17.3: NBCMI
- Page ID
- 141213
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Certification Credentials Exams Part II - NBCMI
Now let’s move on to the second certifying body: the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI).
According to NBCMI, the purpose of their certification program is to ensure interpreters meet the standards necessary for safe and ethical practice in the medical interpreting profession. They describe their process as rigorous, emphasizing that successful candidates have been carefully vetted and can demonstrate knowledge of standards of practice, ethical behavior, accuracy, and patient safety.
NBCMI offers two credentials:
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Hub-CMI
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Available to interpreters of any language.
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Designed to establish mastery of medical terminology, cultural competence, ethical decision-making, and baseline professional knowledge.
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This is a written exam only and does not carry a language designation.
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If your language is not one of the six available for the oral exam, this will be your final credential.
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If your language is one of the six, then the Hub-CMI is a preliminary credential. It is valid for two years, during which you must pass the oral exam to earn the full CMI.
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CMI (Certified Medical Interpreter)
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Currently available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
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In addition to the written exam, candidates must pass an oral exam to demonstrate interpreting skills directly.
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This credential carries a language designation (for example, CMI–Spanish) and verifies that you can perform in real-life healthcare encounters.
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Requirements for both Hub-CMI and CMI include:
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Being at least 18 years old.
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A high school diploma, GED, or equivalent foreign education.
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A profile photo.
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Proof of interpreter education, either through:
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College coursework (minimum of 3 semester units in interpreting), or
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A medical interpreter training course of at least 40 hours from an approved list (certificate of completion required).
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Exam Content for the Hub-CMI (written exam):
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Roles of the interpreter – 8%
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Interpreter ethics – 15%
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Cultural competence – 8%
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Medical terminology in working languages – 38%
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Includes diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, and medical equipment.
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Medical specialties in working languages – 23%
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Interpreter standards of practice – 5%
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Legislation and regulations (HIPAA, CLAS standards) – 3%

