Spanish Healthcare Interpreter Program Frequently Asked Questions

Are you required to attend in person or synchronously?

The Spanish Healthcare Interpreter program is delivered in a synchronous online format using Zoom.  This means that the 4-hour online sessions run in real time, with participants and the instructor attending together from different locations (synchronously on Zoom).  Participants will complete 100% of the training online and are not required to attend any in-person sessions.  Please see the Curriculum and Schedule page for the training schedule.

What is healthcare interpreter “certification” versus “qualification?”

Oregon’s Healthcare Interpreter Program includes two levels of credentialing (certification and qualification).  In the State of Oregon, certified or qualified healthcare interpreters must meet all the requirements below and provide the supporting documentation. 

The 64-Hour Bridging the Gap Healthcare Interpreter Training offered through the Pacific University School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership meets all of the requirements to be credentialed as a Qualified Healthcare Interpreter in the State of Oregon. Successful completion of this training program results in a certificate of completion issued by Bridging the Gap, which is sufficient to apply for “Qualification” in Oregon as described in the table below. 

Participants may also elect to take the certification exam, successful completion of which would earn the credential of Certified Healthcare Interpreter, but this is optional and occurs outside of this training program.

Please refer to the table below for more information about each level of credentialing:

Qualification Certification (optional)
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
    • Copy of a valid driver’s license, passport or other valid government issued identification.
  • Education: Must have high school diploma (or GED equivalent) or higher.
  • Must not be in the Medicaid Exclusion Database: http://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov/.
  • Must have at least 60 hours of formal health care interpreter training.
  • Must have language proficiency in English and the target language.
    • Proof of meeting the minimum required language proficiency by an approved testing center
    • OR, demonstration of having met equivalent language proficiency requirements 
    • OR, demonstration of having met Sign language proficiency through RID or other approved proficiency exam.

All of the requirements from the ‘Qualification’ column (left) AND:

According to the new Rule Housebill 2359, Healthcare Interpreters are no longer required to be certified; it is optional.

Valid for four years from the issue date

Valid for four years from the issue date 

Table taken from the Oregon Healthcare Interpreter Program Requirements for Spoken Languages: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/oe8923.pdf

More information about credential requirements in Oregon can be found on the Oregon Health Authority Healthcare Interpreter web page.

I am currently an enrolled Pacific University student, or a staff or faculty member.  Can I enroll in the Spanish Healthcare Interpreter program?

Yes.  All members of our Pacific community are welcome to enroll in the Spanish Healthcare Interpreter training program if they meet the application criteria.

Current Pacific Students: please note that because the Spanish Healthcare Interpreter training program is considered a professional training opportunity offered by the School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership and it is not an academic program at Pacific University, currently enrolled Pacific University students cannot use their financial aid funds to pay for the cost of this training.  

Pacific Veteran Students: please contact our VA Certifying Official, Renee Vanzant, to determine if you can use your VA benefits to cover the cost of the Spanish Healthcare Interpreter program.  You can reach Renee at vanzanjr@pacificu.edu or 503-352-2231.

Is it ok to submit a copy of my high school diploma, GED, or university/college diploma?

Yes. Applicants can submit copies of their proof of language proficiency documents. Official university/college transcripts can also be submitted, but are not required.  

How do I pay the registration fee?  Can I pay for it by credit card over the telephone?

We are not able to accept credit card payments over the phone.  Payments can be made by debit or credit card via our online payment portal.  We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

Participants may also pay by check in the mail, but your check must be received by the registration deadline.  

Please do not pay the registration fee until you have received confirmation from our office that your application is complete and that you are eligible to register for the program.

Online Payment Portal 

Important Payment Portal Instructions: 

  • The link above will direct you to our payment portal
  • Under Products, click on Spanish Healthcare Interpreter Registration Fee
  • Click the Add to Cart button
  • Enter your name and address information
  • Click on Checkout
  • When prompted to create a user name and password, please bypass this section and scroll down to Checkout As Guest
  • Follow the rest of the prompts to enter your payment information and complete your payment

Checks can be mailed to: 

Pacific University
School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership
190 SE 8th Ave Suite 104
Hillsboro, Oregon 97123    

Please indicate in the check memo line that the payment is for the Spanish Healthcare Interpreter program.  Checks must be received by the registration fee deadline.

What is involved in the speaking assessment conducted by Language Testing International (LTI)? 

If applicants do not have any prior proof of language proficiency, they will need to complete an ACTFL Speaking Assessment.  The assessment is an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI®) that is conducted over the phone through Language Testing International (LTI). Applicants are responsible for scheduling this assessment through Language Testing International at a time that is convenient for the applicant. Once a speaking assessment is scheduled, Language Testing International will provide a phone number for the applicant to call and instructions to begin the assessment, which is approximately 15-30 minutes long.  For admission into the Spanish Healthcare Interpreter program, applicants must receive scores equivalent to ACTFL Advanced Mid-level or ILR Level 2.

Note that the registration fee does not include the cost of the speaking assessment if an assessment is needed. All costs associated with the speaking assessment will be in addition to the registration fee, and the applicant will pay Language Testing International directly for the assessment.  For more information about the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI®), please see the Application Criteria page.

Please find contact information and instructions for ordering a speaking assessment through Language Testing International (LTI) below:

Instructions for Ordering a Speaking Assessment Through Language Testing International

Language Testing International (LTI)
https://www.languagetesting.com/oral-proficiency-interview-opi
1-800-486-8444
Email: customercare@languagetesting.com

Please note that it can take approximately one week for Language Testing International (LTI) to mail us an official copy of your speaking assessment results.  Please be sure to allow for this and schedule your speaking assessment for a date that will ensure that we receive your speaking assessment results by the application deadline.

Speaking assessment scores can be emailed to Amber Vanzant at amber.vanzant@pacificu.edu or mailed to:

Pacific University
School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership
190 SE 8th Ave Suite 104
Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

My life circumstances have recently changed, and I am no longer going to be able to complete the Spanish Healthcare Interpreter program.  Is it possible to get a refund?

Yes, depending on how soon you notify the School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership that you will not be attending, you may be eligible for a refund.  Please see the refund policy below:

  • Refund requests should be emailed to Amber Vanzant at amber.vanzant@pacificu.edu. 
     
  • Cancellation notice of Spanish Healthcare Interpreter training must be given in writing 10 days prior to the first day of the training to receive a full (100%) refund.
     
  • Cancellations made after the 10-day deadline will receive a fifty percent (50%) refund. 
     
  • No refunds will be offered if the participant attends any portion of the training and then discontinues attendance for the remainder of the event, including no-shows. 

Please note that all refunds will be issued as checks in the University's next available check run.  Please be aware that it can take up to two weeks to receive a refund check in the mail.

I am fluent in English and in another language (not Spanish).  Does this training program offer healthcare interpreter training in languages other than Spanish?

No.  We are currently only licensed to use the Bridging the Gap (BTG) English-Spanish healthcare interpreter curriculum, and our program instructor is an OHCIA Certified Healthcare Interpreter (HCI) specifically in Spanish.  The Spanish Healthcare Interpreter Program is not able to offer interpreter training in languages other than English and Spanish at this time.

Contact Us

General Information:

Amber Vanzant, MAT | Program Administrator
School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership
503-352-7369 | amber.vanzant@pacificu.edu 

For Information About the Curriculum:

Maria Jose Rodriguez, MA, HCI | Assistant Professor
Healthcare Spanish Program
503-352-7342 | mariarodriguez@pacificu.edu