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.