Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook UPDATED JULY 2014 Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter (CoreCHI ) Certified Healthcare Iterpreter (CHI )
Table of Cotets OVERVIEW... 3 Scope of this Hadbook... 3 Itroductio... 3 History... 3 Usig This Hadbook... 4 What is a Certificatio Credetial?... 5 What is a CCHI Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter?... 6 What is a CCHI Certified Healthcare Iterpreter?... 8 The Examiatio... 9 APPLYING FOR CCHI s CREDENTIALS...11 Applicatio Guidelies...11 Eligibility Guidelies...14 PREPARING FOR THE EXAM...26 Study Tips...26 Logistics...29 AFTER THE EXAM: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW...32 Appeal Processes...32 Record Maiteace...33 Examiatio Results...34 MAINTAINING YOUR CERTIFICATION...36 Discipliary Policy for Cadidates ad Certificatio Holders...41 APPENDIX A: Frequetly Asked Questios Related to the Applicatio Process...47 APPENDIX B: Frequetly Asked Questios Related to Cotiuig Educatio...53 APPENDIX C: Template for Documetatio of Cotiuig Educatio...60 APPENDIX D: Sample Examiatio Questios...61 APPENDIX E: ADA Accommodatio Request Form...64 APPENDIX F: Work History Verificatio Letter ad Affidavit...67 APPENDIX G: Applicatio Timelie ad Checklist...70 Copyright 2014 Certificatio Commissio for Healthcare Iterpreters. All rights reserved. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 2
Overview SCOPE OF THIS HANDBOOK CCHI s Cadidate Examiatio Hadbook has bee prepared for the use of idividuals who are applyig to CCHI to participate i its certificatio program or have bee determied eligible for CCHI s examiatios. INTRODUCTION Cogratulatios o takig the first step toward becomig a certified healthcare iterpreter. The Certificatio Commissio for Healthcare Iterpreters (CCHI) welcomes you to our healthcare iterpreter certificatio program. Our primary goal is to provide a process that will ehace the professio of healthcare iterpretig ad i tur beefit the commuities that are i eed of healthcare iterpreters. CCHI has brought together the ecessary stakeholders through a o-profit orgaizatio whose mai missio is to develop ad admiister a atioal, valid, credible, vedor-eutral certificatio program for healthcare iterpreters. CCHI has researched ad built its program based o data from the field that reflects the kowledge, skills, performace ad expectatios for healthcare iterpretig. For more iformatio o CCHI, please see www.cchicertificatio.org. HISTORY Healthcare iterpretig has bee vibrat over the last twety-five years. There have bee may who have bee istrumetal i developig the professio ad workig toward certificatio. CCHI has the distict hoor of havig the Commissioers who have each spet iumerable years i the field of healthcare iterpretig. Their commitmet, experiece, ivolvemet, ad breadth of uderstadig has culmiated i developig a certificatio program that represets the best ad most curret practices i healthcare iterpretig. Begiig with iformal work groups at the first Critical Lik coferece i Toroto (1994) that led to the establishmet of the Natioal Coucil o Iterpretig i CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 3
Health Care (NCIHC), some of CCHI s Commissioers ad Advisors were amog the early pioeers for professioalizig the healthcare iterpreter field. For more iformatio o the history of the developmet of healthcare iterpreter credetials, see http://www.cchicertificatio.org/history/history. USING THIS HANDBOOK This hadbook is iteded for use by idividuals who are iterested i beig certified by CCHI. While CCHI s iitial examiatios have bee desiged to test the competecy of etry-level healthcare iterpreters, the examiatios are available ad appropriate to iterpreters of all levels of experiece who seek cofirmatio of their kowledge, skills ad abilities through a formal competecy assessmet process. For purposes of this hadbook, the followig defiitios apply: Applicat a idividual who is applyig or has applied to participate i CCHI s certificatio program but who has ot yet bee determied eligible to take CCHI s examiatio. Cadidate a idividual who has bee determied eligible to take CCHI s examiatios. This hadbook provides iformatio o preparig for CCHI s examiatios icludig: eligibility requiremets; applicatio procedures; ad examiatio admiistratio. This documet is ONLY INTENDED AS A GUIDE ad oly applicable to idividuals participatig i CCHI s certificatio programs. CCHI s iformatio, procedures, ad fees detailed i this publicatio may be ameded, revised, or otherwise altered at ay time ad the most curret iformatio is available o CCHI s web site (www.cchicertificatio.org). The provisio of this hadbook does ot cofer ay rights upo a applicat. The iformatio cotaied i this hadbook supersedes iformatio cotaied i all ad ay previous materials or commuicatio. All correspodece ad requests for iformatio cocerig the admiistratio of CCHI examiatios should be directed to ifo@cchicertificatio.org. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 4
WHAT IS A CERTIFICATION CREDENTIAL? A certificatio credetial is somethig that shows a perso has attaied a specific goal or objective. CCHI is offerig two differet types of certificatio credetials: a core certificatio assessig the iterpreter s professioal kowledge ad a laguage-specific performace certificatio. Certificatio provides a specific type of credetial oe that attests that a perso has exhibited the miimum kowledge or skills eeded to practice i a particular field. Based o CCHI s job task aalysis for healthcare iterpreters, the body of kowledge, skills ad abilities has bee divided ito two areas: Basic kowledge of healthcare iterpretig; ad Oral performace which icludes a demostratio of iterpretig skills i both cosecutive ad simultaeous iterpretig, sight traslatio ad traslatio. These distict areas of professioal kowledge ad skills have become the foudatios for the two certificatio examiatios ad two respective certificatio credetials. CCHI curretly offers two certificatios: Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter (CoreCHI ) A CoreCHI certificat has bee tested o a critical part of the kowledge, skills ad abilities that are required of a healthcare iterpreter. The CoreCHI examiatio assesses the core professioal kowledge as well as critical thikig, ethical decisio-makig, ad cultural resposiveess skills ad abilities eeded to perform the duties of the healthcare iterpreter regardless of the laguage they iterpret. The CoreCHI certificatio is available for iterpreters of all laguages except those for which a oral performace examiatio exists. CoreCHI is the oe ad oly certificatio which every healthcare iterpreter of every laguage eeds to have ad ca achieve today. Certified Healthcare Iterpreter (CHI ) A CHI has bee tested o both areas of professioal kowledge. A CHI must first complete the CoreCHI writte examiatio ad a oral performace examiatio testig the idividual s laguagespecific iterpretig skills ad abilities i cosecutive ad simultaeous iterpretig, sight traslatio ad traslatio. The CHI credetial is curretly available for Spaish, Arabic ad Madari iterpreters. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 5
