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Interpreter Training

Photo of Spring 2017 Court Interpreter Class

Since 2014, ACA Productions and UHD have teamed up to provide continuing education non-credit courses to train interpreters in the medical and legal areas. These test preparation workshops for future interpreters satisfy the orientation hours required by certification agencies, provide strategies and instruction in three modes of interpretation, and review content tested by the NBCMI and CCHI (for medical) and the Texas JBCC (for court). Courses are taught by Certified Medical Interpreter and Master Licensed Court Interpreter Graciela Zozaya, with over 30 years of experience in the medical and legal translation and interpreting fields. We make every effort to schedule at least two training sessions per semester. All meetings take place on Saturday. If you would like additional dates, please contact Dr. Rey Romero at romerore@uhd.edu.

Prerequisites: 18 years and older; High School diploma or equivalent; must be proficient in English and any other second language (Spanish, Vietnamese, French, etc.). If you have any questions regarding your proficiency level, please contact Dr. Romero at romerore@uhd.edu

Disclaimers: Class is subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment (7 students) is not met. Registration will close a week before the first scheduled day of class. Please note these are not certifications or certificate program courses, these are test-preparation courses for exams administered by state (court) or national (medical) agencies.

Court Interpreter Training

Registration Will Open in Fall 2024
Fee: $460.00 USD

This 40-hour course includes the mandatory 8-hour orientation course required by the JBCC to register for the state exam, plus legal concepts, ethics, and ample practice and techniques for the three modes of interpretation covered in the oral exam.

Materials: set of headphones, personal recording device such as a handheld recorder or phone application for the interpreting exercises, course handbook (link will be sent upon registration).

Dates: TBA in Fall 2024

Location: at the University of Houston-Downtown (One Main Street). Students will receive an email with classroom and parking information a week before the first day of class.

Additional licensing information:
Texas Judicial Branch

Medical Interpreter Training

Registration will open in Spring 2025

This 48-hour course meets the training prerequisite for either of the two national certification exams (NBCMI or CCHI). This course includes basic medical concepts (anatomy, treatments, and terminology), ethics, and ample practice and study techniques for the three modes of interpretation covered in certification exams.

Materials
You will need a set of headphones, personal recording device such as a handheld recorder or phone application for the interpreting exercises, coloring pencils, Anatomy Coloring Book (by Margaret Matt; ISBN 978-0-486-24138-8), course handbook (link will be sent upon registration).

Dates
TBA in Spring 2025

Location
University of Houston-Downtown (One Main Street). Students will receive an email with classroom and parking information a week before the first day of class.

Additional certification information:
National Board (NBCMI) Information
CCHI Certification Information