- Are you required to attend in person or synchronously?
- What is healthcare interpreter “certification” versus “qualification?”
- I am currently an enrolled Pacific University student, or a staff or faculty member. Can I enroll in the Healthcare Interpreter program?
- Is it ok to submit a copy of my high school diploma, GED, or university/college diploma?
- How do I pay the registration fee? Can I pay for it by credit card over the telephone?
- What is involved in the speaking assessment conducted by Language Testing International (LTI)?
- My life circumstances have recently changed, and I am no longer going to be able to complete the Healthcare Interpreter program. Is it possible to get a refund?
Are you required to attend in person or synchronously?
The Pacific Healthcare Interpreter program is delivered in a synchronous online format using Zoom. This means that the 2-hour online sessions run in real time, with participants and the instructor attending together from different locations. Participants will complete 100% of the training online and are not required to attend any in-person sessions. Please see the Curriculum and Schedule page for the training schedule.
What is healthcare interpreter “certification” versus “qualification?”
Oregon’s Healthcare Interpreter Program includes two levels of credentialing (certification and qualification). In the State of Oregon, certified or qualified healthcare interpreters must meet all the requirements below and provide the supporting documentation.
The 64-Hour Bridging the Gap Healthcare Interpreter Training offered through the Pacific University School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership meets all of the requirements to be credentialed as a Qualified Healthcare Interpreter in the State of Oregon. Successful completion of this training program results in a certificate of completion issued by Bridging the Gap, which is sufficient to apply for “Qualification” in Oregon as described in the table below.
Participants may also elect to take the certification exam, successful completion of which would earn the credential of Certified Healthcare Interpreter, but this is optional and occurs outside of this training program.
Please refer to the table below for more information about each level of credentialing:
| Qualification | Certification (optional) |
|---|---|
|
All of the requirements from the ‘Qualification’ column (left) AND:
According to the new Rule Housebill 2359, Healthcare Interpreters are no longer required to be certified; it is optional. |
| Valid for four years from the issue date | Valid for four years from the issue date |
Table taken from the Oregon Healthcare Interpreter Program Requirements for Spoken Languages: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/oe8923.pdf
More information about credential requirements in Oregon can be found on the Oregon Health Authority Healthcare Interpreter web page.
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
I am currently an enrolled Pacific University student, or a staff or faculty member. Can I enroll in the Healthcare Interpreter program?
Yes. All members of our Pacific community are welcome to enroll in the Pacific Healthcare Interpreter training program if they meet the application criteria.
Current Pacific Students: The Healthcare Interpreter Program offers a student discount for currently enrolled Pacific University students. The discounted registration fee for Pacific students is $600 (this cost includes the fee for the program, textbooks, and the shipping of textbooks). Please contact Amber Vanzant for the instructions for how to pay your discounted registration fee via our online payment portal.
There is also an option for currently enrolled Pacific students to complete the Healthcare Interpreter training program for academic credit by completing the program as part of a Pacific Independent Study course. Please contact Amber Vanzant for more information about this option.
A Note About Using Financial Aid to Pay for this Program
Note that the Pacific Healthcare Interpreter Program is considered a non-credit continuing education opportunity, with the certificate of completion being awarded to participants directly from Bridging the Gap (BTG), not Pacific University. Students completing the training program who do not complete the program as part of the Pacific Independent Study Course (which is a Pacific course with a formal course code) cannot use their financial aid funds to pay for the program.
Students who opt to enroll in the Independent Study course and complete the Healthcare Interpreter training program as part of their Pacific coursework can use their financial aid funds to pay for the program.
Pacific Veteran Students: please contact our VA Certifying Official, Renee Vanzant, to determine if you can use your VA benefits to cover the cost of the Pacific Healthcare Interpreter program. You can reach Renee at vanzanjr@pacificu.edu or 503-352-2231.
Pacific Employees: please note that we offer an employee discount for Pacific staff or faculty members. The discounted registration fee for Pacific staff and faculty is $600 (this cost includes the fee for the program, textbooks, and the shipping of textbooks). Please contact Amber Vanzant for the instructions for how to pay your discounted registration fee via our online payment portal.
Is it ok to submit a copy of my high school diploma, GED, or university/college diploma?