WHAT IS A CCHI CORE CERTIFICATION HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER? The certificatio of specialized skill-sets affirms a kowledge ad experiece base for practitioers i a particular field, their employers, ad the public at large. Certificatio represets a declaratio of a particular idividual s professioal competece. I some professios, certificatio is a requiremet for employmet or practice. Doctors, mechaics, accoutats, professioal secretaries, surveyors ad may others are all required to go through a certificatio process of some kid. I all istaces, certificatio ehaces the employability ad career advacemet of the idividual practitioer or employee. For more iformatio o certificatio, visit the Istitute for Credetialig Excellece at: http://www.credetialigexcellece.org/. The CoreCHI certificatio is awarded to those idividuals who meet all the educatioal ad examiatio requiremets for core certificatio as a healthcare iterpreter regardless of the laguage of iterpretig. A CoreCHI has bee tested o the most critical kowledge related to maagig a iterpretig ecouter; healthcare termiology; iteractig with other healthcare professioals; preparig for a iterpretig ecouter; ad cultural resposiveess (see a descriptio of the CoreCHI examiatio for more detail) required of a healthcare iterpreter, as well as critical thikig ad ethical decisio-makig skills ad abilities. CoreCHI is a core professioal certificatio. The ext step for a professioal is to seek laguage-specific certificatio. Whe CCHI develops ew oral examiatios, iterpreters i those laguages will have oe year to take the examiatio (see page 7 for more iformatio). BENEFITS OF EARNING A CCHI CoreCHI CERTIFICATION The beefits of obtaiig a CCHI CoreCHI certificatio are far-reachig positively impactig ot oly the iterpreters who maitai their CoreCHI certificatio, but also their employers ad their commuities. Some of the beefits of earig a CCHI CoreCHI certificatio iclude: Persoal Pride Earig CCHI s CoreCHI certificatio documets that oe has the kowledge ecessary to be a healthcare iterpreter. Lifelog Learig To maitai CCHI s CoreCHI certificatio, CCHI CoreCHI desigees must complete required cotiuig educatio (see page 36). CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 6
Professioal Advatage Employers ad agecies likely will look at healthcare iterpreter certificatio as a measure of competece. Havig CCHI s CoreCHI certificatio ca make you a more desirable cadidate whe applyig for a ew job. Recogitio CCHI CoreCHI certificats have eared the right to use the CoreCHI certified credetial mark after their ames. CORE CERTIFICATION HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER CERTIFICATION The CCHI Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter certificatio is the first certificatio, the foudatio credetial for all healthcare iterpreters. The CCHI Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter examiatio is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam i Eglish that covers the basics of healthcare iterpretig. The CoreCHI certificatio idetifies idividuals who possess the core professioal kowledge required of a healthcare iterpreter regardless of the laguage(s) i which they iterpret. The CoreCHI writte examiatio also measures their critical thikig ad ethical decisiomakig abilities ad skills as well as cultural resposiveess. Oce a iterpreter is awarded this core certificatio credetial, they are ready to pursue a laguage-specific certificatio which is curretly available i Spaish, Arabic, ad Madari (see page 8 for more iformatio). As CCHI develops its oral performace examiatio i other laguages, CoreCHI iterpreters who work i those laguages will have to take ad pass the oral performace examiatio withi oe year the idividual s CoreCHI credetial will lapse ad the idividual, if they pass the oral performace exam, will be grated the CHI credetial i the relevat laguage. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 7
WHAT IS A CCHI CERTIFIED HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER? The CHI credetial is the laguage-specific performace certificatio which is curretly available for iterpreters of Spaish, Arabic ad Madari. This certificatio examiatio assesses ot oly the kowledge of the healthcare iterpreter, but also the laguage-specific skills i cosecutive, simultaeous ad sight traslatio modes of iterpretig ad traslatio. CCHI is committed to developig ew oral performace examiatios i the future. BENEFITS OF EARNING A CCHI CHI CERTIFICATION The beefits of CCHI s CHI certificatio are far-reachig positively impactig ot oly the iterpreters who maitai CHI certificatio, but also their employers ad their commuities. Some of the beefits of earig a CCHI CHI certificatio iclude: Persoal Pride Earig CCHI s CHI certificatio is the mark of healthcare iterpreter excellece. Lifelog Learig To maitai CCHI s CHI certificatio, CCHI CHI certificats must complete required cotiuig educatio (see page 36). Professioal Advatage Employers ad agecies will likely regard healthcare iterpreter certificatio as a measure of competece. Havig CCHI s CHI certificatio ca make you a more desirable cadidate whe applyig for a ew job. Recogitio CCHI CHI certificats have eared the right to use the CHI certified credetial mark after their ames. CERTIFIED HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER (CHI ) The CCHI Certified Healthcare Iterpreter must pass a two-part examiatio that covers the basics of healthcare iterpretig ad a demostratio of iterpretig skills i both cosecutive ad simultaeous iterpretig. A healthcare iterpreter will take CCHI s CoreCHI examiatio (a Eglish, multiple-choice examiatio) first. Oce the cadidate passes the CoreCHI examiatio, the cadidate is eligible to take the CHI examiatio (a oral performace exam that icludes a umber of vigettes testig cosecutive ad simultaeous iterpretig, plus sight traslatio via headsets with oral aswers ad traslatio). Curretly, CCHI offers the CHI certificatio i Spaish, Madari ad Arabic, with additioal laguages to follow. WHAT Whe CCHI has a oral performace examiatio available i your laguage, you must take ad pass both the CoreCHI ad CHI examiatios to obtai the CCHI Certified Healthcare Iterpreter certificatio. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 8
