Bilingual Interpreter Workforce - Interpreter Training Program




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Interpreter Training Program

Turn Your Bilingual Skills Into a Career That Makes a Difference

If you already interpret for family, friends, your current job, and your community, you might be closer to a professional career than you think. Colorado Mountain College’s 13-week, 120-hour Interpreter Training Program helps bilingual adults turn their lived experience into in-demand skills for jobs in healthcare, schools, courts, and community organizations.

This non-credit program is fast, flexible, and designed for real life. You’ll build confidence in both languages, learn the techniques professionals use every day, and get hands-on practice with instructors who understand your culture and your community.

Registration is only $120. It’s an affordable way to step into a stable, respected, and well-paid career that’s needed across Colorado’s mountain towns.

Students with interest must meet with the class lead, Dr. Paloma Gethzemani Grajales Domínguez, D.A. prior to enrolling to discuss the class. Please reach Dr. Grajales Domínguez at 719.486.4237 or pgdominguez@coloradomtn.edu.

Who This Program Is For

This program is an accessible pathway for:
  • Bilingual community members seeking professional advancement
  • Parents, family members, or community members already interpreting informally
  • High school graduates with the Seal of Biliteracy
  • CMC ESL completers ready for a next-step credential
  • Employees in hospitals, schools, courts, and nonprofits who interpret without formal training
  • Career changers entering healthcare, legal support, human services, or community work

Please Note - This Program is Rigorous.
Students with interest must meet with the class lead, Dr. Paloma Gethzemani Grajales Domínguez, D.A. prior to enrolling to discuss the class. Please reach Dr. Grajales Domínguez at 719.486.4237 or pgdominguez@coloradomtn.edu. While previous interpreter training is not required, this is a rigorous program. Applicants must have solid English and Spanish skills, and will take proficiency assessments as part of the admission process. Participants will also need access to a computer for hybrid learning.

Class Meeting Times:
  • Mondays, 5 - 7 p.m. starting August 24 and finishing December 7, 2026.
    Students can log onto the live virtual lecture from their chosen location; or, visit one of the listed campuses below to participate in person alongside the class's faculty.
     
  • Thursdays, 5 - 8 p.m. starting August 27 and finishing December 3, 2026.
    Students can log onto the live virtual lecture from their chosen location; or, visit one of the listed campuses below to participate in person alongside the class's faculty.
     
  • Online assignments begin Monday, August 24 and finish Monday, December 7, 2026.
    Students perform online assignments independently.
     
  • Please note: Classes will not be held Monday, Sept. 7, Monday, Nov. 23 and Thursday, Nov. 26 due to planned college closures.  
Locations - For students who prefer to participate in the Monday/Thursday sessions on campus within a classroom:
  • Rifle - In-person and virtual
  • Leadville - In-person and virtual
  • Dillon - In-person and virtual
  • Edwards - In-person and virtual
Program Highlights:
  • 13-week, 120-hour curriculum beginning August 2026
  • Three interpretation tracks: Community, Medical, and Court
  • Curriculum aligned with national and state certifications
    • CCHI
    • NBCMI
    • OLA / NCSC
  • Offered in-person, hybrid, RRT (real-time remote teaching)
  • Offered in Dillon, Edwards, Leadville, Rifle, Glenwood Springs
  • Work-based learning with local employers and interpreter agencies
  • Bilingual and bicultural instructors with industry experience
  • Direct preparation for certification exams
  • Pathways into apprenticeships, job placement, and advanced training
What You'll Learn - Students develop the skills required for professional interpreting and entry-level translation work, including:
 
  • Core Competencies
    • Ethics, standards of practice, and interpreter protocols
    • Cultural humility and language justice frameworks
    • Pre-session, during-session, and post-session procedures
    • Role boundaries and confidentiality
  • Interpreting Techniques
    • Consecutive interpreting
    • Simultaneous interpreting
    • Sight translation
  • Foundational Translation Skills
    • Text analysis and transfer
    • Terminology research and glossary development
    • Editing and proofreading
Hands-on practice includes simulated interpreting labs, real-world interpreting hours, and mentorship with professional interpreters.


 
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Class Details

134 Session(s)
Days of the Week :Multiple Days of the Week :
  Online 24/7.  
  Weekly - Mon.  
  Weekly - Thu.  

Location : Off-site Location : 
  Off-site.

Instructor : TBD TBD 

Tuition:  $120.00

Registration Closes On
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 @ 11:59 PM

Schedule Information

Skip dates: (No class on 09/07/2026, 11/23/2026, 11/26/2026)

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
8/24/2026 - 12/7/2026 Online 24/7 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM N/A - Online TBD TBD 
8/24/2026 - 12/7/2026 Weekly - Mon 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM n/a, Off-site  Map TBD TBD 
8/27/2026 - 12/3/2026 Weekly - Thu 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM n/a, Off-site  Map TBD TBD