If you’re bilingual and love helping people communicate, becoming a certified interpreter could be the perfect career path for you. Interpreters play a critical role in everything from hospitals and courtrooms to international business meetings and certification is often the key to landing better jobs, higher pay, and more credibility.

But how do you actually become a certified interpreter? What qualifications do you need? And where should you start?

Let’s break it down in simple steps.

What Is a Certified Interpreter?

A certified interpreter is a language professional who has passed an official exam to prove they can accurately and professionally interpret between two languages.

Certification shows:

You have strong language skills in both languages.
You understand industry-specific terminology (e.g. legal, medical).
You follow ethical standards and confidentiality rules.
You’re trained to handle real-life interpreting situations under pressure.

Many organizations especially in healthcare, legal, or government settings require certification before hiring an interpreter.

Do You Really Need Certification?

Technically, you can work as a freelance or community interpreter without being certified. However, certification gives you an edge in a competitive market. It’s especially important if you want to:

Work in hospitals or clinics
Interpret in courts or legal settings
Land higher-paying or government contracts
Join professional interpreter platforms like Interpreto
Stand out from other interpreters

Bottom line: Certification = more trust, better clients, and more opportunities.

Step 1: Know the Types of Interpreting

Before you dive into certification, think about what kind of interpreting you want to do. This helps guide which training or certification path is right for you.

The main types of interpreting:

Medical Interpreting
You work in hospitals, clinics, or mental health settings, helping patients and providers understand each other.
Legal or Court Interpreting
You interpret in courts, law offices, or immigration cases. Requires deep understanding of legal terms and procedures.
Community Interpreting
You work in schools, social services, housing agencies, or other public services.
Conference or Business Interpreting
You interpret at international events, business meetings, or live conferences.

Step 2: Check Language Requirements

To become a certified interpreter, you must be fully fluent in both your source and target languages.

That means you can:

Understand accents and regional dialects
Think quickly and interpret in real time
Handle technical vocabulary in both languages

Most programs test your proficiency before allowing you to train or take the certification exam. If needed, brush up your second language skills first!

Step 3: Get Training

While some people grow up bilingual, professional interpreting requires special skills like:

Consecutive and simultaneous interpretation
Note-taking and memory techniques
Managing stress and fast-paced situations
Understanding cultural differences and sensitivities
Knowing ethical and legal standards

Where to get training:

Community colleges or universities
Online interpreting courses
Local interpreting organizations
Hospital or court interpreter workshops

Many programs offer certificates of completion which aren’t the same as official certification but are still valuable for building skills and credibility.

Step 4: Choose the Right Certification Exam

Depending on your goals and country, you’ll choose the certification that matches your interpreting field.

In the U.S., here are the most recognized certifications:

🔹 Medical Interpreting:

CCHI (Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters)
NBCMI (National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters)

🔹 Court Interpreting:

State Court Certification (varies by state)
Federal Court Interpreter Certification (for Spanish/English)

🔹 Conference Interpreting:

AIIC or UN exams for high-level interpreting roles

Each exam has its own requirements, fees, and study resources. Be sure to visit the official websites for the most up-to-date info.

Step 5: Gain Experience and Keep Learning

Once certified, you can start applying for interpreting jobs — and the best way to grow is through hands-on experience.

Ways to gain experience:

Volunteer with local clinics, schools, or non-profits
Join interpreter platforms like Interpreto
Work with agencies that offer on-demand remote interpreting
Attend interpreter workshops, webinars, and conferences

Interpreting is a lifelong learning journey, so keep updating your skills and knowledge as industries evolve.

Ready to Start Your Interpreting Career?

Get discovered by clients around the world by joining Interpreto — a modern platform that connects certified interpreters with real-time jobs in healthcare, legal, and business fields.

Becoming a Certified Interpreter: What You Need & Where to Start