THE EXAMINATION CoreCHI EXAMINATION A computer-based, 100-questio, four-optio multiple-choice exam i Eglish. This examiatio will cover core kowledge of healthcare iterpretig ad is the same examiatio as that take by those seekig the CCHI Certified Healthcare Iterpreter certificatio. The CCHI Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter examiatio focuses o the followig five categories of kowledge, skills ad abilities: Maagig a Iterpretig Ecouter Theories ad best practices idetified i healthcare iterpretig for all modes of iterpretatio. Uderstadig Healthcare Termiology Medical termiology foud i healthcare iterpretig, icludig detal ad metal health termiology. Iteractig with Other Healthcare Professioals Best practices whe workig with the healthcare team, icludig advocacy ad how it is properly employed based o healthcare iterpretig scope of practice. Preparig for a Iterpretig Ecouter Demostratio of kowledge based o medical termiology, scope of practice, code of ethics, ad expectatios of the health team ad cliets. Cultural Resposiveess Kowledge of the culture of the cliet, healthcare eviromet, ad healthcare professioals. The CoreCHI exam is 120 miutes log. Before the examiatio is lauched, cadidates have 20-30 miutes for the proctor to explai the testig procedure, ad to read the istructios; this time is ot couted towards the examiatio time. The prelimiary score for the CoreCHI examiatio is available immediately after the test is electroically submitted. The CoreCHI examiatio is admiistered year-aroud ad delivered olie i a secure proctored test ceter eviromet i all 50 states of the U.S. ad i Caada. Please locate a test ceter earest to you before you apply. The list of the test ceters ca be foud at http://www.cchicertificatio.org/testig-ceters-a-schedule/testig-ceters-a-schedule. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 9
CHI EXAMINATION A computer-based oral performace exam that requires a demostratio of iterpretig skills i all three modes of iterpretatio (cosecutive, simultaeous, ad sight traslatio) ad traslatio. The examiatio is coducted olie, is scored by idepedet raters, ad focuses o the followig two categories of kowledge, skills ad abilities: Iterpretig i a Healthcare Eviromet Iterpret spoke commuicatio accurately ad completely withi a cultural ad evirometal cotext. Sight Traslate ad Traslate Healthcare Documets Sight traslatig ad traslatig writte commuicatio accurately ad completely withi a cultural ad evirometal cotext. The CHI exam is 60 miutes log. Before the examiatio is lauched, cadidates have approximately 30 miutes to read the istructios, ad take a Sample test to test the headsets. This time is ot couted towards the examiatio time. The score for the CHI examiatio is available 6-8 weeks after the examiatio date. The CHI examiatio is admiistered oly durig certai testig widows each quarter, ad delivered olie i a secure proctored test ceter eviromet i the U.S. ad i Caada. The list of the test ceters ad the curret CHI testig schedule ca be foud at http://www.cchicertificatio.org/testig-ceters-a-schedule/testig-ceters-a-schedule. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 10
Applyig for CCHI s Credetials APPLICATION GUIDELINES GENERAL INFORMATION All applicats must submit their applicatios olie at the CCHI web site at: http://www.cchicertificatio.org/get-certified-basicsteps/guided-certificatio-steps All questios pertaiig to CCHI applicatio for certificatio should be directed to: apply@cchicertificatio.org. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CANDIDATE It is the applicat s resposibility to submit a complete ad accurate applicatio. Applicatios are oly accepted via CCHI s olie system at https://cchi.learigbuilder.com. Whe submittig a applicatio, the applicat must also pay a applicatio fee. The applicatio fee is o-refudable. Icomplete applicatios (i.e., missig the required documetatio or applicatio fee) will be automatically rejected. All applicatios are processed withi 30 days of receipt. Oce a applicat is determied eligible to take the CCHI examiatios, the applicat must pay the relevat examiatio fee prior to schedulig a examiatio date. Approved applicatios are valid for six (6) moths. If a applicat does ot pay the CoreCHI examiatio fee withi 6 moths of their applicatio approval, the applicatio expires. If a cadidate chooses to seek certificatio after the approved applicatio has expired, they will have to submit a ew applicatio ad pay the applicatio fee agai. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 11
NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY CCHI edorses the priciples of equal opportuity ad o-discrimiatio. CCHI does ot discrimiate with regard to age, geder, atioal origi, race, religio, ethicity, disability, marital status, vetera status, sexual orietatio, or ay other category protected by federal or state law. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Wheever possible, CCHI is committed to providig reasoable accommodatio i its examiatio processes to idividuals with disabilities, i accordace with the Americas with Disabilities Act (ADA). Appropriate accommodatios will be provided to qualified idividuals with disabilities to the extet that such accommodatio does ot fudametally alter the examiatio, or cause a udue burde to CCHI or the agecy admiisterig the examiatio. It is the resposibility of idividuals with disabilities to otify CCHI i writig at the time of applicatio ad o later tha 4 weeks before schedulig a exam of the applicat s eed for a accommodatio. There are two ways to otify CCHI of the ADA accommodatio request: If a special eed or disability is preset at the time of payig for a CCHI examiatio ad before receivig a Notice to Schedule, the applicat should choose the Request Accommodatios optio after they select the orage Submit for schedulig butto i the olie applicatio system. At this time the applicat will be directed to explai the ature of their request ad to upload ecessary documetatio i a electroic format. If a special eed or disability occurs after the applicat has already received their Notice to Schedule, they must complete ad submit via email to ADARequest@ CCHIcertificatio.org CCHI s ADA Accommodatio Request Form (this form is i Appedix E of this hadbook). Regardless of how the ADA accommodatio request is submitted via the olie applicatio system or via email a applicat must state the type of accommodatio(s) eeded, i additio to providig curret ad appropriate documetatio of the disability. The applicat s applicatio will ot be cosidered complete ad reviewed without the ADA Accommodatio Request Form. This form ad accompayig documetatio may be submitted to: ADARequest@CCHIcertificatio.org. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 12
