Volunteering as a medical interpreter

[Confusedandamused]

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Hi everyone!
So I currently volunteer as a Spanish interpreter and scribe at a free clinic. Though I did receive training from the organization, I am not certified to interpret. I am a native speaker of Spanish, which was the only requirement for the organization. I was wondering if this experience will be looked frownly upon because I don’t have certification.

 

[LizzyM]

I've never heard an adcom make a distinction between someone with or without certification, particularly if the interpreter is a native speaker.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi everyone!
So I currently volunteer as a Spanish interpreter and scribe at a free clinic. Though I did receive training from the organization, I am not certified to interpret. I am a native speaker of Spanish, which was the only requirement for the organization. I was wondering if this experience will be looked frownly upon because I don’t have certification.

No, it won't be frowned on.

 

[Orims]

I was a Spanish interpreter at a free clinic and only received training provided by the clinic (no official certification). This experience was one of my most meaningful ones and I wrote about it extensively on my PS. During interviews, most of them asked me about my role and experiences as an interpreter.

I think this is a great experience and you should not be afraid to talk about it.

 

[Styrene]

Go above and beyond by obtaining certification anyway, though I'm not sure what that entails.

 

[LizzyM]

Go above and beyond by obtaining certification anyway, though I'm not sure what that entails.

It can run about $700 plus 100 hours of unpaid practice experience . Then the exam runs about $500. Frankly, all that doesn't seem worth the expense for someone who is not making a profession of this but is doing it as a volunteer. Spending that money does not make one a better candidate for med school admission.

 

[Styrene]

It can run about $700 plus 100 hours of unpaid practice experience . Then the exam runs about $500. Frankly, all that doesn't seem worth the expense for someone who is not making a profession of this but is doing it as a volunteer. Spending that money does not make one a better candidate for med school admission.

So one basically just pays for it? What's the point...

 

[candbgirl]

So one basically just pays for it? What's the point...

Well certified interpreters can work and earn money doing the interpreting. My sister needed to hire an interpreter for something at her school. So she called a company that does this and they sent a great interpreter that she has used several times. It’s the same as if you needed a sign-language interpreter. If you don’t have access to a good, non biased interpreter you hire one.

 

[LizzyM]

So one basically just pays for it? What's the point...

There is a training program that can cost $700 (just looked at one -- I'm sure the costs vary and college courses can be substituted) and then one pays to take the exams (written and oral) and there is the opportunity cost of doing up to 100 hours of optional practice after the training and before the exam which, depending on the wages you could be earning doing something else are costing you between $800 and $2000 or more.

The point is, if you want to be a professional interpreter in a clinical setting, you might have a better chance of getting a job if you are certified. If you are just volunteering as a little side gig while preparing to attend medical school, the cost in time and money of the certification does not seem worth it to me.

 

[Mad Jack]

Hi everyone!
So I currently volunteer as a Spanish interpreter and scribe at a free clinic. Though I did receive training from the organization, I am not certified to interpret. I am a native speaker of Spanish, which was the only requirement for the organization. I was wondering if this experience will be looked frownly upon because I don’t have certification.

You're fine

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

I was a Spanish interpreter at a free clinic and only received training provided by the clinic (no official certification). This experience was one of my most meaningful ones and I wrote about it extensively on my PS. During interviews, most of them asked me about my role and experiences as an interpreter.

I think this is a great experience and you should not be afraid to talk about it.

My son's main clinical experience was also Spanish interpreter at a free clinic and he had no certification. He is not a native speaker. He had around 100 hours and majority of them were interpreting for social workers and at front-desk and later with medical staff. He went thru a Spanish immersion program in a Spanish speaking country for few weeks prior to this volunteering. I believe it was a definite plus to his application.

 

[Styrene]

There is a training program that can cost $700 (just looked at one -- I'm sure the costs vary and college courses can be substituted) and then one pays to take the exams (written and oral) and there is the opportunity cost of doing up to 100 hours of optional practice after the training and before the exam which, depending on the wages you could be earning doing something else are costing you between $800 and $2000 or more.

The point is, if you want to be a professional interpreter in a clinical setting, you might have a better chance of getting a job if you are certified. If you are just volunteering as a little side gig while preparing to attend medical school, the cost in time and money of the certification does not seem worth it to me.

Makes sense. Thank you.