Every healthcare interpreter needs their CCHI Associate Healthcare Interpreter™ credential regardless of the language(s) in which they interpret.  This is the entry point into professional certification.  The CCHI Associate Healthcare Interpreter™ credential is the first credential, the foundation credential for all healthcare interpreters. Once a healthcare interpreter receives their CCHI Associate Healthcare Interpreter™ credential, they are eligible to apply for a language specific credential in one or more languages in which they interpret. Currently, the CHI™ examination is available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic. The CCHI Associate Healthcare Interpreter™ Examination is a computer-based, 100-question, multiple-choice exam in English that covers the basics of healthcare interpreting and focuses on the following five categories of knowledge, skills and abilities:

Managing an Interpreting Encounter
     - Theories and best practices identified in healthcare interpreting.
     - Simultaneous and consecutive interpreting knowledge and skills.

Healthcare Terminology
     - Medical terminology found in healthcare interpreting,
       including dental and mental health terminology.

Interact with Other Healthcare Professionals
     - Best practices when working with the healthcare team.
     - Advocacy and how it is properly employed based on
       healthcare interpreting scope of practice.

Prepare for an Interpreting Encounter
     - Demonstration of knowledge based on medical terminology, scope
       of practice, code of ethics and expectations of the health team and clients.

Cultural Responsiveness
     - Knowledge of culture of the client, healthcare environment
       and healthcare professionals.

Eligibility Criteria

To be designated as a CCHI Associate Healthcare Interpreter™ practitioner, interpreters need to meet basic requirements for eligibility and they will need to pass CCHI's AHI™  Examination, a computer-based, multiple-choice test. All requirements must be completed prior to application for the examination. An incomplete application will not be accepted and testing will not be scheduled.   

NOTE:  Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin interpreters are not eligible to receive the Associate Healthcare Interpreter™ credential because an oral performance examination is available in the language they interpret.

Healthcare Interpreters must meet the following eligibility requirements before they can apply for the examination. 

• Minimum age of 18 years.
• Have a minimum of U.S. high school diploma (or GED) or its equivalent from another country.
• Have at least 40 hours of healthcare interpreter training (academic or non-academic program).
• Have linguistic proficiency in English and the target language(s).

Please see CCHI’s Certification Examination Handbook for more information on these prerequisites.

The CCHI Application provides a way for you to state that you meet requirements for credentialing and for taking the examination. CCHI does not ask you to send original documents, such as drivers license or school transcripts to complete the application. By completing and submitting the application, you are agreeing that you have original documentation for all requirements, including language proficiency, and would be able to quickly and easily provide this documentation to CCHI if audited by CCHI. Documentation of requirements and periodic, random audits of those who earn CCHI credentials is necessary for CCHI to achieve and sustain status as an accredited certification program for professionals in healthcare interpreting.

Note to sign language interpreters. Please do not apply for this CCHI credential or exam. Instead, contact the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, another credentialing body that collaborates with CCHI and offers credentials and certification for sign language interpreters.

Linguistic Proficiency

CCHI does not require that you provide evidence of your language proficiency to register. However, it is important that you are able to produce documentation of your language proficiency as CCHI will be auditing a sample of individuals who successfully pass the AHI examination as a condition of receiving or maintaining their CCHI Associate Healthcare Interpreter™credential.

Adequate mastery of two languages is the baseline proficiency necessary to consider serving as a healthcare interpreter. 

Proof of at least one the following in each category will meet the proficiency requirements:

English Proficiency

• A high school diploma, or its equivalent, from an English speaking country.
• Successful completion of extensive coursework at the post-secondary level, resulting in a degree, with the majority of classes conducted in English.
• Time spent studying and/or working in an English speaking country, where you were required on a daily basis to perform tasks at a professional level in English.
• Successfully passing an oral proficiency interview for an agency or employer that required you to perform your duties in English.

Other Language Proficiency

• A high school diploma, or its equivalent, with classes taught in your other language.
• Growing up speaking your other language at home and in your community, along with some formal study of the language at the post-secondary level.
• Successful completion of extensive coursework at the post-secondary level, with the majority of classes conducted in the other language.
• Time spent studying and/or working in a country where you were required on a daily basis to perform tasks at a professional level in the other language.
• Successfully passing an oral proficiency interview for an agency or employer that required you to perform your duties in the other language.

Candidates for the Associate Healthcare Interpreter™credential should also be aware that some employers may require additional evidence of language proficiency in addition to the Associate Healthcare Interpreter™ credential.  Employers may require or recognize verification of language proficiency in a number of ways including:

1.  Successful passage of an established interpreter certification exam (this includes an oral performance test), such as:

• The Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam ((FCICE)
• Any National Center for State Court (NCSC) exam
• Other well recognized and established certification exams

2.  Successful passage of any interpreting skills proficiency test from a reputable testing organization.*

3. Successful passage of any language proficiency test from a reputable testing organization.**

 *  Some employers may consider reputable testing organizations to include only those who can provide evidence of reliability and validity in both test development and administration stages.

**  Some employers may consider reputable testing organizations to include only those who can provide evidence of reliability and validity in both test development and administration stages and who measure language proficiency against a well established scale such as the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language (ACTFL); the Inter-Agency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale; or the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

Fees

Application Fee: $30 (due upon submission of application)

AHI™ Exam Fee:$175 (payable once applicant is determined eligible but before scheduling your AHI exam)

Review the Application Process & Checklist

 Read the Frequently Asked Questions

Questions?  If you have any questions about the application process, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .