Medical Interpreter – Spanish/English
Are you Spanish/English Bilingual? Do you enjoy helping people? If you’ve answered yes, a career as a Medical Interpreter may be right for you. Medical Interpreters typically work in healthcare settings and help patients communicate with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. Interpreters must have a strong grasp of medical terminology and the common words for those medical terms in both languages.
The Quick Careers Medical Interpreter program consists of a series of three courses* designed to not only prepare students for a career as a Spanish/English Medical Interpreter but also to prepare them to earn Medical Interpreter Certification.
* Awards of Completion are earned at the successful completion of all of the courses in the program.
This 187 hours of training includes:
National Standards & Ethical Practices for Medical Interpreters (35 hours of training)
Course 1 of 3
This course introduces the principles and standards for professional interpretation as established by the National Council on Interpreting in Healthcare. Professional skills and ethical practices for Interpreters will be taught. Students will also explore cultural awareness as it applies to interpreting in health and human services.
National Standards & Ethical Practices training includes:
- Roles of the medical interpreter
- Medical interpreter ethics
- Cultural practices/awareness
- Interpreter standards of practice
- Legislation and regulations
- HIPPA
- CLAS
Spanish/English Medical Terminology (96 hours of training)
Course 2 of 3
This is an introduction to the principles of medical terminology for interpreters and translators in the medical field. This course teaches the meaning and pronunciation of specific medical terms, including prefixes, suffixes, root words, and abbreviations. The student will study body systems and all medical terms will be taught in both languages.
Spanish/English Medical Terminology training Includes:
- Medical tests and diagnostic procedures
- Treatments
- Acronyms and abbreviations (MRI, CAT scan, etc)
- Medical specialties
- Symptomatology
- Medical terminology
Case Studies Practice (56 hours of training)
Course 3 of 3
Students will use case studies to strengthen interpreting skills and improve grammar, reading, and writing skills in both languages. Listening and oral skills in Spanish and English will be emphasized.
Successful participants can opt to sit for the National Healthcare Interpreter Certification Exam to become a CHI (Certified Healthcare Interpreter) (https://www.cchicertification.org/index.php).
| Course | Name | Dates | Days | Hours | Campus | Room | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLI-3700-Q18 | Medical Interpreter: National Standards & Ethical Practices | 4/29/25-5/28/25 | Tu, W | 6-9:30 p.m. | Greensboro | CEC 238 | Register Now |
| MED-3235-Q18 | Medical Interpreter: Medical Terminology |
6/3/25-9/3/25 |
Tu, W | 6-9:30 p.m. | Greensboro | CEC 238 | |
| FLI-3717-Q18 | Medical Interpreter: Case Studies Practice | 9/9/25-10/29/25 | Tu, W | 6-9:30 p.m. | Greensboro | CEC 238 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Course 1 registration fee: $133
Course 2 registration fee: $188
Course 3 registration fee: $188
Book cost: approximately $233
Total cost: $742
Payment for class is due at the time of registration. Students must pass course 1 to register for course 2 and must pass course 2 to register for course 3.
- Have good computer skills
- Have an email account and access to a computer with internet
- Be bilingual with English and Spanish
The Quick Careers Medical Interpreter program consists of a series of three courses; students must pass course 1 to register for course 2 and must pass course 2 to register for course 3.
You may be eligible for scholarship money. Click on the link below to learn if you might meet the applicant requirements. Scholarships have time-sensitive application deadlines.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS
Additionally, the NCWorks Career Center may be able to assist through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program. For more information, call NCWorks Greensboro at 336-297-9444 or NCWorks High Point at 336-882-4141.
No textbook required for class 1 of 3
ISBN 9781260017946: "Medical Language for Modern Health Care," fifth ed. From McGraw-Hill. About $136 at the GTCC Bookstore: https://greensborobookstore.gtcc.edu/college (for class 2 of 3).
ISBN 9781260467895: "McGraw Hill's Complete Medical Spanish," fourth ed. From McGraw-Hill. About $28 at the GTCC Bookstore: https://greensborobookstore.gtcc.edu/college (for class 2 of 3).
ISBN 1880594110: "The Interpreter’s RX." From Acebo. About $69 at the GTCC Bookstore: https://greensborobookstore.gtcc.edu/college (for class 3 of 3).
You may register online.
Students who successfully complete all the classes in Medical Interpreter will receive an Award of Completion. Requirements for successful completion are:
- Students must be in class 90% of class hours.
- Students must achieve 80% on coursework.
If you enter after the second day of class, you will not receive credit for taking the class. Additionally, time absent will be counted against you; students can only miss 19 hours of class total and pass the class.
The college will make a 100% refund of registration fees if you officially withdraw from class before the first meeting. Also if the class is canceled or full, GTCC will make a full refund.
The college will refund 75% of the registration fee (of tuition only) if you officially withdraw from the class on the first day of class or before the class reaches the census date. The census date varies from class to class. Non-attendance is not a basis for a refund.