Questions for Healthcare Providers?
- Responsiveness. Although some Hospitals have a preferred vendor, we are a great second option. We are available 24/7
- Experience. Our One Voice Family of administrative officers have a combined 20+ years of experience in the Translation and Interpretation industry.
- High quality and Professional Interpreters with their accreditation in the needed field. We take seriously Medical Terminology and specialize our interpreters in the right terminology for each assignment.
- Competitive Rates. We charge 10-20% less than a conventional interpreting agency that does “every type” of translation and interpretation services.
- Connect times for telephonic interpreter services. Our Telephone interpreters are available 24/7 for outside hours interpretation.
- Turnaround Times. We provide quick quotes on any document translation project or transcription. Our qualified translators will provide accurate translations in 80+ languages with quick turnaround times. We can transcribe files from multiple sources.
- Community. We are committed to support the community we are part of. That’s why we provide resources and training to nonprofit organizations such as WellRefugee Center, Latino Community Fund Georgia, Healthcare GA and Ser Familia.
As long as a LEP requires it. Hospitals, health plans, clinics, nursing homes, physicians and other providers must offer “qualified interpreters” . On May 13, 2016 the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) formally adopted final changes to section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act ACA. The new rules are slated to take effect on July 18, 2016 and will be codified as 45 CFR part 92. These changes are sweeping in scope as they apply to “every [federal] health program or activity, any part of which receives Federal financial assistance.”Read more
There are no monthly minimums fees. You pay as you use our services. We will only require a signed agreement with clients whose the demand reaches up to at least 100 appointments hours or assignments per month.
Cancellation policies. As a serious agency, we charge for same-day cancellations, to pay the interpreter
whose time has been reserved.
Setting up an appointment is EASY. Once we establish our service agreement (most hospitals have a basic vendor agreement ready) and the encrypted connection flow (e-mail, phone extension and online booking tool), your medical staff can reliably schedule a Medical interpreter or request a medical document to be translated. Our email encryption keeps sensitive data—such as Full name, date of birth, medical information and other HIPAA data—safe and secured. Once the interpreter or translator is scheduled, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with his/her info and our scheduling director with send you reminders. One Voice Medical Interpreters has created a ticket system that helps keep track of every appointment and minimizes confusion and the risk of having an appointment without coverage. Once the appointment or assignment is complete, we will send your accounting team an invoice of the prior weekly or bi-weekly tickets.
Please connect with one of our languages specialists to find out more about our rates and different language tiers. You can send us an e-mail to accounting@OneVoiceMedical.com
What languages can One Voice provide and how qualified are the interpreters who use those languages?
We specialize in a varied range of key common languages such as Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin) Keren, Portuguese, Creole, etc, but also have access to specific language or group of languages, such as Asian languages, Arabic, “hard to find” languages, or sign languages. Once we get the request for a Medical interpreter from a hospital, clinic or medical facility, we search in our database of 13000 interpreters and translators the right person and fit for the appointment. Check our complete List of Languages
Yes! We are proud to say that we are the ONLY interpretation and translation agency in Georgia that solely focus on Healthcare Translation and Interpretation Services. Our training programs are rich in knowledge of specialized medical terminology. While many agencies offer “every type” of translation services, we know how important is to attend the needs of a niche industry. Our goal is to create more awareness of the immediate and future need for qualified and certified Medical interpreters with vast knowledge and experience in the Medical interpretation. We take Healthcare seriously. Understanding the message in a clear and safe way is important as healthcare itself.
Unlike in the legal interpreting field, true certification programs for medical interpreters are rare. The situation varies by state, language, and company, but certification opportunities and requirements will likely increase over the next few years. In addition to the National certifications available for Medical interpreters in Georgia, One Voice has an internal hiring system available only to its own interpreters. The
National Association of the Deaf and the Registry for Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) have several
special certificates for particular venues. Our interpreters are held accountable against the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care’s (NCIHC) National Code of Ethics for Interpreters in Health Care. One Voice has also produced its own codes such as confidentiality code, dress code, pre-session code. etc. An interpreter who has gone through any formal training should be aware of the principles contained in these codes of ethics.
