What is Certification Program

Four countries offer specialized interpreter certification programs that take into account the needs of the healthcare market: Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and the United States. This chapter provides an overview, analysis, and comparison of these certification programs by which specialized medical interpreters can demonstrate minimum standards of performance. This chapter reviews several components of five certification schemes: 1) pre-requisites, 2) knowledge areas, 3) skills areas, 4) language combinations, and 5) certification maintenance. The comparisons reveal similar approaches to interpreter certification with a few significant variations. These common elements form the basis for a substantive international equivalence and comparability. At a closer look, each scheme reveals different solutions to the shared challenges. This chapter ends with recommendations for any ongoing or future interpreter certification program and for interpreting stakeholders.