The documetatio provided i CCHI s ADA Accommodatio Request Form (olie or via email) must ot be more tha three years from the date of the applicatio or paymet of a examiatio fee. It should iclude correspodece from a healthcare provider who has first-had kowledge of the disability, describig the ature of the disability ad specific recommedatios regardig the type of accommodatio required to address the disability. The letter should be o the letterhead statioery of the healthcare provider i questio, ad iclude his or her title, address, phoe umber, ad origial sigature. The applicat grats CCHI permissio to cotact the professioals who submitted documetatio i support of a request for accommodatio i order to obtai further clarificatio cocerig a request. Examples of requests for special testig accommodatios that may be grated iclude: modificatio of seatig or other physical arragemets i the examiatio facility; providig for the examiatio to be take i a accessible locatio; providig a huma reader for idividuals who are blid or with low visio; or providig for a reasoable extesio of testig time. Examples of requests for special testig accommodatios that may be deied iclude: modificatio of the cotet of a objective multiple-choice examiatio; providig for ulimited testig time; allowig electroic devices or referece materials i the examiatio room; allowig the cadidate to leave the examiatio room for a break; permittig a reader to paraphrase test material or traslate the material ito aother laguage. All accommodatio determiatios will be made by CCHI at its discretio. Failure to otify CCHI of eeded accommodatio(s) i oe s applicatio or at least 4 weeks prior to schedulig a exam may result i the accommodatios ot beig available at the time of the examiatio. Applicats shall ot hold CCHI accoutable for ay lack of appropriate accommodatio derivig from the applicat s ow failure to otify CCHI of their eeds o a timely basis. Oce special accommodatios have bee grated, they may ot be altered durig the examiatio. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 13
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS CCHI has established specific eligibility requiremets or prerequisites for applicats applyig to participate i CCHI s certificatio program. CCHI s Commissioers have had ad cotiue to have very i-depth ad thorough coversatios about eligibility criteria while assurig a balace of eeds ad desires of all stakeholders ivolved i the delivery of healthcare iterpreter services. These are some of the factors that have bee cosidered: The curret state of the healthcare iterpretig field; The existig practices i related fields where certificatio exists, such as court iterpretig, ad healthcare disciplies (professios ad specialties); The ecessity to assure the safety of limited Eglish proficiet patiets; The ecessity to assure that the applicat s goal of attaiig the certificatio is feasible (i.e., the applicat s experiece ad traiig provide a reasoable chace to the idividual of passig the examiatio); ad A equitable opportuity for all applicats regardless of their workig laguages. Applicats for CCHI CoreCHI ad CHI certificatios must meet all of the followig requiremets: Eightee (18) years of age; Graduatio from a U.S. high school or its equivalet, icludig a equivalet from a educatioal program outside the Uited States; Laguage proficiecy i Eglish ad target laguage; ad Completio of a miimum of 40 hours of traiig (ot experiece) i healthcare iterpretig. PREREQUISITE: LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CCHI requires that applicats have laguage proficiecy i both Eglish ad the laguage(s) i which the applicat iterprets. Adequate mastery of two laguages is the baselie proficiecy ecessary to cosider servig as a healthcare iterpreter. Curretly, CCHI does ot require that a applicat provide evidece of their laguage proficiecy to register. However, CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 14
it is importat that a applicat is able to produce documetatio of laguage proficiecy as CCHI will be auditig a sample of idividuals who successfully pass the CoreCHI examiatio as a coditio of receivig or maitaiig their CCHI Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter certificatio. For those applicats applyig for the CHI certificatio ad for whom a oral performace examiatio is available, the applicat s laguage proficiecy i Eglish ad the other laguage will be assessed as part of the oral performace examiatio. For those applicats who are applyig for the CoreCHI certificatio, CCHI does ot test or assess a idividual s laguage proficiecy. Proof of at least oe the followig i each category will meet the proficiecy requiremets: Eglish Proficiecy A high school diploma, or its equivalet, from a Eglish speakig coutry. Successful completio of extesive coursework at the post-secodary level, resultig i a degree, with the majority of classes coducted i Eglish. Time spet studyig ad/or workig i a Eglish speakig coutry, where you were required o a daily basis to perform tasks at a professioal level i Eglish. Successfully passig a oral proficiecy iterview for a agecy or employer that required you to perform your duties i Eglish. Other Laguage Proficiecy A high school diploma, or its equivalet, with classes taught i the other laguage. Growig up speakig the other laguage at home ad i the commuity, alog with some formal study of the laguage at the post-secodary level. Successful completio of extesive coursework at the post-secodary level, with the majority of classes coducted i the other laguage. Time spet studyig ad/or workig i a coutry where the applicat was required o a daily basis to perform tasks at a professioal level i the other laguage. Successfully passig a oral proficiecy iterview for a agecy or employer that required the applicat to perform duties i the other laguage. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 15
