Health care interpreting (HCI) is designed to give bilingual (English and Spanish) students the awareness, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as entry-level interpreters and translators in health care settings, including hospitals, clinics, medical offices and similar environments. Program completers should be eligible for employment as salaried or on-call staff interpreters, or as self-employed freelance interpreters. Employment opportunities may also be available with professional interpreting and translating service companies. Although the emphasis of the program is medical interpreting, the skills gained could be applied to other interpreting and translating settings in the community, such as conference interpreting and translation of written documents.

Each year we accept up to 12 new students who are fluent in English and Spanish into the HCI program. This is primarily an evening program that students begin during the fall semester. We encourage you to contact Christina Wolff if you have any questions about the selective process. The final selection for new HCI students is made in May.

Candidates for the Health Care Interpreting certificate will be tested in their non-dominate language in order to measure knowledge and fluency in both English and Spanish, with a requirement of ACTFL Advanced Mid in Spanish or English for admission to the program.

The health care interpreting program is a 20-credit hour vocational program leading to a certificate of completion. It is designed to be completed in three semesters, although there is enough flexibility in the curriculum to extend the time period for several additional semesters if the student prefers a slower pace. The program is organized in a progression of courses leading the student from general concepts to increasingly complex skills and knowledge, culminating in a comprehensive skills exam and a professional practicum. It includes five courses developed specifically for the program plus two courses offered through other departments. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in each of the program's courses to continue in the program. 

Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all coursework and be able to demonstrate at least 80% accuracy in both English and Spanish while interpreting.

REQUIREMENTS: All students who participate in shadowing and practicum assignments at Truman Medical Centers (TMC) and Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH) must complete specific requirements. All students must complete and provide the following information to the HCI supervisor by the due dates:

  1. Background checks with satisfactory results.
  2. Proof of up-to-date immunizations - records must include 2TB tests with readings, MMR, Varicella, the current year's flu shot, Tdap, COVID and Hepatitis B vaccinations or specific titers.

 Students will submit documents for TMC and CMH.

Due to the rapidly changing clinical requirements in regard to the COVID-19 vaccination, contact the program director for the most current requirements and process. Health restrictions which prohibit student performance during the shadowing and practicum portion of the program may prevent admission to or completion of the program.

(Major Code 4390; CIP Code 16.0103)

Health Care Interpreting Program web page

Program Outcomes

Johnson County Community College (JCCC) is committed to offering high-quality affordable programs that focus on developing knowledge and skills conducive to life-long learning. Both the General Education Student Learning Outcomes and Institutional Learning Outcomes convey JCCC's approach to programmatic outcomes. Additionally, students who successfully complete the Health Care Interpreting Certificate  from JCCC will be able to:

  • Interpret cultural concepts, usage and expressions.
  • Contrast Spanish language varieties, dialects, and accents.
  • Identify common medical conditions, treatments, protocols and procedures,
  • Utilize medical terminology in both English and Spanish.
  • Examine the importance of providers’ and clients’ cultural beliefs and values.
  • Integrate intercultural communication, cross-cultural mediation and conflict resolution..
  • Examine a code of ethics and professional standards of practice for interpreters
  • Apply interpreting and translating skills in English and Spanish..
  • Articulate the legal aspects of interpreting and potential legal liabilities of interpreters.