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Medical interpreter education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a medical interpreter. Medical interpreters usually study business, english, or linguistics. 51% of medical interpreters hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 4,875 real medical interpreter resumes to see exactly what medical interpreter education sections show.
The most common colleges for medical interpreters are the University of Massachusetts Boston and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
There are also many online medical interpreter courses to help get the education required to be a medical interpreter.
There are certain medical interpreter certifications that you should consider. These medical interpreter certifications include Certified Medical Interpreter (CMI) and Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI).
What education do you need to become a medical interpreter?
What degree do you need to be a medical interpreter?
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Associate, 16%
- Master's, 12%
- High School Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 16%
What should I major in to become a medical interpreter?
- Business, 13%
- English, 12%
- Linguistics, 8%
- Nursing, 8%
- Other Majors, 59%
Most common colleges for medical interpreters
| Medical interpreter common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts Boston | 7.29% |
| University of Phoenix | 7.29% |
| Florida International University | 6.25% |
| University of California - Davis | 6.25% |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 5.90% |
Best majors for medical interpreters
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 12.9% |
| 2 | English | 11.9% |
| 3 | Linguistics | 8.4% |
| 4 | Nursing | 8.1% |
| 5 | Psychology | 7.2% |
Best colleges for medical interpreters
The best colleges for medical interpreters are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.
A medical interpreter with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for medical interpreters. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become medical interpreters.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
2. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
4. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
9. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
20 best online courses for medical interpreters
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1. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...
2. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale
Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...
3. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing
Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...
4. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training
Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...
5. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
6. Introduction to Medical Software
In this class, we present a broad overview of the field of medical software. You will learn from Yale professors and a series of industry experts who connect the course concepts to their real world applications. We begin by discussing medical device regulatory structures, data privacy and cybersecurity regulations, and key support technologies such quality management systems and risk management. We then take a detailed look at the medical software life cycle, starting with identifying user...
7. AMCI Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course
Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course...
8. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding
Volume One: Medical Hematology...
9. Medical Terminology
Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...
10. Introduction to Medical Imaging
Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...
11. Medical Terminology 101
For those in healthcare, billing, and more. Boost earning ability and marketable skills by learning to speak medicine...
12. Deep Learning with PyTorch for Medical Image Analysis
Learn how to use Pytorch-Lightning to solve real world medical imaging tasks!...
13. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): Intro for Device Designers
An introduction to the EU's Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for those involved in developing medical devices...
14. Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 EU regulatory affairs.
Understand regulations for medical devices in simple terms to gain market approval of a medical device in the EU...
15. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - European Medical Devices
A practical course discussing the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in real-world situations...
16. ISO 13485 - IQOQPQ - Process Validation for Medical Devices
Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ) & Performance Qualification (PQ) Medical Devices...
17. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - US FDA Medical Devices
A practical course discussing the US FDA Medical Device regulations for real-world situations...
18. EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs explained Simply
How to get approval to sell Medical Devices within the European Union. Understand regulatory affairs & ISO 13485 2016...
19. Understanding Medications and Therapeutics
Helping you build the best foundation to truly understand medications and develop clinical reasoning skills...
20. ISO 13485 Demystified - Medical Devices' QMS 360° Insights
Deep dive into the world of ISO 13485 international standard for medical devices' QMS, basic concepts & requirements...
Top 10 most affordable universities for medical interpreters
The most affordable schools for medical interpreters are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for medical interpreters are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for medical interpreters.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
7. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
8. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
9. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for medical interpreters
The hardest universities for medical interpreters to get into are Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for medical interpreters are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for medical interpreters based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
7. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
8. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
9. Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,488
10. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for medical interpreters
The easiest schools for medical interpreters to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, wayland baptist university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a medical interpreter without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for medical interpreters.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
6. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
7. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
8. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
9. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
10. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
Average medical interpreter salary by education level
| Medical interpreter education level | Medical interpreter salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $49,697 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $41,438 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $45,872 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $45,637 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025