Applicats for the Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter (CoreCHI ) certificatio should also be aware that some employers or agecies may require additioal evidece of laguage proficiecy i additio to the CoreCHI certificatio. Employers or agecies may require or recogize verificatio of laguage proficiecy i a umber of ways icludig: Successful passage of a established iterpreter certificatio exam (that icludes a oral performace test), such as: - The Federal Court Iterpreter Certificatio Exam (FCICE) - Ay Natioal Ceter for State Court (NCSC) exam - Other well recogized ad established certificatio exams Successful passage of ay iterpretig skills proficiecy test from a reputable testig orgaizatio. 1 Successful passage of ay laguage proficiecy test from a reputable testig orgaizatio. 2 PREREQUISITE: 40 HOURS OF HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER TRAINING For the requiremet related to healthcare iterpreter traiig, CCHI accepts ay combiatio of the followig: Completig academic or o-academic traiig; Addig up hours from multiple courses related to healthcare iterpretig; Completig cotiuig educatio courses; Developig or teachig iterpreter traiig courses; or O-the-job traiig (icludig formal traiig classes ad shadowig or beig shadowed by experieced iterpreters). 1 Some employers or agecies may cosider reputable testig orgaizatios to iclude oly those who ca provide evidece of reliability ad validity i both test developmet ad admiistratio stages. 2 Some employers or agecies may cosider reputable testig orgaizatios to iclude oly those who ca provide evidece of reliability ad validity i both test developmet ad admiistratio stages ad who measure laguage proficiecy agaist a well-established scale such as the America Coucil of Teachers of Foreig Laguage (ACTFL); the Iter-Agecy Laguage Roudtable (ILR) scale; or the Commo Europea Framework of Referece for Laguages (CEFR) scale. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 16
For the o-the-job traiig to be accepted, the provided iformatio should iclude: Healthcare iterpretig topics that have bee covered durig the o-the-job traiig, for example, Medical Termiology, Cosecutive Iterpretig, Healthcare Iterpreters Code of Ethics, etc. Number of hours for each of the topics ad the dates this traiig took place. Ay hours dedicated to shadowig should be spelled out, ad shadowig caot be all 40 hours. CCHI reserves the right to request for the employer s official statemet cofirmig the o-the-job traiig before approvig the applicatio. As a alterative, CCHI also accepts the followig traiig: Attedig iterpreter cofereces at which you participated i workshops that discussed issues related to the practice of iterpretig maximum of five hours allowed. Completig iterpreter traiig courses ot focused o healthcare (e.g., court, commuity, coferece) or completig traiig i the health professios (e.g., ursig, occupatioal therapy, social work) maximum of five hours allowed. CCHI recogizes that there is some overlap betwee healthcare iterpretig ad other iterpretig ad traiig for health professioals. However, there are also sigificat differeces i the ethics, stadards of practice ad termiology utilized. Thus, CCHI allows applicats to cout some o-healthcare iterpreter related experieces toward CCHI s 40- hour healthcare iterpreter traiig requiremet. More iformatio about what is allowed is explaied below. Attedig Healthcare Iterpreter Cofereces CCHI allows applicats to cout up to a maximum of five hours of attedace at healthcare iterpreter cofereces at which you participated i workshops that discussed issues related to the practice of iterpretig (rather tha issues related to policy developmet or geeral research o laguage access) maximum of five hours toward CCHI s 40-hour requiremet. NOTES: This requiremet is limited to attedig iterpreter cofereces that are focused o iterpretig (healthcare or otherwise) ad have occurred withi five years of applyig for a CCHI credetial. The applicat must be able to verify attedace either with a certificate of attedace or with a siged letter cofirmig attedace either by a coferece orgaizer, a employer, or a well-established colleague i the field. A coferece is defied as a officially held meetig that primarily focuses o educatio ad further developmet i iterpretig. The sposor of the coferece must issue a certificate that validates the attedace of the applicat. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 17
Eve if a applicat has atteded additioal hours of healthcare iterpreter cofereces, the applicat is limited to coutig five hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig requiremet. EXAMPLE: A applicat atteds two iterpreter cofereces ad documets te hours of attedace credits. The applicat may cout five hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig prerequisite. Attedig Other Iterpreter Traiig OR Traiig as a Health Professioal CCHI allows applicats to cout participatig i o-healthcare iterpreter traiig (icludig court, commuity or coferece) OR traiig as a health professioal for a maximum of five hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig requiremet. NOTES: Court or coferece iterpreter traiig may be accepted as log as the applicat has take the traiig withi five years of applyig for a CCHI credetial. The applicat must verify attedace either with a certificate of completio or with a siged letter cofirmig participatio either by the traier, a employer, or a well-established colleague i the field. Geeral iterpreter traiig, such as metal health or commuity health iterpreter must be healthcare specific ad have occurred withi five years of applyig for a CCHI credetial. The applicat must verify attedace either with a certificate of completio or with a siged letter cofirmig participatio either by the traier, a employer, or a wellestablished colleague i the field. Eve if a applicat has atteded additioal hours of other iterpreter traiig or health professioal traiig, the applicat is limited to coutig five hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig requiremet. EXAMPLE: A applicat has participated i a 40-hour court iterpreter traiig program. The applicat may cout five hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig prerequisite. EXAMPLE: A applicat has participated i a commuity iterpretig traiig program ad has bee traied as a urse. The applicat may cout a total of five hours from both of these traiigs toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig prerequisite. EXAMPLE: A applicat has participated i te hours of healthcare iterpreter cofereces ad 40 hours of commuity iterpreter traiig. The applicat may cout five CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 18
