Medical Spanish Certificate?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 17, 2015

When you put on your application that you are bilingual, that is what matters. Putting down that you took a course in Spanish....doesn't matter.

If at the end you are comfortable with Spanish, you have something. If not....don't bother.

You cannot get specialty certification in any specialty until you have met the minimum criteria for that accrediting entity, which is typically two years of full-time employment within that specialty. No one will expect a new grad to have any of that, because you cannot GET that, you wouldn't be qualified to test.

IV certification only matters if you are an LPN/LVN and require that for job placement; RNs need no additional certification (only the training that comes with either your college program OR your employer).

Most employers will be willing to pay for ACLS and/or PALS certifications; know your area and what is offered. Beyond that....you will need experience to qualify.

BertG77 · May 17, 2015

I'm in the 2nd semester of my BSN program, took 2 semesters of Spanish during undergrad studies, and am very committed to becoming comfortable with real conversational Spanish. I purposely choose Spanish speaking patients during clinical so that I can practice. I'm also taking private tutoring lessons one day a week for just an hour at a time but since it is one on one I find the lessons extremely beneficial. I'm listening to RadÃo EducaciÃ³n, which is Mexico's NPR, and reading the Mexican news, recording myself reading the articles to get used to hearing my own pronunciation. Taking a little time each day will pay off. Do a little something all the time and you can do it. Try brushing up with free online resources like Duolingo, Babel, and Fluencia. Also 123 teach me has a great page on medical Spanish for healthcare professionals. Also, study Spanish.com has great explanations, lessons, and quizzes. There are also apps that allow you to connect and talk with native speakers on other countries, such as hello talk. I've been spending a little time each week chatting with people in Mexico and helping them learn English too! It's really cool and satisfying. One thing my Spanish tutor stresses is the importance of hearing and speaking Spanish from native speakers. Dig through some of these resources and see if you can gain some headway on your own. Buena suerte!

RoryF · Apr 3, 2016

There is currently no medical Spanish certificate on the market, that I'm aware of, that is actually a measure of bilingual language skills in the context of healthcare. Most "certificates" are certificates of completion, not a validated measure of your ability to use the language. So, certificates of completion are definitely worth something, but not a true "certification", if you know what I mean.

There are several phone tests that many hospital systems use (but most of them rely on skills that an interpreter needs, they don't really do a great job of assessing bilingual competency). There are also very established healthcare interpreter tests, but nothing is currently perfect for the bilingual healthcare professional looking for approval of their language skills in Spanish.

Joint Commission has established language requirements based on Title IV, and health systems are currently interpreting those in a variety of ways. Your best bet is to figure out what your employer is requiring of staff to use Spanish with patients (if they're allowing it at all) and then go from there.

BertG77 suggested some great resources to check out. I would also add some free downloadable medical terminology flashcards to the list for anyone who is more of a tactile learner.