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Become a Medical Interpreter
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The Medical Reserve Corps of Ramsey County (MRCRC) is looking for people who are bilingual to join a free medical interpreter training and certification program. This free program is run by the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM) and has a required volunteer commitment. The application for the 2024 program has closed.
Qualifications:
- Must be bilingual in English and another language: Somali, Oromo, or Karen; other multilingual speakers are also encouraged to apply.
- Must be age 18 or older.
- Must live in Ramsey County.
- Must be willing and able to volunteer for the Ramsey County Medical Reserve Corps for at least 40 hours over two years in a medical interpretation capacity.
Training
The MRCRC partners with the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM) for the medical interpreter training program. Participants must be able to commit to spending 2 - 3 nights a week on class and homework. KOM trainings are considered university-level coursework that may transfer to other educational institutions for academic/college credit.
There will be two medical interpreter training sessions, each with a different group of participants. Classes meet two evenings per week with the occasional all day session on Saturday.
- Session 1: March 4 – May 15, Mondays and Thursdays from 5-9 p.m.
- Session 2: June 3 – Aug. 10, more information to come.
Each training session covers the foundational skills needed for interpretation, including culturally-specific concepts and medical terminology. Homework is assigned weekly. Once a session is finished, participants must complete 20 hours of volunteer service with the MRCRC. Once completed, participants will take a certification exam.
After certification
After getting their medical interpreter certification, participants must volunteer with the MRCRC. Participants must volunteer at least 40 hours over two years. This will give volunteers valuable experience that they can use to jumpstart a career in medical interpretation if they wish.
Contact Us
Medical Reserve Corps
Brian Brown
MRC Coordinator
Email