We maintain relationships with immigrant and refugee communities, professional interpreter
organizations, and training programs in Atlanta and other cities and counties in Georgia.
Although it is unrealistic to expect all interpreters to have a college degree, they are screened for proficiency in the languages they will be interpreting. While few interpreters
have degrees in interpreting, they have received some form of professional training. The longer the training, the better, though 40 hours is common for basic training programs. Their training consist of classes such as the interpreter role, ethics, modes, basic conversation skills, handling the flow of the session, intervening, and medical terminology, and involves skill building and practice.
An excellent resource on choosing and evaluating a language agency is How to Choose and Use a Language Agency from The California Endowment. Much of the following information derives from that document. There are a number of considerations regarding quality of interpreting when considering a language agency:
How does the agency recruit interpreters/translators? An agency that does not maintain relationships with immigrant and refugee communities, professional interpreter organizations, and training programs may have difficulty filling an institution’s needs.
How does the agency screen interpreter candidates? Although it is unrealistic to expect all interpreters to have a college degree, they should be screened for proficiency in the languages they will be interpreting.
Does the agency require interpreters to have received professional training in interpreting? While few interpreters will have degrees in interpreting, they should have received some form of professional training. The longer the training, the better, though 40 hours is common for basic training programs. Training should cover the interpreter role, ethics, modes, basic conversation skills, handling the flow of the session, intervening, and medical terminology, and should involve skill building and practice. Does the agency require any continuing education of its employees/contractors? If so, how much and what sort of proof do the employees/contract interpreters have to offer? Continuing education is important for active interpreters and may be offered by local interpreter associations, colleges, or other organizations. How does the agency assess its interpreters’ qualifications? Unlike in the legal interpreting field, true certification programs for medical interpreters are rare. The situation varies by state, language, and company, but certification opportunities and requirements will likely increase over the next few years.
What code of ethics are the interpreters/translators expected to follow? The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care created a National Code of Ethics for healthcare interpreters. Prior to the NCIHC code, numerous agencies and associations produced their own codes, the most prominent being those of the Massachusetts Medical Interpreters Association and the California Health Interpreters Association. An interpreter who has gone through any formal training should be aware of the principles contained in at least one of these codes of ethics.
Qualified interpreters often belong to professional associations or work through language service agencies. For a list of translator and interpreter associations, see NCIHC’s resources page at www.ncihc.org. For language service providers and additional information, see NHelP’s Language Services Resource Guide (2006).
Yes. The following are key laws and policy guidance concerning provision of services to people with limited English proficiency (LEP):
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
HHS Policy Guidance on the Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination as it Affects Persons With Limited English Proficiency DOJ Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Standards for Health Care Executive Order 13166 Strategic Plan to Improve Access to HHS Programs and Activities by Limited English Proficiency Persons For an explanation of these federal laws and policies, see NHeLP’s publication, Language Services Action Kit (2004).
For an explanation of federal laws concerning language access and examples from the field in video format, see the LEP Video, Breaking Down the Language Barrier: Translating Limited English Proficiency Policy into Practice, which can be ordered through www.lep.gov
For a more comprehensive explanation of language access responsibilities under federal and state law, as well as in the private sector, and recommendations for addressing identified problems, see NHeLP’s Ensuring Linguistic Access in Health Care Settings: Legal Rights & Responsibilities (2nd edition, August 2003). $100.00 ($65.00 for nonprofit advocacy organizations). To order, go to www.healthlaw.org
Patients themselves are under no obligation to pay for these services. Thirteen states currently provide reimbursement for language services provided to Medicaid enrollees. For more information, see the National Health Law Program’s publication, Medicaid/SCHIP Reimbursement Models for Language Services: 2007 Update.
Some health care providers pay for interpreter services themselves. For more information, see the NHeLP’s publication, Providing Language Interpretation Services in Small Health Care Provider Settings: Examples from the Field (April 2005). This report focuses specifically on promising practices for providing language services in small health care provider settings, including solo and small group practices and community clinics.
