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.

Please Note - This Program is Rigorous:
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.

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

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.
     
  • Fridays, 5 - 8 p.m. starting August 28 and finishing December 4, 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 Friday, Nov. 27 due to planned college closures.  
Locations - For students who prefer to participate in the Monday/Friday sessions on campus within a classroom:
  • Rifle - In-person and virtual
  • Glenwood Springs - In-person and virtual
  • Leadville - In-person and virtual
  • Dillon - In-person and virtual
  • Edwards - In-person and virtual
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
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 - Fri.  

Location : Off-site Location : 
  Off-site.

Instructor : TBD TBD 

Tuition: 

$120.00

Registration Closes On
Monday, August 24, 2026 @ 12:00 PM

Schedule Information

Skip dates: (No class on 09/07/2026, 11/23/2026, 11/27/2026)

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 
8/28/2026 - 12/4/2026 Weekly - Fri 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM n/a, Off-site  Map TBD TBD