hours from healthcare iterpreter cofereces ad five hours from commuity iterpreter traiig for a total of te hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig requiremet. NOTE: A applicat may be eligible for both of these allowaces: (1) attedace at healthcare iterpreter cofereces; ad (2) attedace at other iterpreter traiig OR health professioal traiig programs. But the maximum umber of hours that a applicat ca cout is limited to te hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig requiremet. Developig or Teachig Healthcare Iterpreter Traiig Programs A applicat may cout time spet i developig or teachig healthcare iterpreter traiig curriculum to meet CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig prerequisite. Applicats who have created a curriculum for healthcare iterpreter traiig or have taught healthcare iterpreter traiig course(s) may apply the total course cotact hours toward CCHI s 40- hour healthcare traiig prerequisite. If the umber of hours of the curriculum is less tha 40, oly the amout that has bee taught will be applied toward the 40-hour requiremet. Likewise, if the applicat created a healthcare iterpreter traiig program less tha 40 hours they will oly be awarded the exact amout of the traiig program. EXAMPLE: A applicat assisted i developig a te-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig program. The applicat may cout te hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig prerequisite. EXAMPLE: A applicat spet 200 hours developig a healthcare iterpreter traiig course that is offered over 30 classroom hours. The applicat may cout 30 hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig prerequisite. EXAMPLE: A applicat has taught three te-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig programs over the past three years. The applicat ca cout 30 hours toward CCHI s 40-hour healthcare iterpreter traiig prerequisite. VERIFICATION CCHI reserves the right to idepedetly verify all iformatio submitted by applicats o their applicatios or as supplemetary materials. CCHI authorized idividuals will check applicatios for accuracy of iformatio. Iformatio may be verified by telephoe, e-mail, ad/or letter. All iformatio obtaied through verificatio procedures will be cofidetial except i istaces where the law demads disclosure. Should ay iformatio submitted by a applicat o the applicatio or as supplemetary material be foud false, the applicat CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 19
will be otified ad declared ieligible to cotiue i the applicatio ad credetialig process. If the applicat has bee grated a credetial, the credetial may be revoked (see Discipliary Policy o page 41). NOTIFICATION OF ADMISSION OR NON-ADMISSION TO EXAMINATION Applicats will be otified o the status of their applicatio (i.e., accepted or ot accepted) via electroic mail withi 30 days from the date of submissio of a complete applicatio. Icomplete applicatios will ot be reviewed. If a applicat is determied ieligible for the examiatio, the applicat will receive a explaatio as to the reasos for the o-admissio. The applicat may submit a appeal, i writig, regardig the deial of eligibility. For a Applicatio Timelie ad Checklist, see Appedix G. NAME AND/OR ADDRESS CHANGES All applicats are resposible for immediately otifyig CCHI of ay address or legal ame chage. Notificatio for admissio to the examiatio, mailig of test results, maiteace of certified status ad reewal of certificatio depeds o CCHI havig curret iformatio. A applicat or certified/credetialed idividual who legally chages their ame should immediately otify CCHI by mail or e-mail to apply@cchicertificatio.org ad eclose a copy of a govermet issued documet reflectig the legal ame chage. The documetatio (such as a marriage certificate) must be issued by a federal, state, or local govermet. ADMISSION TO TESTING SITE Iformatio o admissio to the testig site will be provided i your Notice of Admissio received from CCHI s testig vedor. You must comply with all iformatio required by CCHI ad its desigated test delivery vedors. As a example, see Testig Procedures o page 29. WITHDRAWAL FROM OR NON-COMPLETION OF PROCESS Applicats determied eligible for CCHI s examiatio may withdraw from the examiatio process up to the withdrawal deadlie set up by CCHI. Because of the requiremets for schedulig the examiatio, idividuals who do ot take the examiatio will ot have their fees refuded. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 20
RE-APPLYING FOR THE EXAMINATION Cadidates who do ot pass the CoreCHI or CHI examiatio may re-take either examiatio. If the prerequisites are chaged after the examiatio, CCHI will determie if a applicat has to meet the ew prerequisites. Cadidates may take the CoreCHI examiatio oce every 90 days, ad the CHI examiatio oce every 90 days, or i the ext testig widow, whichever occurs first. Cadidates are allowed up to three re-takes withi oe year. The waitig time betwee retakes is madatory i order to preserve the itegrity of the tests ad allow the cadidate to improve their kowledge ad performace. FEES AND PAYMENT METHODS The fees will be structured as follows: Applicatio Fee ($35) this fee covers the cost of processig your applicatio ad determiig your eligibility to take CCHI s examiatios. This fee is o-refudable, eve if a applicat is determied ieligible to take CCHI s examiatios. Approved applicatios are valid for six (6) moths. If a applicat does ot pay the CoreCHI examiatio fee withi 6 moths of their applicatio approval, the applicatio expires. If a cadidate chooses to seek certificatio after the approved applicatio has expired, they will have to submit a ew applicatio ad pay the applicatio fee agai. CoreCHI Examiatio Fee ($175) this fee covers the cost of takig, scorig, ad maitaiig the CoreCHI multiple-choice examiatio. CHI Examiatio Fee ($275) this fee covers the cost of takig, scorig, ad maitaiig the CHI oral performace examiatio. CHI cadidates must pay for ad schedule the CHI exam withi oe year of passig their CoreCHI exam. If such cadidates fail to do so, they will have to pay the CoreCHI fee ad take the CoreCHI exam agai before they may proceed to take the CHI exam. Fee Paymets Both examiatio fees are for oe admiistratio of the exam ad are orefudable. Cadidates who fail a exam must pay the exam fee agai, before they ca schedule a re-take. All fees are set by CCHI ad are subject to chage at the sole discretio of CCHI. Paymets are made i U.S. dollars via Pay Pal. The olie applicatio process uses a secure server. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 21