A certified interpreter is an interpreter who is certified as competent by a professional organization or government entity through rigorous testing based on appropriate and consistent criteria. Interpreters who have had limited training or have taken a screening test administered by an employing health, interpreter or referral agency are not considered certified.
A qualified interpreter is an individual who has been assessed for professional skills, demonstrates a high level of proficiency in at least two languages and has the appropriate training and experience to interpret with skill and accuracy while adhering to the National Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.
Many hospitals and health care organizations have an Interpreter Services Manager who is responsible for seeing that qualified interpreters are being provided by their organization. If there is a complication, the Compliance Office should be contacted.
The US Department of Health and Human Services Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons describes various options available for providing oral language assistance including the use of bilingual staff, staff interpreters, or contract interpreters…The guidance stresses that interpreters need to be trained and competent, though not necessarily formally certified, and discourages the use of friends and family members, particularly minors, as interpreters…
Four-Factor Analysis
The extent of responsibility can be determined using an individualized assessment that balances the following four factors:
Number or proportion of LEP persons eligible to be served or likely to be encountered by the program or grantee Frequency with which LEP individuals come in contact with the program Nature and importance of the program, activity, or service provided by the program to people’s lives; and Resources available to the grantee/recipient and costs. Safe Harbor:
Actions considered strong evidence of compliance with written-translation obligations:
Written translations of vital documents for each eligible LEP language group that constitutes 5% or 1000, whichever is less, of population served. If 5% includes less than 50 persons, providing oral interpretation of written materials and notice of such right.
The following six components together comprise a reasonably comprehensive process for initial assessment of qualifications for health care interpreting.
Basic language skills. General proficiency in speaking and understanding each of the languages in which the applicant would be expected to work. (If multiple languages are involved, it is essential that the applicant’s ability in each language be assessed, especially those in which the applicant may have more limited proficiency.) Code of Ethics. Recognition of ethical issues, knowledge of ethical standards (a code of ethics) and ethical decision-making. Cultural issues. Ability to anticipate and recognize misunderstandings that arise from the differing cultural assumptions and expectations of providers and patients and to respond to such issues appropriately. Health care terminology. Knowledge of commonly used terms and concepts related to the human body; symptoms, illnesses, and medications; and health care specialties and treatments in each language, including the ability to interpret or explicate technical expressions.. Integrated interpreting skills. Ability to perform as required for employment, demonstrated by interpreting a simulated cross-linguistic interview with acceptable accuracy and completeness while monitoring and helping to manage the interaction in the interest of better communication and understanding. Translation of simple instructions. Ability to produce oral translations, or, where appropriate, brief written translations, of written texts such as signage, or medicinal labels.
A bilingual individual is a person who has some degree of proficiency in two languages. A high level of bilingualism is the most basic of the qualifications of a competent interpreter, but by itself does not insure the ability to interpret. A bilingual employee may provide direct services in both languages but, without additional training, is not qualified to serve as an interpreter.
A qualified interpreter is a person who has been assessed for professional skills, demonstrates a high level of proficiency in at least two languages and has the appropriate training and experience to interpret with skill and accuracy while adhering to the National Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.
An individual, who has been assessed for professional skills, demonstrates a high level of proficiency in at least two languages and has the appropriate training and experience to interpret with skill and accuracy while adhering to the National Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.
It is interpreting that takes place in healthcare settings of any sort, including doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, home health visits, mental health clinics, and public health presentations. Typically, the setting is an interview between a healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, lab technician) and a patient (or the patient and one or more family members). See comment above.
It is interpreting that takes place in healthcare settings of any sort, including doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, home health visits, mental health clinics, and public health presentations. Typically, the setting is an interview between a healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, lab technician) and a patient (or the patient and one or more family members). See comment above.
Learn as much as you can about healthcare interpreting, starting with the FAQs on this page. Then, look through the NCIHC resource page for a working paper entitled, Linguistically Appropriate Access and Services: An Evaluation and Review for Health Care Organizations. You will find a similar tool in a publication by The Joint Commission entitled, “One Size Does Not Fit All: Meeting the Health Care Needs of Diverse Populations.” (www.jointcommission.org)
In popular usage, the terms “translator” and “translation” are frequently used for conversion of either oral OR written communications. However, within the language professions, translation is distinguished from interpreting according to whether the message is produced orally (interpreting) or in writing (translation).
