Healthcare Interpreter Program
Bridging Language and Cultural Barriers in Healthcare
The Pacific University Healthcare Interpreter Program offered through the School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership is an innovative fully-online professional training opportunity for bilingual community members to become healthcare interpreters. Healthcare interpreters can work on an on-demand basis through virtual interpretation services, or in-person in various healthcare settings. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that healthcare interpreters earn higher than average wages.
| State | Average Hourly Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $29.36 | $61,060 |
| Washington | $28.03 | $58,310 |
| California | $33.62 | $69,930 |
*wage information accessed March 2025
The Pacific Healthcare Interpreter Program is taught in English and is open to bilingual individuals in Oregon, Washington and California who are interested in becoming professional healthcare interpreters. No experience is required to enroll in the program. The program uses the Cross Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP)’s Bridging the Gap (BTG) 64-hour medical interpreter curriculum. The 64-hour curriculum is delivered in a synchronous online format using Zoom. The online sessions run in real time, with participants and the instructor attending together from different locations. The program is specifically designed for working professionals and is taught in 2-hour online sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays over the course of 16 weeks.
Certificate of Successful Completion
Pacific is offering this non-credit, continuing education opportunity in collaboration with the Cross Cultural Health Care Program (CCHCP) and Bridging the Gap (BTG). Because no academic credit is awarded through Pacific University, this program is not eligible for Title IV funding (federal financial aid). Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be issued a certificate directly from Bridging the Gap (BTG). This certificate is a participant’s proof of completion and qualifies as a pre-requisite to apply for the qualified interpreter credential in Oregon or to take the certification exam if the participant wants to become certified.
Please see the resources below for more information regarding the Oregon, Washington, and California Healthcare Interpreter (HCI) requirements:
Oregon Healthcare Interpreter requirements
Washington State Healthcare Interpreter requirements
California Healthcare Interpreter Requirements
