Find your certification path
Answer four questions about your language and specialty.
Certification questionnaire and results
- Step 1 of 4: Language
- Step 2 of 4: Specialty
- Step 3 of 4: Experience
- Step 4 of 4: Training
What's your primary language pair?
Select the language you interpret to/from English.
Fees and requirements checked October 1, 2026. Confirm yours with CCHI or NBCMI before you apply.
US interpreter certifications at a glance
CCHI (medical)
Offers bilingual CHI performance exams in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin, and the English-to-English ETOE route to CoreCHI-P for other languages. Confirm which credential your employer accepts.
NBCMI (medical)
Offers CMI in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, and Vietnamese. Hub-CMI is knowledge-based and available regardless of target language, with different expiry rules for CMI languages.
Court (legal)
Federal court certification (Spanish only) and state certifications through the NCSC/CLAC consortium (exams in 20 languages). Required for most court work.
Common questions
Which interpreter certification should I get?
It depends on your language, specialty, and goals. Medical interpreters choose between CCHI (CHI or CoreCHI-P) and NBCMI (CMI). Legal interpreters pursue state or federal court certification. Use the tool above to get a personalized recommendation.
What's the difference between CHI and CMI?
CHI is CCHI's bilingual performance credential for Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin. CMI is NBCMI's bilingual performance credential for Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, and Vietnamese. Compare the training and proficiency documents for your route, and ask your employer which exact credential it accepts.
How much does interpreter certification cost?
Checked October 1, 2026: CCHI CHI or CoreCHI-P: $533 standard initial fees ($40 application + $191 CoreCHI + $302 CHI or ETOE). NBCMI CMI: $530 standard initial fees ($40 registration + $190 written + $300 oral). NBCMI Hub-CMI: $230 standard initial fees ($40 registration + $190 written). These totals assume one attempt at each required exam and exclude training, proficiency testing, travel, retakes, and renewal. Confirm any discount with the certifier.
What is CoreCHI-P and why does it matter?
CoreCHI-P combines the CoreCHI knowledge exam with the English-to-English ETOE performance exam. It does not directly assess interpreting in your other language. CCHI stops awarding standalone CoreCHI credentials on January 1, 2027; both CHI and CoreCHI-P continue. Current holders should confirm their transition deadline with CCHI.
Do I need certification to work as an interpreter?
Not always. Many phone and video agencies hire with a language test and training. Courts usually require their own credential, and some hospitals require medical certification.
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