Behavioral or Medical Interpreter — UMA Tulsa
Earners are bilingual Spanish–English Behavioral or Medical Interpreters prepared to deliver consecutive interpretation, whispered simultaneous interpretation and sight translation in U.S. clinical settings. They apply the NCIHC Code of Ethics & National Standards of Practice, HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality, Cultural Formulation Interview, suicide risk screening (C-SSRS) and trauma-informed practice. Eligible to sit for CCHI CoreCHI™/CHI™ and NBCMI CMI national exams.
- Type Certification
- Level Intermediate
- Time Weeks
- Cost Paid
Skills
- 42 CFR Part 2
- Behavioral Health Interpreting
- Bilingual Glossary Development
- Consecutive Interpretation
- Cultural Formulation Interview
- Cultural Mediation
- HIPAA Compliance
- LEP Patient Care
- Medical Interpreting
- NCIHC Code Of Ethics
- Sight Translation
- Suicide Risk Screening (C-SSRS)
- Telehealth Communication
- Trauma-informed Practice
- VRI/OPI Remote Interpreting
Earning Criteria
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Complete the 9-week theoretical phase (Weeks 1–9) of the 120-hour Behavioral or Medical Interpreter Certificate at UMA Tulsa, covering 7 competency domains: (1) Professional Ethics & Code of Conduct (NCIHC, IMIA, CCHI, NBCMI), (2) Linguistic & Interpreting Skills (consecutive, simultaneous whispered, sight translation), (3) Health System & Clinical Terminology by body systems, (4) Cultural Competence & Mediation (Cultural Formulation Interview), (5) Behavioral Health Specialization (C-SSRS, MSE,
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Complete the 3-week supervised practice phase (Weeks 10–12) in hospitals, FQHCs, Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) and telehealth platforms (VRI/OPI) in Tulsa, interpreting real or simulated encounters in primary care, behavioral health, perinatal health and chronic disease management. Includes structured debriefing and feedback by certified interpreter instructors. Prerequisite: completion of Phase 1 (CHW) or active CHW certification.
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Pass the Capstone evaluation and Final Exam: submit a comprehensive bilingual glossary portfolio, deliver an oral consecutive interpretation performance assessment evaluated with NCIHC SOP-aligned rubric (min. 75%), complete sight-translation of clinical documents (consent forms, PHQ-9, GAD-7, EPDS, C-SSRS, discharge instructions), pass a written ethics exam (min. 75%), and complete a supervised case debrief. Eligible to register for CCHI CoreCHI™/CHI™ and NBCMI CMI national exams.