PREREQUISITES
CERTIFICATION EXAMS PREREQUISITES
Until December 31, 2013, candidates for certification who can provide proof that they have been working as a medical interpreter for one year or more are eligible to take the CMI written exam and the oral exam for Spanish. Candidates for the oral exams in Russian, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin and Vietnamese will have this same opportunity and the deadline will be in 2016.
Candidates must ensure that their supervisor (HR or direct) signs and dates a letter on company or health care institution letterhead. The letter should include the language interpreted and the dates of employment as a medical interpreter. The one year or more of experience as a medical interpreter must reflect recent experience (within the last two years.) Multiple letters of employment are accepted, and the employment can be as an independent contractor, volunteer status, or regular part-time or full-time employee. The letter is the only document you need to submit along with registering and filling out the online application.
The following eligibility requirements apply to all interpreters who have less than 1 year of experience and all Spanish interpreters who apply after December 31, 2013:
1) Age
The minimum age required of an individual to apply for certification will be equivalent to the age of majority as defined by the federal government, which is 18 years of age. A driver’s license or a birth certificate or passport copy are acceptable proofs of age.
2) General Education
Minimum education: High School Diploma. A High School or GED diploma are acceptable proofs of general education.
3) Medical Interpreter Education
Successful completion of a registered medical interpreter educational program (Only graduation from programs of a minimum 40 hours duration will be accepted). A registry of training programs is posted on the IMIA web site at: http://www.imiaweb.org/education/trainingnotices.asp
Certificate of Completion and documentation of the number of hours of such a program is the only acceptable proof of medical interpreter education.
4) Oral proficiency in English
One of the following:
The minimum age required of an individual to apply for certification will be equivalent to the age of majority as defined by the federal government, which is 18 years of age. A driver’s license or a birth certificate or passport copy are acceptable proofs of age.
2) General Education
Minimum education: High School Diploma. A High School or GED diploma are acceptable proofs of general education.
3) Medical Interpreter Education
Successful completion of a registered medical interpreter educational program (Only graduation from programs of a minimum 40 hours duration will be accepted). A registry of training programs is posted on the IMIA web site at: http://www.imiaweb.org/education/trainingnotices.asp
Certificate of Completion and documentation of the number of hours of such a program is the only acceptable proof of medical interpreter education.
4) Oral proficiency in English
One of the following:
- Bachelor, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from any US institution of higher education.
- Graduation from any High School from an English language country or from an American School abroad.
- One of the following tests (subject to change)
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): 570+ on paper; 230+ on computer version; 90+ on iBT.
ELPT (English Language Proficiency Test): 950+
MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) 80+
ECPE (Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English): PASS
FCE (First Certificate in English, Level 3): A
CAE (Certificate in Advanced English, Level 4): B
CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English, Level 5): B
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 7.0+
5) Oral proficiency in the target language(s) -- referred here as “L2”
One of the following:
ELPT (English Language Proficiency Test): 950+
MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) 80+
ECPE (Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English): PASS
FCE (First Certificate in English, Level 3): A
CAE (Certificate in Advanced English, Level 4): B
CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English, Level 5): B
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 7.0+
5) Oral proficiency in the target language(s) -- referred here as “L2”
One of the following:
- Bachelor, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from an institution of higher education where L2 is spoken
- Graduation from a high school of the country where L2 is spoken
- 24 semester credit hours of L2 or Major in L2 of at least 24 hours
- ACTFL Oral Exams (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages): 3.5 + /Advanced Mid Level (see www.actfl.org)
Please refer to the CMI Candidate Handbook (www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/candidate_handbook) for complete details.
Application Requirements
Registration cost: $30. Methods of payment accepted: Major credit cards except AMEX.
Submit documentation (proof of employment, training, etc.) by sending an email to staff [at] certifiedmedicalinterpreters [dot] org or by fax to 1-866-681-2568.
Candidates will be notified by email regarding acceptance of their application. Once your application is accepted you may schedule your written exam. Information on how to schedule the exam will be sent to you. Candidates must pass the written exam before scheduling an oral exam session. The oral exam must be scheduled within 6 months of completing the written exam, except in the case of those languages for which an oral exam has not yet been developed.
Earning the CMI Credential
To be granted a CMI credential individuals must meet all of the eligibility prerequisites and pass BOTH the written and oral examinations. The CMI credential is awarded in the specific language(s) for which the oral exam is passed (for example CMI-Spanish).
The National Board only awards the CMI credential to individuals who meet the eligibility criteria and successfully complete the written and oral examinations.
Appeals Process
If an applicant is informed of the denial of proof of prerequisites, during the registration process or ability to sit for the exam during the registration process, they may appeal this decision.
The appeal should include:
If an applicant is informed of the denial of proof of prerequisites, during the registration process or ability to sit for the exam during the registration process, they may appeal this decision.
The appeal should include:
- An appeal letter from applicant clearly stating why you believe the decision was wrong. Specific information based on facts to show that the exam should be administered should be included.
- A letter from the candidate's supervisor addressing specifics regarding the candidate's experience and why they believe they should sit for the exam (if applicable).
- Any other pertinent information from the candidate's employer/professor.
The appeal should be sent to info [at] certifiedmedicalinterpreters [dot] org
Disclosure: All the registration information provided by the candidate will be kept confidential. The information will be kept on the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters site.
For questions, please contact info [at] certifiedmedicalinterpreters [dot] org
For questions, please contact info [at] certifiedmedicalinterpreters [dot] org
CMI Candidate Handbook (PDF document)
CMI Exam Webinar (webcast video)
The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is the accreditation body of Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). The NCCA sets the rigorous standards that must be met by organizations offering certification programs.
