A national, valid, credible, vendor-neutral
certification program for healthcare interpreters
CCHI’s process of developing a national, valid, credible, vendor-neutral certification program for healthcare interpreters began with a Job/Task Analysis(JTA) study of the profession of healthcare interpreters. The results of this national survey provide the overarching framework for CCHI’s certification program.
The JTA is the primary mechanism for establishing the job-relatedness of decisions concerning standards for professional certification and for supporting arguments of content validity for examinations, The process started with the JTA panel defining the tasks performed by Healthcare Interpreters and the knowledge, skill and ability (KSA) believed to be important for competent performance of those tasks. The panel came to consensus on the characteristics of individuals for whom CCHI’s first certification is designed - the entry level healthcare interpreter:
A person who is able to perform the functions of an entry level healthcare interpreter competently and independently in a healthcare setting with the knowledge, skill and ability required to relay messages accurately from a source language to a target language in a culturally competent manner and in accordance with established ethical standards.
Next, a survey was developed based to gather information on the KSAs identified by the JTA panel. Close to 2,500 responses representing healthcare interpreting services in 141 languages were received during the survey period. This represented an excellent response rate and well exceeded the minimum required for statistically reliable results for the study. The distribution of the demographic characteristics of the respondent population was reviewed by subject matter experts and is representative of the breadth of the profession.
Summary of JTA Results
The analysis of the data collected through this Job/Task Analysis study confirm that the study has appropriately and accurately identified the tasks performed by entry level healthcare interpreters and the KSAs required to perform those tasks. Therefore, CCHI has what it needs in an examination specification document to achieve a valid, fair and legally defensible certification examination. CCHI’s Job Task Analysis resulted in tasks and KSAs that differed in the manner in which they may be tested. Those KSAs that can be tested through selected response items (such as written multiple-choice items) were grouped separately from those KSAs that must be tested through a performance based testing format requiring oral responses. This separation resulted in a test blueprint that includes a two part examination summarized below:
Part 1 – Managing Healthcare Interpreter Functions
Domains & Percent of Test:
Manage an Interpreting Encounter 30% - 35%
Healthcare Terminology 22% - 25%
Interact with Other Healthcare Professionals 20% - 24%
Prepare for an Interpreting Encounter 16% - 20%
Cultural Responsiveness 3% - 6%
Part II – Performing Healthcare Interpreting
Domains & Percent of Test:
Interpret Spoken Communication 85% - 90%
Sight Translate/Translate Healthcare Documents 10% - 15%
In the coming months, we’ll be sharing more information about the survey results, test development, and procedures for becoming certified. Stay involved! CCHI is currently recruiting a Certification Test Development Committee, certification test item writers and item reviewers, and individuals to pilot the certification test. Please click here and let us know in which areas you would like to be involved. Also, continue to check the News & Updates page on our website for the latests news and activities.
News and Updates
Webinar features Commissioners Youdelman, Hobby, & Levy
CyraCom’s March 9th Webinar, Healthcare Interpreter Certification: Current
Requirements and Future Possibilities, focused on the state of national
healthcare interpreter certification and its potential impact moving forward.
CCHI is Seeking Volunteers for Test Development
Healthcare Interpreters are invited to participate in CCHI's Certification Test
Development Process. Apply today to be part of the Certification Test Development
Committee, Test Item Writing and Review Teams, and Certification Pilot Testing.
Coming Up: In April, Certification Test Item Writing Begins
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