Admission
Program Director: Maria Michalczyk, RN, MA | 503-731-6627
Maria
Michalczyk (Program Dir.), Takayuki Oshimi
(a medical doctor from Japan,) and Teresa Sielsch (staff)
Thank you for your interest and inquiry about PCC’s Healthcare Interpreting Program!
In an effort to ensure that all applicants have the appropriate language skills to succeed in the healthcare interpreter training program at CLIMB for Health Professionals, bilingual language evaluations will be conducted. In addition to a bilingual oral interview, you will be evaluated on your written translation skills through an assignment which will be completed during the Medical Terminology class or the Spanish Medical Terminology class. This will allow us to assess your skills in English and your second language, and determine if you are ready for the final phase of the interpreter training program which is the practicum.
Any questions about this process or the program please email Maria Michalczyk at cmichalc@pcc.edu or call 503-731-6627.
Application Steps
- Complete the HCI Application Form.
- Email Valerie Garza Collins to schedule your Spanish/English telephone interview. If you do not have internet access, you may call Maria Michalczyk at 503-731-6627 to schedule your telephone interview. Your interview will be scheduled upon confirmation of the receipt of your application fee. For non Spanish speakers please email Maria Michalczyk to set up an interview.
- The passing score for the bilingual oral interview is 80%. The criteria which will be used to evaluate the interview are: accuracy of interpretation, proper grammar, appropriate usage of words, clarity of speech, and proper pronunciation. The bilingual telephone interview will cover some medical terminology as well as everyday conversation.
- If you do not pass the bilingual oral interview, we highly recommend that you take formal language classes and practice to improve your language skills. The instructors will make a determination as to when you will be allowed to take the interview evaluation again.
- Important: You may take all the healthcare interpreting classes (except the practicum) even if you have not yet completed the bilingual language evaluation. You must successfully complete the bilingual oral interview with a score of 80% before you proceed to the practicum. If you do not score at least 80% on the translation portion of the evaluation, you will be allowed to complete the practicum, but with the knowledge that you may not have the skill level required to successfully complete this program.
- An evaluator from PCC will notify you of your score on the bilingual language evaluation in a timely manner.
- Although translations are not technically part of the scope of an interpreter, it will be important for the student to have a good background in the written prose in both English and the second language.
- Register for classes. All of the Healthcare Interpreting Training Program classes are Continuing Education Unit (CEU) classes. REFUND DROP PERIOD IS ONE DAY BEFORE CLASS BEGINS (unless otherwise stated in the course description.) If you do not attend or stop attending classes and fail to withdraw by the refund drop dead-line, you will still be responsible for tuition and fees.
- You may take all of the coursework without an application but you must be formally admitted before you enter the Healthcare Interpreter Practicum.