Yes. Applicants can submit copies of their proof of language proficiency documents. Official university/college transcripts can also be submitted, but are not required.
How do I pay the registration fee? Can I pay for it by credit card over the telephone?
Important: Please do not pay the registration fee until you have received confirmation from our office that your application is complete and that you are eligible to register for the program.
Pacific University Students, Faculty, and Staff: Please contact Amber Vanzant for the instructions for how to pay your discounted registration fee via our online payment portal.
We are not able to accept credit card payments over the phone. Payments can be made by debit or credit card via our online payment portal or by check in the mail. Please find the link to the online payment portal below.
Participants may also pay by check in the mail, but your check must be received by the July 28, 2025 registration deadline.
Important Payment Portal Instructions
- The link above will direct you to our payment portal.
- Under Products, click on Healthcare Interpreter Program Registration Fee.
- Click the Add to Cart button.
- Enter your name and address information.
- Click on Checkout.
- Pacific University Students, Faculty, and Staff: You will need to enter the discount code in the Discount Code box. Please contact Amber Vanzant for the discount code information.
- Note for all participants: Do not create a user name or password. When prompted to create a user name and password, please bypass this section and scroll down to Checkout As Guest.
- Follow the rest of the prompts to enter your payment information and complete your payment.
Checks can be mailed to:
Pacific University
School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership #A-186
190 SE 8th Ave Suite 104
Hillsboro, Oregon 97123
Please indicate in the check memo line that the payment is for the Healthcare Interpreter program.
What is involved in the speaking assessment conducted by Language Testing International (LTI)?
If applicants do not have any prior proof of language proficiency, they will need to complete an ACTFL Speaking Assessment. The assessment is called an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI®), and it is conducted over the phone or on the computer through Language Testing International (LTI) in the language being assessed (approximately 15-40 minutes in length). Applicants are responsible for scheduling this assessment through LTI at a time that is convenient for the applicant.
The following is required to complete an OPI:
- Telephone
- A computer (laptop recommended; required for web-based proctoring)
- Webcam
- Microphone
- Internet access
Please note that tablets, iPads, and Chromebooks cannot be used with the web-based proctoring service required for these assessments.
Oral language exam scores equivalent to ACTFL Advanced Mid-level or ILR Level 2 are required for admission into the Pacific Healthcare Interpreter Program (exam results cannot be more than four years old).
Note that the Healthcare Interpreter Program registration fee does not include the cost of the speaking assessment if an assessment is needed. All costs associated with the speaking assessment (approximately $128 -$185) will be in addition to the registration fee above, and will be paid directly to LTI.
Please find contact information and instructions for ordering a speaking assessment through Language Testing International (LTI) below:
Instructions for Ordering an OPI Through Language Testing International
Language Testing International (LTI)
https://www.languagetesting.com/oral-proficiency-interview-opi
1-800-486-8444
Email: customercare@languagetesting.com
Language Testing International (LTI) conducts language assessments on an international scale, and typically the soonest that they can schedule an OPI language assessment for an individual is at least two weeks from when you order the assessment online. Please plan ahead and order your language assessment at least 2 to 3 weeks prior to the application deadline to be able to complete the assessment and have your results sent to our office by the application deadline.
Speaking assessment scores can be emailed to Amber Vanzant at amber.vanzant@pacificu.edu or mailed to:
Pacific University
School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership #A-186
190 SE 8th Ave Suite 104
Hillsboro, Oregon 97123
My life circumstances have recently changed, and I am no longer going to be able to complete the Pacific Healthcare Interpreter program. Is it possible to get a refund?
Yes, depending on how soon you notify the School of Healthcare Administration and Leadership that you will not be attending, you may be eligible for a refund. Please see the refund policy below:
- Refund requests should be emailed to Amber Vanzant at amber.vanzant@pacificu.edu.
Cancellation notice of the Healthcare Interpreter training must be given in writing 10 days prior to the first day of the training to receive a full (100%) refund. - Cancellations made after the 10-day deadline will receive a fifty percent (50%) refund.
- No refunds will be offered if the participant attends any portion of the training and then discontinues attendance for the remainder of the event, including no-shows.
Please note that all refunds will be issued as checks in the University's next available check run. Please be aware that it can take up to two weeks to receive a refund check in the mail.