Take your language skills to the next level.
Have you ever been shopping with a friend, or a neighbor, who needed you to explain what the store clerk was saying? Have you ever translated a restaurant menu for someone who didn't speak the language? Maybe you've been enlisted by a loved one to go to a medical appointment because they couldn't communicate with their doctor or nurse, or perhaps you've volunteered to teach English as a second language. If you've done any of these things, you've acted as an interpreter before. Why not turn your skills and experience into cash while you're giving back to the community, too?
Multi-lingual speakers are in high demand, with high growth industries such as health care offering skilled interpreters a rewarding career path. The healthcare industry is also investigating professional certifications for medical interpreters, which will further increase demand for skilled professionals. With the proper professional training and coaching, you can leverage your current language skills into a satisfying, long-term professional career helping patients communicate effectively with healthcare providers.
The first step to becoming an ILS interpreter is to complete an application. As opportunities become available, we'll contact you to come into our offices to speak more in depth about the position - and to test your language skills. After successfully passing your proficiency exam, you'll be invited to attend our Curriculum for Interpreting in Health Care© training course, where you'll learn the basics of interpreting. As part of the course requirement, you'll attend internship interpreting encounters, studying under a senior interpreter and learning to apply the skills you learned in class. Upon completion of your internship, you'll join the agency as a trained medical interpreter, and start earning hours toward your professional development certificate (not to mention a paycheck every month!).
What are the requirements to be an ILS interpreter?
I'd like more information, please have a representative from ILS contact me.
I'd like to fill out an application!
I'd like more information, please have a representative from ILS contact me.
I'd like to fill out an application!
Curriculum for Interpreting in Healthcare©.
International Language Services is the Midwest's leading medical interpreting and translation agency, providing in-person interpreters to metro Chicago's most respected healthcare organizations. ILS is also an innovator in providing comprehensive and rigorous professional interpreter training with our exclusive Curriculum for Interpreting in Health Care (CIH). If you want to develop a strong career path for yourself in medical interpreting, there is no better option for you than attending a CIH course.
ILS company president Karin Ruschke developed the CIH after years of leadership with the National Council on Interpreting in Health Care (NCIHC) as one of the co-chairs of the Standards, Training and Certification Committee. The CIH fully incorporates both the National Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice published by the NCIHC, training all ILS interpreters to the latest and most demanding national standards. No other training program in the country goes beyond the scope and professional development offered by the CIH.
CIH course elements include:
- Managing difficult, high-emotion encounters
- Dealing with and effectively communicating cultural differences
- Developing your medical terminology
- Practicing skills through language concordant skill integration role-plays
- Learning real-world interpreting skills under the guidance of a senior interpreter
Your course fee includes all course materials and your multi-appointment internship program with a senior ILS mentor. This mentor will accompany you on your first assignments to help you transition from classroom skills to real-world professional implementation of the concepts you studied. Once you successfully complete this internship and several additional solo encounters with ILS, you'll be awarded a professional development certificate indicating your status as a professionally trained medical interpreter.
Get started on a new professional career path today by contacting ILS to sign up for the next CIH training session!
In order to become an ILS interpreter, you'll need to meet the following requirements.
- At least 18 years old.
- Fluent in English and at least one other language, as confirmed by passing written and oral exams prior to attending a CIH class.
- Able to attend a Curriculum for Interpreting in Health Care© course.
- Basic command of common medical terminology.
- Legally able to work in the U.S.
- Willing to travel to area hospitals via private or public transportation.
- Available to complete an internship consisting of a minimum of 6 appointments with a senior interpreter, plus availability during most business hours for agency appointments.
