Medical translation is booming because of the need to translate highly specialized medical documents that are global. Contrary to what you may think, to become a certified medical translator and rock your career you don’t need to have a medical degree or even medical education.
But you need to get exposure to the world of medicine because even a small mistake in translation can be fatal for patients. Let’s dive a bit into professional certification options for medical translation and how to become a certified medical translator.
Who is a medical translator?
Many times documents need to be translated so patients, caregivers and pharmacy dealers can read them in different parts of the world in their own language.
It is the medical translator’s job to translate these documents efficiently and 100% accurate. Medical translators need to be more precise with terminology than regular translators because complications sometimes even fatal can arise from a single misnomer.
Imagine a patient who speaks another language (Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, etc.) not English buying a pill for sinusitis and finding in the brochure it’s incorrectly spelled out as a pill for migraine in a poor translation to her language even though it’s actually a pill for sinusitis. All she’ll do in that situation is throw the pill away but other times the consequences can be severe for serious illnesses. One small error in patient-history and the doctor will be forced to prescribe the wrong medicine. One misquoted symptom in the case files and an incorrect procedure can be fatal to the patient. In medical translation every single word matters.
Some of the documents a medical translator will work with are case reports, study agreements, study protocols, contracts, standard operating procedures, patient information, patient forms, leaflets, brochures for medicines, medical device information and marketing materials for medical product manufacturers or dealers.
What does a Medical Translator do?
Medical translators bridge the language gap in the healthcare system. They are skilled professionals who translate written medical documents from one language to another.
Here are some of the tasks of a medical translator:
Translate medical documents such as:
- Patient records: Medical histories, discharge summaries, lab reports, prescriptions, consent forms
- Clinical trial documents: Protocols, informed consent forms, data collection sheets
- Pharmaceutical information: Drug labels, patient information leaflets, marketing materials
- Medical device manuals and instructions
- Research articles and publications
- Legal and regulatory documents
Medical translators must have in-depth knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and pharmacology. They translate information meticulously so the meaning and intent of the original document is conveyed precisely in the target language.
Medical information is sensitive. Translators must comply with relevant data privacy regulations (such as HIPAA in the US).
Medical translators must update their knowledge of new medical terms, technologies and research findings to stay current.
Translators may use translation memory software, terminology databases and other computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools to increase efficiency and accuracy.
In summary medical translators ensure critical medical information is translated accurately and effectively to patients, healthcare providers and other stakeholders regardless of language barriers. Their work contributes to better patient care and global healthcare.
Is medical interpreter and medical translator the same?
The short answer is ‘No’. Although both professions require certifications in translation, the two jobs differ in execution.
While a medical translator deals primarily with written material, an interpreter is more of a conversationalist who facilitates the communication between two parties in the medical fraternity, if there happens to be a language barrier.
In a typical workday, a medical interpreter could be seen at the bedside of a patient who speaks a different language than the visiting doctor, effortlessly translating every word the patient tries to convey to the doctor, and vice versa.
They could also be spotted at international medical conferences where medical experts convene from all over the world, speaking in different languages. Interpreters, unlike translators, are required to be proficient in colloquial forms of the language pair including words to convey symptoms or illnesses that are not necessarily part of a formal medical dictionary.
A medical translator and a medical interpreter are both required to be experts in a language pair, but a medical translator typically has time to sit through the sources, research the material, and then produce a translated document, while an interpreter has to translate on the spot.
However, regardless of whether a person is a medical translator or a medical interpreter, accuracy is a must and there is absolutely no margin for an error.
How to qualify as a medical translator?
If you want to become a certified medical translator in the United States – start with the basics.
To become a certified medical translator you typically need a U.S. high school diploma and proficiency in two languages including English. Many programs require a minimum of 40 hours of medical interpreter training. Some courses may have additional requirements such as a background in health care or nursing qualifications.
To become a certified medical interpreter you must have exceptional linguistic proficiency in both your primary language and English. This includes fluency in both spoken and written forms of the language as well as deep understanding of medical terminology and cultural nuances. Common language pairs include English-Spanish, English-Mandarin, English-Cantonese, English-Vietnamese and many others.
Being fluent in two languages is just the first step to becoming a medical translator. To get hired or even start in this field a certification from an NCCA accredited program is a must.
The value of these certifications lies in the fact that an in-depth knowledge of medical terminology and absolute understanding of its usage is what makes a translator in demand. The National Board of Certification of Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) is one such accredited certification to consider.
The NBCMI’s certification is through written and oral exams for which they provide preparatory materials such as handbook, webinars and Q&A sessions.
If you want to take a full training program before the certifications, there are International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) approved programs you can attend.
What certifications are available for medical translators?
- NBCMI: The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters.
- CCHI: The Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters.
Currently there is only one national certification body for medical interpreting in the United States, the NBCMI; this organization has a national exam which by law is accepted in all the states that have not developed their own tests.
This certificate confirms your professionalism and can open doors to more translation opportunities in the healthcare industry. There are training programs available provide by community colleges, universities and professional organizations.
The cost of certification to become a medical translator or medical interpreter may differ from one institution to the other as well as from short-term programs to more extensive training options.
Some programs may be more affordable than others and some may offer financial aid or scholarships. Be sure to research different programs and compare the cost, curriculum and instructors before deciding which to choose to become certified to work as a medical translator.
What is the salary range for medical translators?
After obtaining medical translator certification, the salary for a medical translator can vary greatly depending on experience, certification, multiple language proficiency and area of specialization.
- Entry-level: $20-$30 per hour
- Experienced: $30-$50 per hour or more
- Freelancers: Can set their own rates but competition is fierce.
Are there specific tools I should use as a medical translator?
- Translation Memory (TM) software like Trados, SDL Trados Studio and memoQ help translate faster and more efficiently by storing previously translated segments.
- Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools can help with terminology management, spell checking and grammar checking.
- Bilingual dictionaries and glossaries are a must for accurate and consistent translations.
- Reliable online resources like PubMed, MedlinePlus and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website are great for research and information gathering.
Keep growing in the profession
While certifications can help you to break into the medical translation profession, your career advancement is in how you learn once in. New medical revelations and definitions emerge every day.
Here are a few ways to survive and grow as a medical translator:
Start small: Try to become established in one distinctive type of medical translation specialization. It is logical for beginners to start working on non-sensitive material which includes translating product information or summaries of product characteristics. You can also do translation of marketing materials for drugs/medical equipment producers. Once you get more accustomed to the terminology, you can progress to translating materials such as, case histories, patient details, or diagnosis reports.
Buy medical books: The medical field is one in which you can never stop learning. It is therefore wise to get yourself acquainted with some of the most popular medical books and journals to keep up to date with all the current information. You won’t learn everything in one day but you will get there if you keep reading.
Work with NGOs: It might be tough for new medical translators to get a job in a reputed hospital or a relevant company. This is because the requirements of 100% accuracy are taken very seriously in this industry. Start by working with NGOs and get some experience on your resume to present yourself as someone who can be trusted by bigger companies.
Medical translation can be a lucrative career if you have proficiency in English and another language and passion for medical, healthcare or patient-care translation. It’s not an easy job and perfection is non-negotiable. But as a certified medical translator you can acquire the skills through training programs, practice, and learning, and be a vital part of this field.
