UTIA announced the beginning of its scholarship fund during the 2018 Utah Language Access Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. There are two categories awarded annually: a Medical Interpreter Training Scholarship and the Rebecca Chavez-Houck Medical Interpreter Certification Scholarship.
The purpose of the scholarship program is to fulfill UTIA’s mission of expanding learning and career advancement opportunities for interpreters, while helping meet the need of limited English proficient members of the community to ensure health equity. The UTIA scholarships are funded and maintained from the funds collected through the Utah Language Access Conference, and the generosity of members and industry stakeholders’ donations.
The UTIA Medical Interpreter Training Scholarship
The UTIA Medical Interpreter Training Scholarship is awarded to a non-certified interpreter that has yet to take the required training course (40-hr training minimum) needed to meet pre-qualifying criteria to present the exam(s) to obtain a national certification for medical interpreters. The completion of this training is also required to obtain the Utah Certification for Medical Language Interpreters, managed by the Utah Division of Occupational Licensing (DOPL).
The 2018-2019 Medical Interpreter Training Scholarship Award was sponsored by UTIA-ULAC Scholarship Fund, Intermountain Healthcare and Rebecca Chavez-Houck.
Who qualifies?
To qualify, candidates need to meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Reside in the state of Utah (copy of Utah Driver License or mail from a utility company suffice as proof)
- Demonstrate bilingual fluency in English and at least one more language. An oral bilingual fluency assessment certificate or letter from agency/employer is required.
- Be committed to enroll in the course within a period of 1 year from the award
How to apply?
Candidates may nominate themselves or others by completing the online form found below during the published open nominations period.
The 2024 nominations period runs from January 15 – April 30, 2024. Winners will be announced at the 2024 Utah Language Access Conference.
How is the recipient selected?
The Scholarship Fund committee screens all nominations and selects the recipient, which is announced at the ULAC conference. The Nominations committee is composed of 3-5 members, including at least two UTIA officers and a certified medical interpreter. Other committee members may be appointed by the UTIA President from among active UTIA members.
How is the scholarship awarded?
The scholarship recipient receives a voucher valid for an approved medical Interpreting 40-hr+ training course of UTIA’s choosing. This voucher must be redeemed within 12 months from the date of issue, is nontransferable and can’t be redeemed for cash value. UTIA reserves the right to select the provider of the training course.
UTIA Medical Interpreter Training Scholarship
Now accepting nominations until April 30, 2024
The Rebecca Chavez-Houck Medical Interpreter Certification Scholarship
the conference as a Keynote speaker and honoree (click here to learn more about Rebecca Chavez-Houck). The scholarship fund is intended to expand the availability of Utah Certified Medical Language Interpreters by covering, or helping cover, the cost of the certification exam(s), and the one-time state certification/registration fee, as required by DOPL, Medical Language Interpreter Act, 58-80a. Candidates who speak languages of lesser diffusion* are encouraged to apply.
The RCH Medical Interpreter Certification Scholarship is awarded to a medical interpreter who has met all pre-requisites set by one of the certification bodies (NBCMI or CCHI). It covers the following:
- One-time cost of the written exam for either NBCMI or CCHI (candidate’s choice)- a $210-$231 value (depending on language)
- One-time cost of the oral/practical exam. Must pass written exam first – a $275-$302 value (depending on language)
- One-time registration fee for the Utah Medical Language Certification (DOPL) – a $50 value
Registration fees, optional practice exams fees, or re-examination fees are not covered by the award.
Who qualifies?
Candidates need to meet the following criteria (some requirements are subject to change based on CCHI, NBCMI or DOPL requirements):
- Be at least 18 years old
- Reside in the state of Utah
- Have a High School diploma or equivalent
- Demonstrate bilingual fluency in English and at least one more language (see certifying body’s website for details)
- Provide certificate of completion for an approved 40- hr (or more) professional training for Medical Interpreters, accepted by NBCMI and/or CCHI. Candidates currently enrolled in the course may also apply.
How to apply?
Candidates may nominate themselves by completing the online form and providing the required documentation (40-hr training certificate may be sent to admin@utianet.org as part of the application process, with the subject line “Scholarship Application Documentation”). Nominations are accepted during the open nominations period set by UTIA.
