Qualified Healthcare Interpreter Preparation Course

The New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) is proud to announce New Jersey’s own Qualified Healthcare Interpreter Preparation Course, implemented in partnership with Rutgers University and available to NJHA members.

WHY IT MATTERS

Effective communication is vital for safe, high-quality care—especially in New Jersey’s richly diverse communities. Under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, healthcare providers must ensure access to qualified medical interpreters for limited English proficient patients. Trained interpreters not only facilitate clear communication, but also improve patient engagement, safety and satisfaction.

THE COURSE

Healthcare Interpreting is an accredited 40-hour course that meets the training requirements of the two national medical/healthcare interpreter certification providers. Through collaboration with Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, NJHA members will have access to expert-led interpreter education. Participants will obtain a practical grounding in the national Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for healthcare interpreters, develop interpreter skills, learn to mediate misunderstandings and overcome systemic barriers related to language and expand knowledge of medical terminology.

COURSE OFFERINGS

• Convenient Learning: Seven-week asynchronous online coursework.
• Hands-on Practice: Opportunity to work in small groups to practice interpreting through role play.
• Resource Toolkit: Access to comprehensive materials on interpreter ethics, terminology, and compliance requirements.
• Certification Pathway: Training certificate, documentation of language proficiency assessment, and information on next steps for bilingual staff pursuing national medical interpreter certification.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE

• Any New Jersey hospital or healthcare facility seeking to strengthen language access services.
• Bilingual staff interested in using non-English language skills to start the journey toward national medical interpreter certification and grow professionally within the healthcare team as an interprofessional language mediator.

GET INVOLVED

To learn more about the course or enroll staff, contact NJHA interpreters@njha.com or visit the registration page https://education.njha.com/courses/118426 for details.

REGISTER

Download the Healthcare Interpreter Training flyer HERE to share with your colleagues.