Community, Legal, and Medical Interpreter

Welcome to the Boston University Community, Legal, and Medical Interpreting certificate program. This field is one of the most interesting professions to emerge in the globalized workplace.

Our programs in community, legal, and medical interpreting are for multilingual professionals who are able to speak, read, and write English and Chinese, Portuguese, or Spanish fluently. Our students are part of cohort groups. We run classes for Portuguese and Spanish speakers starting in September. Classes for Chinese speakers run annually beginning in January.

We give you the attention you need to bring your linguistic competence in both languages up to professional levels. You also learn the computer skills needed to do coursework, search the Internet, and undertake written translations. As the courses progress, you will learn the technical vocabulary and professional ethics needed to work in settings where an interpreter is required, and most importantly, the techniques you will need to perform the various types of interpretation competently.

Our students enter a program designed to build upon basic skills. Each course develops an individual's skills. Although we price each course individually, the program is intended to be taken as a complete series of courses, and it is not designed to be taken as individual units.

Classes meet on Saturdays starting at 9:00 am for four to five hours.

Steps to Registering for the Community, Legal, and Medical Interpreter Program

1. Prospective students must complete an application, register for a test, and pay a $50 testing fee to be considered for the Interpreter Program. The application can be faxed, mailed, or emailed to us. The testing dates are listed online under "Schedule at a Glance" as class INT001, and they are language specific. The cost is $50. Information about the testing location will be sent once all the steps are completed. Walk-ins for testing will not be accepted.
   
   
2. Testing for the Chinese and Spanish programs will begin in September for the January classes. Testing for the Portuguese and Spanish programs will begin in April for the September classes.
   
   
3. Tests are held on Boston University's Charles River Campus at usually once a month in the evening. The final testing date is usually two weeks prior to the start of the first class.
   
   
4. Once a candidate has successfully completed all the language testing, he/she may register for the Interpreter Program. Registration should be completed at least one week prior to the start of the first class. Registered students are invited to an orientation program prior to the start of first class.
   
   

Certificate Programs
Community Interpreting	Learn more about our Community Interpreting Certificate Program. Learn more.
Legal Interpreting	Learn more about our Legal Interpreting Certificate Program. Learn more.
Medical Interpreting	Learn more about our Medical Interpreting Certificate Program. Learn more.

Download the Interpreting brochure.
Download instructor information to learn more about our faculty.

Schedule of Classes
Class schedule for Spring 2010 Cohort
Class schedule for Fall 2009 Cohort
Class schedule for January 2009 Cohort

Take advantage of an Internship
Graduates, take part in our new Interpreting Internship Program. Learn more.

How to Improve Your Language Skills

Stephen Sanford, Certified Interpreter, teaches Interpreting I and Legal Interpreting classes at the Center for Professional Education.  He wrote an essay about some of the ways to help improve language skills.  Although he wrote it from the perspective of an English/Portuguese speaker, the intent is relevant to any bilingual person who is interested in the field of interpreting.   

Learn more.

Copyright © 1997 - 2010 Boston University Center for Professional Education