While there are few colleges or universities that offer programs in medical interpreting, there are other learning opportunities. For a list of colleges that offer programs in translation and interpreting, see the American Translators Association website www.atanet.org under “careers.” For a list of training providers, see NHeLP’s Language Services Resource Guide.
For self-guided learning about the profession, see NCIHC’s Working Papers Series (under “Resources”), including a Code of Ethics for Interpreters in Health Care and Standards of Practice for Interpreters in Health Care, as well as a glossary of terms. In addition, NHelP’s Language Services Resource Guide (2006) contains multilingual tools and resources, and a glossary of translation and interpreting terms. There is also a good description of the profession at Explore Health Careers.
Bilingual staff are often used to interpret, without any assessment of their skills. In a recent study, a total of 840 dual-role staff interpreters were tested for Spanish (75%), Chinese (12%), and Russian (5%) language competence. Two percent did not pass, 21% passed at basic level, 77% passed at medical interpreter level. Staff that passed at the basic level was prone to interpretation errors, including omissions and word confusion. Thus, about 1 in 5 dual-role staff interpreters at a large health care organization had insufficient bilingual skills to serve as interpreters in a medical encounter. Health care organizations that depend on dual-role staff interpreters should consider assessing staff English and second language skills.
Questions For Interpreters
There are few colleges or universities that offer programs in medical interpreting. For a list of colleges that offer programs in translation and interpreting, see the American Translators Association website www.atanet.org under “careers.” There are also many other learning opportunities. For a list of training providers, see NHeLP’s Language Services Resource Guide.
For self-guided learning about the profession, see NCIHC’s Working Papers Series (under “Resources”), including a National Code of Ethics for Interpreters in Health Care and National Standards of Practice for Interpreters in Health Care, as well as a glossary of terms. In addition, NHelP’s Language Services Resource Guide (2006) contains multilingual tools and resources, and a glossary of translation and interpreting terms. There is also a good description of the profession at Explore Health Careers.
A certified interpreter is an interpreter who is certified as competent by a professional organization or government entity through rigorous testing based on appropriate and consistent criteria. Interpreters who have had limited training or have taken a screening test administered by an employing health, interpreter or referral agency are not considered certified. Some programs offer a certificate of completion, but this does not equal certification.
A qualified interpreter is an individual who has been assessed for professional skills, demonstrates a high level of proficiency in at least two languages and has the appropriate training and experience to interpret with skill and accuracy while adhering to the National Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.
The following six components together comprise a reasonably comprehensive process for initial assessment of qualifications for healthcare interpreting.
Basic language skills. General proficiency in speaking and understanding each of the languages in which the applicant would be expected to work. (If multiple languages are involved, it is essential that the applicant’s ability in each language be assessed, especially those in which the applicant may have more limited proficiency.) The applicant should be able to demonstrate public speaking skills.
Code of Ethics. Recognition of ethical issues, knowledge of ethical standards (a code of ethics) and ethical decision-making. Cultural issues. Ability to anticipate and recognize misunderstandings that arise from the differing cultural assumptions and expectations of providers and patients and to respond to such issues appropriately.
Healthcare terminology. Knowledge of commonly used terms and concepts related to the human body; symptoms, illnesses, and medications; and healthcare specialties and treatments in each language, including the ability to interpret or explicate technical expressions. Integrated interpreting skills. Ability to perform as required for employment, demonstrated by interpreting a simulated cross-linguistic interview with acceptable accuracy and completeness while monitoring and helping to manage the interaction in the interest of better communication and understanding. Translation of simple instructions. Ability to produce oral translations, or, where appropriate, brief written translations, of written texts such as signage or medicinal labels.
In popular usage, the terms “translator” and “translation” are frequently used for conversion of either oral OR written communications. However, within the language professions, translation is distinguished from interpreting according to whether the message is produced orally (interpreting) or in writing (translation).
