National Medical Interpreter Certification Testing Enters P...( BOSTON May 22 /- The National Board o...),Health

BOSTON, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters will begin the pilot phase of the performance exam that will be part of the testing for National Medical Interpreter Certification. Over the next few weeks, 300 interpreters will "test the test" designed to verify the ability of interpreters to apply their knowledge and skills in real-life medical interpreting scenarios. This process will provide additional input to the assessment tool's design, allowing test developers to make final adjustments before its national implementation.

The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters program, founded by Language Line(R) University and the International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA), is a single certification entity that will award individuals with the credential "Certified Medical Interpreter" (CMI) in a specific language. To qualify for the CMI credential, a medical interpreter will have to pass the prerequisites, the National Board Written Exam, and the National Board Performance Exam.

"This new National Board is committed to bringing to fruition a national certification that recognizes the professional achievements necessary to provide quality language assistance in healthcare settings," said Louis Provenzano, President and COO of Language Line Services. "Accurately assessing an interpreter's knowledge and skills is essential and every measure has been taken to ensure that the National Board's written and performance exams accomplish that goal."

A call for subject matter experts and pilot participants was sounded at the Third Annual National Medical Interpreter Certification Forum, May 1, 2009, in Denver, Colorado, where interpreter organizations were also invited to participate in the pilot. Medical interpreters interested in volunteering to take the exams should email