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. 
 

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 

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. 
 

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 
 

Locations  

  • Rifle – In-person & virtual 
  • Glenwood Springs – In-person & virtual 
  • Leadville – In-person & virtual 
  • Dillon – In-person & virtual 
  • Edwards – In-person & virtual 
 

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. 
 

Careers  

Graduates are prepared for roles such as: 

  • Community Interpreter — schools, nonprofits, social services 
  • Medical Interpreter — clinics, hospitals, mental health settings 
  • Legal Interpreter (pre-court and legal services) 
  • Remote Interpreter — telehealth, call centers, VRI platforms 
  • Entry-Level Translator 
  • Language access support roles in local agencies 

Salary Outlook 

  • Medical Interpreters: $45,000–$70,000 annually 
  • Court Interpreters: $60,000–$90,000+ with certification 
  • Freelance Interpreters: $30–$75/hour depending on specialization 

Interpreter jobs are plentiful—and growing—across the region, with strong employer demand.