Forfeiture of Fees Cadidates who fail to arrive at the Testig Ceter o the date ad time they are scheduled for examiatio will forfeit their examiatio fees ad have to pay a additioal examiatio fee to reschedule their examiatio. Cadidates who wish to reschedule their examiatios must comply with CCHI s test delivery vedors policy. If the cadidate does ot comply, the cadidate will forfeit the examiatio fee. I additio, cadidates arrivig more tha 15 miutes late for a examiatio will oly be admitted for testig at the discretio of the Testig Ceter; if a cadidate is ot admitted because of late arrival, the cadidate will forfeit the examiatio fee. STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING All idividuals applyig for CCHI s CoreCHI ad CHI credetials agree to the followig whe submittig a applicatio: I hereby apply for certificatio offered by CCHI, havig read ad uderstood the eligibility criteria cotaied withi this applicatio. I certify that I meet all eligibility requiremets. I further certify that all of the iformatio that I have provided i coectio with my applicatio is accurate ad complete to the best of my kowledge ad ability. I uderstad that CCHI will rely upo the iformatio that I have provided i evaluatig this applicatio ad that providig false iformatio will disqualify me from receivig or maitaiig ay credetial offered by CCHI. CCHI reserves the right to reject a applicatio based o icomplete or iaccurate iformatio, ad further reserves the right to withdraw the certificatio if the applicat has already bee awarded the credetial prior to the discovery of the icomplete or iaccurate iformatio. I uderstad that, if a CHI oral performace examiatio is NOT offered i the o- Eglish laguage i which I iterpret, passig the CoreCHI writte multiple-choice examiatio will result i the certificatio of a Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter. I uderstad the Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter certificatio is ot laguagespecific ad does ot assess my laguage proficiecy i Eglish or the laguage i which I iterpret. I agree to oly display ad represet my certificatio i the maer approved by CCHI, ad I agree to comply with ay ad all policies ad procedures adopted by CCHI i coectio with the CoreCHI certificatio. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 22
I uderstad that, if a CHI oral performace examiatio IS offered i the o-eglish laguage i which I iterpret, I am ot eligible to receive the Core Certificatio Healthcare Iterpreter (CoreCHI ). I uderstad that I am required to take ad pass both the CoreCHI writte multiple-choice ad a laguage-specific CHI oral performace examiatio i order to be awarded the certificatio of a Certified Healthcare Iterpreter. I agree to oly display ad represet my certificatio credetial i the maer approved by CCHI, ad I agree to comply with ay ad all policies ad procedures adopted by CCHI i coectio with the CHI certificatio. If a CHI oral performace examiatio is offered i the o-eglish laguage i which I iterpret, ad if I pass the CoreCHI writte multiple-choice examiatio, I uderstad that I will have ONE (1) year i which to pay for ad take the CHI oral performace examiatio. I uderstad that if I do ot take the CHI oral performace examiatio withi oe year, I must pay the CoreCHI examiatio fee agai ad retake the CoreCHI writte multiple-choice examiatio before takig the CHI oral performace examiatio. I uderstad that ay examiatio fee is o-refudable ad is for oe exam admiistratio oly. I uderstad that if I fail either the CoreCHI writte multiple-choice or CHI oral performace examiatios, I may retake either examiatio up to three times withi oe year. If I am iformed that my applicatio to take the examiatio has bee deied, I uderstad that I may appeal i writig to CCHI. I agree to accept CCHI s decisio upo ay appeal. I uderstad that I have SIX (6) moths from the date my applicatio is approved to pay the CoreCHI examiatio fee ad schedule the examiatio. If I fail to pay the CoreCHI examiatio fee withi these 6 moths, my applicatio becomes iactive, ad I will have to re-apply ad pay a ew applicatio fee. I agree to idemify ad hold harmless ay ad all directors, officers, agets, ad employees of CCHI from ay ad all liability arisig i coectio with the offerig, takig, gradig, ad/or reportig of these tests. By submittig this applicatio, I uderstad ad agree to all of the aforemetioed. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 23
CONFIDENTIALITY CCHI respects the privacy of all applicats ad cadidates. All materials submitted or received i coectio with applicatios ad all test scores are held i cofidece, except upo permissio for disclosure from the applicat or cadidate or except as required by law, icludig disclosure to govermetal licesig bodies upo appropriate writte request. CCHI has established a umber of policies ad procedures to esure the itegrity of its examiatio procedures ad protect applicat ad cadidate privacy: With cadidate permissio, CCHI may release exam results to the educatioal program(s) which the cadidate graduated from to assist the educatioal program or aid i reimbursemet of fees. Idividual cadidate results may be couted, without authorizatio, i aggregate data gathered for program evaluatio ad reportig purposes. Performace feedback reports providig data o exam performace will be released oly to the cadidate. All exam cotet ad materials are strictly cofidetial ad will ot be released to ayoe except those ivolved i the developmet ad admiistratio of the exam. Official exam results are set via e-mail to cadidates oly. CCHI may provide verificatio of certificatio without authorizatio. CCHI will maitai a system of safeguardig cofidetial iformatio provided by applicats/cadidates ad those grated certificatio/credetials. No outside agecy or persos shall have access to ay idividual s files/records uless permissio is grated i writig by the applicat/cadidate or certified idividual. I the evet of legal proceedigs, records will have to be requested i writig by the court or the idividual s legal cousel. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 24
