Bridging the Gap is a 64-hour professional development program that prepares bilingual individuals to work as medical interpreters. It is used to train novice and experienced medical interpreters, and it is accepted by both accredited national certifying bodies, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) and the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI). No interpreting experience is required to take the class.
Colorado Language Connection, a unit of Asian Pacific Development Center, is a licensed provider for Bridging the Gap 40- and 64-hour Medical Interpreter Training Program by the Cross Cultural Health Care Program.
This course covers:
-
Basic interpreting skills. Roles, ethics, conduit and clarifier interpreting, managing the flow of the session.
-
Codes of ethics. Codes of ethics and decision-making for interpreters in health care.
-
Integrated medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology. Introduction to common terms, procedures, and specialties relating to human physiology and health.
-
Interpreting in mental health. Specialized strategies and skills that apply to the unique demands of mental health settings.
-
Information on health care systems. Introduction to the health care systems and types of health care providers.
-
Culture in interpreting. Self-awareness, basic characteristics of specific cultures, traditional health care in specific communities, culture brokering.
-
Communication skills for advocacy. Listening skills, communication styles, how doctors think, appropriate advocacy.
-
Professional development. Effective communication, professional conduct, self-care, resources for professional growth.
FOR IN-PERSON/HYBRID BTG TRAINING: Final exam will be conducted on the last day of training.
FOR ONLINE BTG TRAINING: Trainees will have one week to schedule for the final exam upon completing the training sessions. Final exam will be conducted over the ZOOM, and will be appointment based.
ABOUT THE CLASS
Total tuition: $725.00
Includes non-refundable $150 registration fee, course textbook, bilingual medical glossary if available in your target language (if not available participants will receive an English-English glossary), the Mental Health Glossary, and a signed Certificate of Successful Completion (given to those who pass the final exam).
Note:
-
We require a $150 non-refundable course deposit to reserve your spot in our training. Remaining course fee ($575) must be paid before the first day of class.
-
Language proficiency test fee $70 is not included in the course fee.
TRAINING DATES AND TIMES
This 64-hour class will be held at Aurora Mental Health Center and Asian Pacific Development Center. Participants must attend all hours of the training. Colorado Language Connection (CLC) has the right to cancel a class that does not have minimum enrollment.
If CLC cancels a class, the $150 registration fee will be refundable. Training delivery (possibly to switch the training to virtual) remain subject to change based on further developments related to the Covid-19 outbreak.
TRAINING DATES 2021
APRIL 2021 BTG 64-HOUR
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thurs (4/15), Fri (4/16), Sat (4/17), Sun (4/18)
Thurs (4/22), Fri (4/23), Sat (4/24), Sun (4/25)
Location (tentative – training may be held virtually or hybrid):
-
Thursdays and Fridays class will be held at Mike Kucera Auditorium, Lower Level, Aurora Mental Health Center 791 Chambers Road, Aurora, CO
-
Saturdays and Sundays class will be held at Asian Pacific Development Center 1537 Alton Street, Aurora, CO
MAY 2021 BTG 64-HOUR
9am – 6pm
Thurs (5/20), Fri (5/21), Sat (5/22), Sun (5/23)
Thurs (5/27), Fri (5/28), Sat (5/29), Sun (5/30)
Location (tentative – training may be held virtually or hybrid): :
-
Thursdays and Fridays class will be held at Mike Kucera Auditorium, Lower Level, Aurora Mental Health Center 791 Chambers Road, Aurora, CO
-
Saturdays and Sundays class will be held at Asian Pacific Development Center 1537 Alton Street, Aurora, CO
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum age and education
Participants must be 18 or older and have a high school degree or the equivalent. Proof of high school graduation or GED, etc. is required.
Proof of language proficiency
Participants must be bilingual in English and at least one other language, and proof of proficiency in both languages is required to enroll in the class.
Proof of language proficiency can be copies of any one of the following documents:
-
High school diploma or equivalent, or university/college degree from a school using the assessed language(s)
-
5 or more years of verified professional experience working in the language(s) being assessed
-
State or federal court interpreter certification
-
Oral language exam results with scores equivalent to ACTFL Advanced Mid-level or ILR Level 2
If applicants do not have any prior proof of language proficiency, the registration process will include a speaking and listening assessment conducted over the phone. The testing is provided through ALTA Language Services and administered by Colorado Language Connection on a weekday at a time that is convenient for the applicant. Once a language assessment is scheduled, the applicant will receive a phone number to call and instructions to begin the assessment, which is approximately 20-25 minutes long. The maximum possible score is 12; a 9 or higher is required for admission. The fee is $70 per test, non-refundable.
To arrange for your language proficiency test:
Please email Agi at erhaagioseth@apdc.org to schedule for your proficiency test.
BRIDGING THE GAP REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT PROCEDURE
1. Complete our 64-BTG online application form
2. Copies of the following should be submitted within your Bridging the Gap 40-hour online application form:
-
Copy of high school diploma, GED certificate, or university/college degree
-
Proof of language proficiency (in English and the target language*)
* If you do not have proof of proficiency in your second language, please skip the field Proof of Language Proficiency (Language 2) in the online application form.
*Please contact Agi Agriloka at erhaagioseth@apdc.org to arrange for the language proficiency assessment.
* The fee for language proficiency assessment is $70 per language, non-refundable. We require payment in advance prior to scheduling language proficiency test
3. Make the payment via PayPal by click "Buy Now" button on our website (PayPal has the option to pay with the credit card if you don't have an account with PayPal). Remaining course fee must be paid before the first day of class.
4. Textbook will be available for pick up at our office on 1537 Alton Street, Aurora, CO on the week prior to the first day of training. Full payment must be made prior to pick up the textbook. Please email Agi at erhaagioseth@apdc.org for textbook pickup as our office is still closed to public.
SHIPPING OPTIONS VIA USPS
We could mail textbook materials and certificate for an additional fee of $20. We require payment prior to shipping and four days notice to ship out your book. Please note we are not responsible for any lost book/certificate during shipments.
REFUND POLICY
Unless a class in canceled by Colorado Language Connection, the $150 registration fee is non-refundable. However, if a course applicant becomes unable to attend a course they had registered for, the deposit can be held for one (1) calendar year from the start date of the original course registered for.
PARTICIPANT CODE OF CONDUCT
Colorado Language Connection has the right to remove any participant who interferes with or causes disruption in the learning environment. Refunds will not be issued to participants who are removed.
CERTIFICATES OF SUCCESFUL COMPLETION
A Pre-Test and a Final Test will be given to measure participants’ improvement before and after the training. Certificates of successful completion will be awarded to participants who score 70% or better on the Final Test. Participants will be notified via email about their test results within one week of completing the course. Certificates will be mailed to Asian Pacific Development Center location within two weeks after the training.
Participants who do not pass the Final Test are permitted one retake within a 3-month period. If a participant does not pass the Final Test after the permitted re-take, CCHCP will not issue a certificate of successful completion.
Students must attend all hours of the training and pass the Final Test to earn a certificate of successful completion. This certificate can be used as proof of training for national certification and other bodies that require proof of training.
Receiving a BTG certificate of completion is proof that a participant is a trained medical interpreter. In order to become a nationally certified medical interpreter, participants who successfully complete the course should take and pass national certification exams through the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org) or the Certification Commission for Healthcare
Interpreters (www.cchicertification.org). Some states may have their own state certification exams to be a state-certified medical interpreter.
Additional Information
All our communication will be primarily by e-mail. Please make sure your email address is working and check it regularly. If you have not heard from us in within 1-2 business days, please call Agi at 303.923.6558.
Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you!