A bilingual individual is a person who has some degree of proficiency in two languages. A high level of bilingualism is the most basic of the qualifications of a competent interpreter, but by itself does not insure the ability to interpret. A bilingual employee may provide direct services in both languages but, without additional training, is not qualified to serve as an interpreter.
A qualified interpreter is a person who has been assessed for professional skills, demonstrates a high level of proficiency in at least two languages and has the appropriate training and experience to interpret with skill and accuracy while adhering to the National Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.
An individual, who has been assessed for professional skills, demonstrates a high level of proficiency in at least two languages and has the appropriate training and experience to interpret with skill and accuracy while adhering to the National Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice published by the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care.
It is interpreting that takes place in healthcare settings of any sort, including doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, home health visits, mental health clinics, and public health presentations. Typically, the setting is an interview between a healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, lab technician) and a patient (or the patient and one or more family members). See comment above.
Yes, there are several options, depending on the working language pair.
Interpreters for people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are certified through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). RID offers a variety of credentials under its generalist category. Specialist credentials are also offered in legal interpreting and interpreting for the performing arts. At this time, RID does not offer a specialist credential in healthcare interpreting. For more information, see RID’s website.
At this time, spoken language interpreters can choose between two national certification processes. The National Council on Interpreting in Health Care has officially endorsed the certification process of the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI).
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) is a national non-profit organization that certifies spoken-language interpreters through a national, valid, credible, vendor neutral testing program. CCHI awards the credential of Certified Healthcare Interpreter (CHITM) to interpreters in a limited group of language pairs who pass both a written and oral exam. As of December 2011, the only language pair being certified is English-Spanish. Certification will become available for speakers of other language pairs as oral testing is developed in those languages; for example, CCHI will start certifying Arabic and Mandarin in early 2012.
The credential of Associate Healthcare Interpreter (AHI TM) is awarded to interpreters of other languages who pass a written test only.
For more information, see CCHI’s website.
The National Board for Certification of Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) is a national organization that certifies spoken-language interpreters. NBCMI awards the credential of Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) to interpreters in a limited group of language pairs who pass both a written and oral exam. As of December 2011, the only language pair being certified is English-Spanish. Certification will become available for speakers of other language pairs as oral testing is developed in those languages; for example, NBCMI says it will start certifying Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese in early 2012.
For more information, see NBCMI’s website.
No. This is a common confusion in the field. A certificate of completion simply shows that you finished a training program. Certification shows that the certifying body is guaranteeing that you are qualified: that you have demonstrated the knowledge and abilities that a scientifically-designed process has shown to be necessary to provide a service. While a certificate of completion is certainly a valuable document to prove your training, it is not the same as a certification. Think of it as the difference between a doctor who has graduated from medical school and one who has passed her Board exams.
Certification is a process by which a governmental, academic or professional organization attests to or guarantees that an individual is qualified to provide a particular service or perform in a particular area of practice. Certification involves formal assessment, using an instrument that has been tested for validity and reliability, so that the certifying body can be confident that the individuals it certifies have the knowledge and skills needed to do the job.
An interpreter, in general, is a person who renders a message spoken or signed in one language into a second language and who abides by a code of professional ethics.
A healthcare interpreter is one who interprets in healthcare settings of any sort, including doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, home health visits, mental health clinics, and public health presentations. Typically the setting is an interview between a healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, lab technician) and a patient (or the patient and one or more family members).
Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics information for 2006, which is the most recent information readily available, medical interpreters enjoy very high demand for their services as the country’s international population increases. According to the BLS, the need for medical interpreters is expected to grow by a whopping 24% over the ten-year period ending in 2016, which is “much faster than average”.
For more information, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Job Outlook web page, and the Explore Health Careers’ web site.
A good starting point is to review a job description for a healthcare interpreter at Explore Health Careers. After that, you may find it useful to read all the FAQs on this page.
If you are an interpreter, certification is one way to prove your skill level to potential employers and to colleagues on the healthcare team. It puts you on the level with other healthcare professionals, all of which must be credentialed in some way.
If you hire interpreters, certification is one well-recognized means of assuring that an interpreter has a certain level of knowledge and skills.
