NBCMI or CCHI in 2026? Which Medical Interpreter Certification Should I Choose? Certifications Guide

Are you looking to become a certified medical interpreter but can't decide between NBCMI and CCHI? In this video by Language Access Academy, we break down everything you need to know about the two major medical interpreter certification organizations in the United States: The National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) and the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI). Whether you are just starting your healthcare interpreting journey or preparing for your exams, we compare the credentials, costs, language availability, and renewal requirements to help you choose the right path for your career. 👇 TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS 👇 0:00 - Introduction: NBCMI vs. CCHI 0:24 - The Credentials Explained (Hub-CMI, CMI, CoreCHI, CHI, CoreCHI-P) 1:27 - Common Prerequisites for Both Exams 1:49 - Exam Formats, Time Limits, and Costs Compared 2:16 - Language Availability: Which performance exam can you take? 2:54 - Certification Renewal Requirements (CEUs & Fees) 3:27 - Conclusion: Which Medical Interpreter Certification is right for you? 💡 KEY DIFFERENCES AT A GLANCE (Summary): • Credentials: NBCMI offers Hub-CMI and CMI. CCHI offers CoreCHI, CHI, and the monolingual CoreCHI-Performance (for languages without a bilingual exam). • Bilingual Exam Languages: NBCMI tests Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Vietnamese. CCHI tests Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic. • Written Exam Cost: NBCMI is $230 total; CCHI is $231. • Oral Exam Cost: NBCMI is $300; CCHI is $302. • Renewal: Both require $300 and roughly 30-32 CE hours every 4-5 years, but CCHI also requires 40 hours of documented interpreting experience. 🎯 SUBSCRIBE TO LANGUAGE ACCESS ACADEMY Join us as we elevate language access for all! Hit the subscribe button for more medical terminology, interpreter training, and professional development tips. 💬 We want to hear from you! Which certification are you planning to pursue, and what is your working language pair? Let us know in the comments below! If you are a medical interpreter trainer, you can contact [email protected] to get the presentation slides in this video for free. #MedicalInterpreter #NBCMI #CCHI #InterpreterCertification #HealthcareInterpreter #LanguageAccess #TranslationAndInterpreting #MedicalTerminology #LanguageAccessAcademy #BilingualJobs #CoreCHI #HubCMI