BRIDGING THE GAP/BTG COURSE

Bridging the Gap, created by the Cross Cultural Health Care Program, is a professional development program that prepares bilingual individuals to work as medical interpreters.  40-hour or 64-hour class is used to train novice and experienced medical interpreters, and it is accepted by both accredited national certifying bodies, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) and the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI). No interpreting experience is required to take the class. 

The 40-hour training covers:

• Basic interpreting skills: Roles, ethics, conduit and clarifier, managing the flow of the session.   Codes of ethics and decision-making for interpreters in healthcare 
• Integrated medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology: Introduction to common terms, procedures, and specialties related to human physiology, disease and health 
• Information on health care systems: Introduction to the healthcare systems and types of healthcare providers 
• Culture in interpreting: Self-awareness, basic characteristics of specific cultures, traditional healthcare in specific communities, cultural brokering 
• Communication skills for advocacy: Listening skills, communication styles, how doctors think, appropriate advocacy 
• Professional development: Effective communication, professional conduct, self-care, resources for professional growth 

The 64-hour training covers the foundation skills above and includes:

• Interpreting in mental health: Specialized strategies and skills that apply to the unique demands of mental health settings 
• Health and cultural disparities
• Considerations for interpreting for LGBTQIA communities and in behavioral health settings
• Extensive ethic and cultural review

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum age and education:

• Participants must be 18 or older. 
• Have a high school degree or GED, or equivalent is required.

Language Proficiency:

• Participants must be bilingual in English and at least one other language
• Proof of proficiency in both languages is required to enroll in the class

Proof can be established by providing any one of the following criteria for each language:

          English 

• High school diploma or equivalent, or university/college degree from a school using the English language
• Successfully passing any English language proficiency test from a reputable testing organization  (such as from ALTA, LanguageLine); Oral language exam results with scores equivalent to ACTFL Advanced Mid-level or ILR Level 2; Through ALTA, the score must be a 9 or higher is required for admission.
• 5 or more years of verified professional experience working in English

           Other Language

• High school diploma or equivalent, or university/college degree from a school using non-English/Native language
• Successfully passing the non-English/Native language proficiency test from a reputable testing organization (such as from ALTA,  LanguageLine); Oral language exam results with scores equivalent to ACTFL Advanced Mid-level or ILR Level 2; Through ALTA, the score must be a 9 or higher is required for admission.
• 5 or more years of verified professional experience working in non-English/Native language
• State or Federal court interpreter certification

If applicants do not have any prior proof of language proficiency

The registration process will include a speaking and listening assessment  delivered via the internet and on our secure computer. These are scheduled through Language Testing Services on a weekday at a time that is convenient for the applicant.  The assessment is approximately 25-30 minutes long.  The minimum score accepted to this training is ACTFL Advanced Mid-level

The fee for the language proficiency test is $100. This fee is not included in the cost of training and applicant must complete the test prior to registering for the class.