The 2024 nominations period us now open until April 30, 2024.
How is the recipient(s) selected?
The Scholarship Fund committee screens all nominations and selects the recipient(s), which is announced at the ULAC conference. The Nominations committee is composed of 3-5 members, composed of at least two UTIA officers, a Certified Medical Interpreter, and when possible, a certified interpreter of the language(s) being awarded.
How is the scholarship awarded?
The scholarship recipient receives a voucher valid for the one-time cost of a written exam (NBCMI or CCHI- the candidate’s choice). Once the candidate presents proof of passing the written exam, UTIA will provide a voucher for the oral/practical exam. Once the candidate has proof of their national certification credential, UTIA will provide a voucher for the Utah Certified Medical Language Interpreter registration (UT-CMLI). The recipient needs to register with the certifying body and meet all prerequisites. Once the candidate passes the exam, they will provide proof to UTIA and be reimbursed for the one-time cost of the exam (candidates need to pass the written exam before they can take the oral exam or applying for the Utah state certification). This vouchers are nontransferable and can’t be redeemed for cash value.
RCH Medical Interpreter Certification Scholarship
Now accepting nominations until April 30, 2024
About Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck
A Utah native, Rebecca Chavez-Houck holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Master of Public Administration (MPA), both from the University of Utah. She represented Salt Lake City’s District 24 (Downtown, Capitol Hill, Guadalupe & the Avenues) in the Utah House of Representatives from 2008-18, focusing primarily on public policy related to health and human services as well as voter engagement and access. She served as House Minority Whip (2014-16) and House Minority Assistant Whip (2012-14).
During her time on Utah’s Capitol Hill, Rebecca served on the Governor’s Multicultural Commission, as co-chair of the bipartisan legislative Clean Air Caucus, and as co-chair (along with Rep. Becky Edwards) on Utah’s Women in the Economy Commission. Other appointments that influenced her policy agenda include service on former Governor Jon Huntsman’s Commission to Strengthen Utah’s Democracy, Governor Gary Herbert’s Medicaid Working Group and the legislative Health Reform Task Force. Her legislative committee assignments included the social services appropriations subcommittee, as well as, health & human services, government operations, and economic development & workforce services standing and interim committees. She is a 2012 Council of State Governments (CSG) Toll Fellows Graduate. This situated her well for her work as Utah House Minority Whip (2014-16) and House Minority Assistant Whip (2012-14).
In 2009, Rebecca introduced HB144-Medical Language Interpreter Act, which introduced a voluntary certification of medical interpreters through the State’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). This legislation made national headlines in the Medical Interpreting industry, making Utah one of three states in the country with a certification program for medical interpreters, bringing awareness and validation to the emerging profession. In 2010 Rebecca helped pass HB232-Medical Language Interpreter Amendments, which added a certification term, as well as a process for filling complaints and issuing disciplinary actions when industry standards were violated. In 2017, with co-sponsor Senator Luz Escamilla, 2nd Sub.SB74-Medical Interpreter Amendments passed, eliminating the restriction on languages offered, expanding the options for accepted training and education curricula, requiring National Certification standards for the languages for which such certifications exist, and adding a tier system that allows for state certification alternatives for languages of lesser diffusion that do not currently have national certification exams.
Rebecca’s passion for social justice advocacy and desire to develop progressive public policy was forged in the multicultural community of Bingham Canyon, where her parents met. Rebecca’s compassion for the less fortunate, pride in cultural diversity, commitment to the environment, appreciation for improving population health, and support for a robust safety net was undoubtedly shaped by her parents’ influence.
Rebecca served as a public affairs staffer for a number of local Utah nonprofits from 1985 to 2007 and cultivated a parallel “career” as a volunteer for nonprofits ranging from Envision Utah to the ACLU to Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. She continues to serve on myriad boards and initiatives and has been honored extensively for her efforts. Rebecca has taught non-profit administration classes as adjunct faculty for the U of U’s MPA program.
Rebecca and her husband, Martin Houck, live in Salt Lake City’s Avenues area and have two children. http://rebeccachavezhouck.com/
**Languages of lesser diffusion (in the US), are those languages for which there are not many speakers in the local country but for which there are real language access needs and for whom those speakers have an equal right for language access.