SCHEDULING THE EXAMINATION Oce a applicat is determied eligible to take CCHI s examiatios, the applicat will receive iformatio about how to schedule the examiatio. It s the cadidate s resposibility to choose a test ceter where they will take a CCHI exam, ad ascertai, durig schedulig, the exact locatio of the test ceter, icludig directios, parkig situatio, ad buildig access. NOTE: CHI cadidates must first take ad pass the CoreCHI multiple-choice examiatio before they are eligible to schedule the CHI oral performace examiatio. CHI cadidates have ONE (1) year i which to pay for ad take the CHI oral performace examiatio. If such cadidates do ot take the CHI oral performace examiatio withi oe year, they must pay the CoreCHI examiatio fee agai ad retake the CoreCHI multiple-choice examiatio before takig the CHI oral performace examiatio. SCHEDULING YOUR EXAMINATION CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 25
Preparig for the Exam STUDY TIPS Takig a examiatio ca be itimidatig, but you ca reduce this axiety by beig prepared. ORGANIZE Begi by makig a caledar outliig a daily schedule of topics for review. Every time you complete a topic, give yourself a mii review. As a guide, you may wat to review CCHI s Test Cotet Outlie (see page 27) for a overview of the topics that will be icluded o the examiatio. Review other materials provided by CCHI o the website at http://www.cchicertificatio.org/certificatio-resources/certificatio-resources. IDEAS FOR PREPARING Outlie topics for review, what you eed to study ad how much time you eed to sped studyig. Create flashcards ad use memoics to remember thigs that are eumerated. REVIEW AND UNDERSTAND THE HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER S SCOPE OF PRACTICE AND CODE OF ETHICS Be sure you have reviewed ad uderstad the healthcare iterpreter s scope of practice ad code of ethics (see the refereces below or go to dowload from http://www.cchicertificatio.org/certificatio-resources/certificatio-resources): Natioal Code of Ethics for Iterpreters i Health Care, Natioal Stadards of Practice for Iterpreters i Health Care: http://www.cihc.org/mc/page.do?sitepageid=57768&orgid=cihc Califoria Healthcare Iterpreter Associatio s Califoria Stadards for Healthcare Iterpreters: http://chiaolie.org/stadards/ Iteratioal Medical Iterpreter Associatio s Medical Iterpretig Stadards of Practice: http://imiaweb.org/uploads/pages/102.pdf CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 26
REVIEW HEALTHCARE TERMINOLOGY It will be importat to review healthcare termiology, icludig detal ad metal health termiology. There are may iteractive healthcare termiology programs o-lie ad o CD ad it would be highly recommeded to review termiology by computer to acclimate to a computer-based examiatio. CCHI provides some medical termiology glossaries at o cost at http://www.cchicertificatio.org/certificatio-resources/mii-glossary-sigup. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE COMPUTER Sice you will take the examiatio o a computer, you should familiarize yourself with geeral computer priciples, such as fillig out applicatios ad kowig the keyboard. If you caot fid healthcare iterpretig practice exams o-lie, do t worry. You will be give istructios at the test site o how to take the computerbased test. REVIEW THE SAMPLE QUESTIONS INCLUDED IN THIS GUIDE Reviewig practice questios will help you uderstad the types of questios o the CoreCHI examiatio ad may help you prepare for the test. It may also help reduce your test axiety. You ca fid these questios i Appedix D. REVIEW CCHI s TEST CONTENT OUTLINE To prepare for the examiatio, we recommed you review CCHI s Test Cotet Outlie, available at: http://www.cchicertificatio.org/images/pdfs/testoutlie.pdf. While more detailed iformatio is available i CCHI s report aalyzig its atioal Job Task Aalysis, the overview of the examiatio is as follows: CoreCHI Examiatio Maagig Healthcare Iterpreter Fuctios Maage a Iterpretig Ecouter 30% - 35% Healthcare Termiology 22% - 25% Iteract with Other Healthcare Professioals 20% - 24% Prepare for a Iterpretig Ecouter 16% - 20% Demostrate Cultural Resposiveess 3% - 6 % CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 27
The CoreCHI examiatio is a computer-based, 100-questio, four-optio multiple-choice examiatio admiistered i Eglish. Applicats are limited to two hours to complete the CoreCHI examiatio. CHI Oral Performace Examiatio Iterpretig i a Healthcare Eviromet Iterpret Cosecutively 75% - 80% Iterpret Simultaeously 10% - 15% Sight Traslate/Traslate Healthcare Documets 10% - 15% The CHI exam is a computer-based oral performace examiatio. The exam is timelimited. Icludig time to review istructios ad sample problems, it should take approximately oe ad oe-half hours to complete. The legth of the examiatio itself is 60 miutes. It cosists of four cosecutive iterpretig vigettes (bi-directioal, Eglish to/from the o- Eglish laguage), two simultaeous iterpretig vigettes (uidirectioal, oe o-eglish laguage ad oe Eglish), three brief sight traslatio passages from documets that healthcare iterpreters might ecouter i their work to sight traslate ito the o-eglish laguage, ad testig of traslatio skills from Eglish to the o-eglish laguage. FIND A STUDY GROUP Remember how well study groups worked i high school ad college? They work just as well whe studyig for a certificatio or credetialig exam. Fid a group of fellow iterpreters who might be preparig for the same examiatio ad study together. KNOW WHERE THE EXAMINATION IS BEING CONDUCTED Go to the testig site ad familiarize yourself with the layout of the area so that the day of the examiatio you will be prepared to go directly to the examiatio site. GET PLENTY OF SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE THE TEST It is importat to get a good ight s sleep the ight before the examiatio. Make sure you have plety of sleep ad rest well the ight before the test. See additioal resources o our website at: http://www.cchicertificatio.org/certificatio-resources/certificatio-resources. CCHI Cadidate s Examiatio Hadbook Page 28