Bridging The Gap (BTG): Training for Medical and Mental Health Interpreters

Finger Lakes Community Health offers two different professional development programs that prepare bilingual individuals to work as medical interpreters: BTG Medical Interpreting and BTG Mental Health Interpreting.

Who should apply?

  • Bilingual college or university students with a passion for languages and serving their community.
  • Health Care or Human Service Professionals planning to work as medical interpreters.
  • Life Long Learners interested in pursuing a new career as medical interpreters.

The BTG Medical Interpreting course trains individuals to become competent medical interpreters and covers:

  • Basic interpreting skills and managing the flow of the session
  • Interpreter roles
  • Code of Ethics for medical interpreters
  • Information on the U.S. healthcare system
  • Medical terminology: Anatomy, physiology and basic medical procedures
  • Culture in interpreting: Self-awareness, traditional healthcare in specific communities, and cultural brokering
  • Communication skills for advocacy: Listening skills, communication styles, and appropriate advocacy

Requirements: BTG Medical Interpreting is taught in English and is open to bilingual speakers of all languages. You must be 18 years of age or older and have a high-school diploma (or equivalent) and proof of language proficiency in English and one other language that you will be interpreting in. If you don’t have proof of language proficiency, you will need to take an over-the-phone language assessment during the application process.

Tuition: BTG Medical Interpreting tuition is $750 (includes the $150 non-refundable fee). Limited scholarships are also available.  For information on scholarships or to request an application form, contact Beverly at BeverlyS@flchealth.org.

The BTG 40hr and 64hr Medical Interpretation courses qualify as prerequisites for the national certifications provided by the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI) and the Certification Commission for Health Care Interpreters (CCHI).

 Upcoming Medical Interpreting courses:

  • October 2026: Class will meet on 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, and 10/30 in Geneva, NY (40hr Hybrid Course)
  • May 2027: Dates will be announced soon.
  • Additional sessions may be available for groups of 6 people or more. Please contact Beverly at BeverlyS@flchealth.org.

All courses are hybrid. The first and last dates of each course are in-person. The remaining dates are remote on Microsoft Teams.

The BTG Mental Health Interpreting course trains interpreters specifically for the mental health setting and covers:

  • • Terminology related to mental health
  • • Challenges in mental health interpreting
  • • Mental health interpreting techniques
  • • Impact of culture on mental health
  • • Interpreter self-care
  • • Practice interpreting skills

Requirements: BTG Mental Health Interpreting is taught in English and is open to bilingual speakers of all languages. You must be 18 years of age or older, have a high-school diploma (or equivalent), and provide proof of successful completion of a recognized 40hr or 64hr Medical Interpreting course.

Tuition: BTG Mental Health Interpreting tuition is $500 (includes the $150 non-refundable fee). Limited scholarships are also available.  For information on scholarships or to request an application form, contact Beverly at BeverlyS@flchealth.org.

Upcoming Mental Health Interpreting courses: 

• November 2026: Classes will meet 11/2, 11/3, 11/4, 11/5, 11/6, and 11/9 from 8am-12pm in Geneva, NY (24 Hour Course)

All courses are hybrid. The first and last dates of each course are in-person. The remaining dates are remote on Microsoft Teams.

Registration Enrollment Procedure for both courses.

  • Step 1: Complete and submit the Bridging the Gap Application to Beverly Sirvent at BeverlyS@flchealth.org
  • Step 2: Mail $150 check, payable to Finger Lakes Community Health, Attention: BTG, PO Box 423, Penn Yan, NY 14527
  • Step 3: Once we receive your completed application form and $150 non-refundable deposit, we will send you instructions via email on how to proceed with the Language Proficiency Assessment.
  • Step 4: Once you’ve completed the Language Proficiency Assessment, you will receive an acceptance email.
  • Step 5: Confirm your attendance, and pay the balance of tuition for your specific course.

*Participants will receive a signed and individually numbered certificate of successful completion after passing the exam with a score of 70% of higher. This certificate does not expire and is widely accepted across the country as the gold standard for medical interpreter training. 

Call the health center nearest you for an appointment today!