Language-specific 60-Hour Healthcare Interpreter Program - Approved by the Oregon Health Authority.
Click here for other Culture Advantage programs.OHA Healthcare Interpreter Training
The Culture Advantage 60-Hour Healthcare Interpreter Program has been reviewed and approved by the State of Oregon.
Our program was designed by healthcare professionals who know healthcare and quality patient care.
High quality healthcare depends on high quality medical interpreting when patients have limited English proficiency.
To support patient safety, our goal is to train a qualified healthcare workforce to provide accurate and professional interpretation for diverse patient populations. Our number one goal for interpreter training is clinical accuracy in both languages.
Without clinical accuracy, true interpretation has not been provided. We provide an intensive program with a broad background in medical concepts in both languages, and assessment of interpreters in both languages.
We have high expectations for medical interpreters because every patient deserves highly accurate interpretation as a patient's right.
Clinically accurate interpretation is critical for correct diagnosis, treatment, and follow up care by the medical provider and for the patient to make the best healthcare decision for themselves or their family or significant other.
Registration: Open Enrollment. There is no waiting period. You may start at any time.
Program Fees and Registration Page. Click here.
Organizations and group enrollments for healthcare staff, please contact Marlene for company discount and details.
Approvals:
Link to Approval Notice 2017 to 2020. Click Here.
Link to Approval Notice 2020 to 2023. Click Here.
Certificate of Completion
The following courses must be completed successfully to receive a certificate of completion.
Part 1: Health Literacy – English
Part 2: Health Literacy – non-English language
Part 3: Medical Interpreting Concepts and Skills
Comprehensive Final Evaluation (Clinical simulation interpreting in both languages)
NOTE: Part 2 of the program and the final evaluation may be adjusted to accommodate minority languages (for example, Amharic, Cambodian, etc), including ASL.
Program Description
Full Program Description (PDF File)
Online Format with Live, Group Practice Sessions by phone or Internet
Language-specific: You are trained and tested in both languages.
Taught by healthcare professionals and professional medical interpreters (CMI/CHIs)
Focus on health literacy to prepare you to interpret in different clinical settings, from primary care, outpatient care to hospital care.
OUR GRADUATES
We are proud of our OHA-Graduates!
Nataliya Ewing. Graduate, Russian Program.
"Culture Advantage program is a professional, easy to follow and affordable program. Believe me, you will be surprised how much you can learn in a short period of time. Thank you to the director and a mentor of this program Marlene Obermeyer, who is so passionate to help people like me to gain medical knowledge in English and Russian. I also enjoy Russian practice sessions over the phone with Russian mentor Dr. Babadjanov. I am confident in my future because I have gained a strong foundation and the rest will come with practice and continuing education. Thank you."
Juan Mas. CHI Mercy Health, Roseburg, Oregon. Spanish Program.
"The 60-hour professional program is intense but well worth it, it has helped improve my Spanish medical vocabulary and learn rules, regulations, and techniques to be successful in the interpreting field."
Deborah Berho, PhD. Professor of Spanish, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon. Spanish Program.
"This program taught me many new things about medical care and terminology as well as how to address common, yet frustrating, situations that arise during an interpreting encounter."
Femika Jacklick, Community Worker, La Grande, Oregon. Marshallese Program.
"This course helped me lot. Now I know how to talk to doctors better. This is really important to me so I can keep helping my people."
Qualified Instructors/Mentors for the OHA Program Ethics Section
Marlene Obermeyer, MA. RN.
- STATE OF WASHINGTON. Fully Authorized Medical Interpreter – Tagalog. Medical Authorization Number MA4388
- Fully Authorized Medical Interpreter – Ilokano. Medical Authorization Number MA4625
Liliana Sanchez. MD-Mexico.
- Medical Degree-Mexico
- CMI-Spanish
- Certificate: Professional Medical Interpreter Specialty - Diabetes 20 Hours English-Spanish
- Certificate: Instructor in Diabetes MI Specialty English-Spanish
- Certificate: Culture Advantage Medical Interpreter Program English-Spanish
- Culture Advantage Mentor Training Program
For our other medical and interpreting mentors, click here.
Application Form
To make sure that you meet the requirements for the program, please complete the application.
Important Links:
Please read the following important links for additional information.
Culture Advantage Main Webpage