training for Medical Interpreters, and enjoys mentoring new interpreters. He also holds his license as a Certified Medical Language Interpreter in Utah, and participated in the committee responsible for the changes that went into effect to the state certification program in 2017. Carlos has served as director and Chair of NBCMI, and currently serves as Secretary and acting President for the Utah Translators and Interpreters Association (UTIA).