The certificate in Spanish/English Interpretation is designed to respond to the increasing local, national, and international demand for professionals, educators, and students interested in meeting the challenges of an increasingly multicultural and multilingual society.

This three-course non-credit professional development certificate program is designed to train entry-level interpreters in Spanish to meet the needs of doctors' offices, hospitals, public health settings, courts, legal offices, schools, etc.

Who should take Spanish/English Interpretation?

It is intended for bilingual (English-Spanish) speakers with no formal training in interpretation who wish to improve or expand their knowledge and skills in interpretation. The online format is ideal for professionals who, due to career and family obligations, cannot attend face-to-face classes.

What you will learn in the Spanish/English Certificate Program

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• complete interpretation tasks appropriate to a beginning professional level interpreter
• explain the role of the medical, legal and educational interpreter
• explain the role of certification in the interpretation field
• demonstrate the ability to handle the interpretation of the most commonly encountered events in the medical, legal and educational setting at a beginner professional level
• exercise professional argumentation skills in group discussions
• list basic resources and research tools available to interpreters and use them successfully to complete an interpretation task at a beginner professional level
• demonstrate professional awareness (knowledge of professional norms and ethics) in their discussions and interpreting work
• explain personal strengths and weaknesses with regard to a variety of interpreting encounters
• explain how to deal with weaknesses in a professional manner
• exercise basic customer education skills in this domain of interpreting

A University of Arizona non-credit Certificate in Interpretation is awarded upon successful completion of the program (three courses). 

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Spanish/English Interpretation Courses

Each course is usually 16 weeks long and offered 1-2 times per year. Courses start in January, May and August.

Courses are self-paced, with weekly deadlines for activities such as reading, interpretation assignments and exams.

Medical Interpretation

The Medical Spanish/English Interpretation course provides guided practice in the successful completion of professional interpretation tasks in the medical domain. Medical Interpretation will be particularly useful to practicing interpreters with no formal education in the field as well as to those interested in pursuing careers in translating, interpreting, and cross-cultural communication.

Dates: August 26-December 15, 2024

Legal Interpretation

Spanish/English Legal Interpretation provides guided practice in the successful completion of professional interpretation tasks in the legal domain. Legal Interpretation will be particularly useful to practicing interpreters with no formal education in the field as well as to those interested in pursuing careers in translating, interpreting, and cross-cultural communication.

Dates: January 6-April 27, 2025

Educational Interpretation

The Educational Spanish/English Interpretation course provides guided practice in the successful completion of professional interpretation tasks in the educational sphere, including both general education and special education scenarios. Educational Interpretation will be particularly useful to practicing interpreters with no formal education in the field as well as to those interested in pursuing careers in translating, interpreting, and cross-cultural communication.

Dates: May 5-August 25, 2025

For more training opportunities in translation and interpretation, please visit the University of Arizona National Center for Interpretation.

Application and Registration

To apply, you will need to complete and submit a background information form and an oral recording to test your proficiency in English and Spanish.

Applying to the program is free, and you can apply any time. Please allow 2 weeks before contacting us about the results of your application.

If you are accepted into the program, you will be notified when classes open for registration.

Paying for Your Interpretation Certificate

A payment plan is available for students registering for this program. Discounts are available for University of Arizona employees and military, as well as early registration (1 month before course start). Only one discount can be used per registration.

Questions about the Spanish/English Interpretation Program?

For more information, please call 520-626-3343 or see our FAQ section.