Bridging the Gap is a professional development program that prepares bilingual individuals to work as medical interpreters. This 24-hour course trains medical interpreters on the topic of mental health interpreting. All participants must have taken the Bridging the Gap 40-hour course, or a different 40-hour course approved by CCHCP.

This course covers:

Review of Bridging the Gap key concepts. Interpreter roles, ethics, modes of interpreting, incremental intervention, managing the flow of the session, culture in interpreting.
Mental health professionals and settings. Understand the various settings and health care professionals working in mental health care.
Steps in problem solving in mental health. Different processes for problem solving in mental health, evaluation process.
Challenges in mental health interpreting. Identify specific challenges that occur during a mental health interpreting session.
Mental health interpreting techniques. Identify roles and modes interpreters use. Understand how to handle different challenges that occur while interpreting in mental health.
Mental health forms. Become familiar with the various types of forms and documents an interpreter may encounter while interpreting in a mental health setting. 
Integrated mental health terminology. Introduction to common terms, therapies, and specialties relating to the field of mental health.

TOTAL TUITION: $500.00 + applicable taxes

Includes course textbook, mental health glossary, and a signed Certificate of Successful Completion, if applicable.For this class, please have reliable internet and a computer with a working camera/webcam and microphone. Having headphones and a workspace with minimal distractions is also encourage.

Not included: $78 language assessment, if necessary.

One set of either ebooks or physical books is included in the course cost. If you would like both physical books and ebooks, there will be an additional charge.

TRAINING DATES

June 22 - 29, 2026
Online via Zoom
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 1:00pm Pacific Time

October 5 - 12, 2026
Online via Zoom
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 1:00pm Pacific Time

NOTE: the above times are in Pacific Standard, please be sure to check your local time zone.

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.

40 Hours of training
Participants must have completed the 40-hour Bridging the Gap course or another CCHCP approved 40-hour medical interpreter training. A Certificate of Successful completion is required as proof.

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 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)
• National or state medical interpreter certification
• 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. This assessment costs $78.

Assessments are scheduled through ALTA Language Services 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 20-40 minutes long. The maximum possible score is 12; a 9 or higher is required for admission.

1. In this application you'll be asked to upload the following documents:

• Copy of high school diploma, GED certificate, or university/college degree
• Proof of language proficiency in English and your target language (if available)
• Certificate of Successful completion of 40 hours of interpreter training

2. After receiving your application, a CCHCP staff member will follow-up via email regarding your application and next steps. This will include instructions for payment for the language assessment, if necessary.  

3. Once we have received proof of language proficiency or proficiency assessment results, you will receive an email to complete the enrollment process.

4. Payments can be made via credit card, check, money order, or cash. Credit card payments can be made online after receiving the invoice via email from a CCHCP employee. Checks and money orders should be made out to The Cross Cultural Health Care Program, or CCHCP. Any necessary language assessments will be scheduled and conducted upon receipt of the language assessment fee.

5. Confirm your attendance and pay the remaining tuition balance.

If you have an international address for your shipping address, please note that there will be additional costs for shipping. 

Application materials and payment must be received by the following dates.

 

June 2026 Course

Friday, May 18th: Deadline to complete language assessment (if needed)

Monday, May 25th: Application and payment deadline. Application form, course payment, proof of high school graduation, and proof of language proficiency must be submitted.

 

October 2026 Course

Friday, August 28th: Deadline to complete language assessment (if needed)

Monday, September 7th: Application and payment deadline. Application form, course payment, proof of high school graduation, and proof of language proficiency must be submitted.

 

Unless a class is canceled by CCHCP, the following refund policy will apply:

Up to 2 weeks before class starts: 80%   
Up to 1 week before class starts: 50%

However, if a course applicant becomes unable to attend a course they had registered for, the payment can be held for one calendar year from the start date of the original course they registered for. An application may be transferred one time if an applicant becomes unable to attend a course. Transferred applications are not applicable for refunds.

CCHCP reserves 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.

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 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. 

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 complete at least 40 hours of training 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.

All our communication will be primarily by email. Please make sure your email address is working and check it regularly. If you have not heard from us in a reasonable amount of time, please call us at 206-860-0329.

Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you!

One set of either ebooks or physical books is included in the course cost. If you would like both physical books and ebooks, there will be an additional charge.

Proof of Language Proficiency

Proof of proficiency can be copies of any of the following documents:

• High school diploma or equivalent, or university/college degree from a school using the assessed language(s)
• National or state medical interpreter certification
• 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

Please note: Language assessments are required for applicants without other proof of proficiency. We will notify applicants of their language assessment schedule upon receipt of application form. The language assessment is $78. 

TRAINING DATES

June 30, 2026
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific Time

October 13, 2026
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific Time

If Applicable: If someone else or another organization is payinig for your course fees, please fill out the following section.