FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions about PEHI Training

If you are an interpreter that works within the service area of a participating state agency for the Deaf/DeafBlind/Hard of Hearing, you are welcome to apply.

You’ll still have access to the training at no cost! The self-directed curriculum will be available online in 2023.

Nothing, thanks to the US Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration. They want to make sure that Deaf/DeafBlind/Hard of Hearing people have equitable access to healthcare which will, in turn, improve their employment opportunities.

YES! We are especially interested in training Deaf interpreters in healthcare interpreting, and have designed our curriculum to embrace and foster the unique skills Deaf interpreters bring to healthcare interactions.

The pilot cohort will start the program on September 6, 2022, and Participating State Agencies will begin accepting applications on July 25, 2022.

Generally, we require that interpreters hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and have at least three years of relevant interpreting experience. Educational equivalency is determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Rehabilitation Services Administration and your participating state agency.

We anticipate partnering with six states that will nominate interpreters for the training. Currently, we have formal agreements with Arizona, Kansas, and Virginia and are finalizing the agreements with three more. Please see the Partnering State Agencies page for more information.

There are two parts of the program: the online component and the local mentoring component. The online component will last five months, although there will be breaks for holidays. You will meet with a coach once a week during this time.

You must commit to 7-10 hours/week during the guided online training.

The local mentoring component includes at least 20 hours of observation, supervised interpreting, and/or skill-building activities conducted during a two-month period. If necessary, the mentoring component will be offered over-video.

PEHI will select a number of participants who have successfully completed the training program and continued to respond to requests for follow-up contact the opportunity to take the BEI Medical Interpreter Certification Examination at no cost. Payment of examination fees and a travel stipend will be available. Participants will have to meet BEI criteria to sit for the examination.

Yes, we will offer RID and BEI CEUs for all activities at no charge to cohort or online participants. Participants who complete all components of the cohort training will be eligible for at least 8 CEUs. Participants who complete the self-directed online training will also be eligible for CEUs.

Yes, we are scheduled to provide cohort training at least three more times during the lifetime of the grant.

We will work with you! While we can’t address every accommodation that we can make during the time of the training, rest assured that all of us at PEHI understand that your lives are busy and that you balance many priorities, and some of those cannot be controlled at times.