No. Certification is only one way to identify if an interpreter is qualified. Other ways include:
Qualify interpreters based on language screening and training. Certification is only one step in guaranteeing quality in interpreting. By qualifying interpreters based on language screening and training, states can encourage interpreters to take these important steps, which will both improve the quality of interpreting in the state and prepare these interpreters for certification.
Develop a more informal assessment process. The NCIHC’s helpful Guide to Initial Assessment of Interpreter Qualifications, April 2001, can assist you in creating an assessment process.
To evaluate a certification process, or to compare two processes, you will want to ask questions such as the following:
What credential is available in my working language pair?
In addition to asking what language pairs are being certified right now, make sure to ask in what languages tests are being developed; certification in your working language pair may not be available today, but it may become available soon.
Is the certification process valid and reliable?
Validity is a measure of whether a process really measures what it says it measures and nothing else. Reliability is a measure of how consistently the process measures knowledge and skills, regardless of the rater or the time of testing. To learn more about these concepts and how to apply them to a certification process, see part one of Certification of Health Care Interpreters in the United States A Primer, a Status Report, and Considerations for National Certification.
In order to evaluate a particular certification process’ validity and reliability, ask to see the technical report, which should be publicly available.
Is the certifying body credible?
A credible certifying body will have no conflicts of interest, either as an organization or among the individuals on its governing body. How is the certifying body governed? Who makes the rules? Who benefits financially from the certifying body’s policies and activities? How are candidate fees used?
Has the organization received non-profit status from the IRS?
Non-profit status is awarded by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. There are 26 categories of non-profit organizations, all of which are exempt to some degree from federal taxes. Some are public charities or private foundations as defined under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. These organizations are operated exclusively for “religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, to foster national or international amateur sports competition, to promote the arts, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.”[1] The NCIHC, for example, is a 501(c)(3), as our mission is principally educational.
Another category covers professional associations (considered by the IRS to be “business leagues”) as defined under section 501(c)(6) of the federal tax code. According to tax code, “no part of a business league’s net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual and it may not be organized for profit to engage in an activity ordinarily carried on for profit (even if the business is operated on a cooperative basis or produces only enough income to be self-sustaining).”[2] That means that individuals certified by a 501(c)(6) can be confident that their test fees are not going to benefit any individual or corporation other than the association itself.
The IRS considers certification to be a function of professional organizations, not of public charities. This is why court interpreters can be certified by the National Association of Judicial Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) and translators certified by the American Translators Association (ATA), which are both 501(c)(6) organizations, and not by each organization’s 501(c)(3) arm.
Has the certification process been accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE, formerly the National Organization for Competency Assurance, NOCA)? ICE has established a system for assuring that certifying bodies have designed their structure and their testing in a credible manner. ICE accreditation shows that a certifying body’s work meets strict criteria and is credible. A certifying body may apply for ICE accreditation only after it has has been testing for one year or has certified 500 individuals.
Does the process test the skills that I am asked to use in my work? Check the test blueprint to learn what the exam tests for, and how much of the exam is dedicated to each topic or skill.
How much does the entire process cost? Remember to include registration fees. Ask as well about the fees to retake the test if you do not pass the first time, the waiting period between re-testing, and if there are any limitations about how many times you may take the test.
Where and how often is testing offered? How long will it take to complete the process? By knowing where and when the written and the oral tests are offered, you can calculate additional costs related to travel. You will also want to know how long the whole process is likely to take, from beginning to end, including the lapse of time between registration and the tests, and between taking the tests and receiving the results.
What are the pre-requisites for taking the exam? You will want to know if you need to do some preliminary work, such as training or taking a language screening test, before you are eligible to register for a particular test.
What will I need to do to maintain my credential over time? Find out for how long the certification is valid and what you need to do to re-certify when the credential expires. Will you need to take continuing education to keep your certification valid? If so, how much and how often?
Which credential is being accepted by the people or organizations that might hire me? This is, perhaps, the most pertinent of all the questions. Before you choose a certification process, find out which certification the people who hire interpreters will accept or may require.
