February 21, 2024 Update:

Our application is currently closed. Stay tuned for further updates. Thank you for your understanding.

Updates on our Application Process and Eligibility Guidelines

In 2021, we made significant changes to our process and program eligibility requirements.

See below for an overview, and read this blog post for more information on the philosophy behind these changes.

Class of 2019 Program Celebration Group Photo (External)

2024 Programming Schedule

Participating in Found in Translation's Medical Interpreter Certificate Training Program is a large time commitment. In 2024, both classes will run for 20 weeks including intake (before classes begin), orientation week, and exit interviews post-training. In addition, students are expected to commit to 20 hours per week to this program, which includes class time, assigned readings, self paced components, assigned video lectures, assignments, quizzes, exams and completion of professional development components.

Spring Cycle

  • Dates

    February - July 2024

  • Class Times

    Class will be divided into two cohorts, both taking place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

    Cohort A: 9:30am - 12:30pm

    Cohort B: 5:45pm - 8:45pm

    In addition, one Saturday per month (four days from 9:30am - 3:30pm) are also required, and will be dedicated to our professional speaker series.

  • Location

    Online via Zoom (classroom components) and CANVAS online learning management system (self-paced study). In person events will take place in our office located at 1532B Dorchester Ave, Dorchester MA, or other locations within the Greater Boston community.

Fall Cycle

  • Dates

    TBD

  • Class Times

    Class will be divided into two cohorts, both taking place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

    Cohort A: 9:30am - 12:30pm

    Cohort B: 5:45pm - 8:45pm

    In addition, one Saturday per month (four days from 9:30am - 3:30pm) are also required, and will be dedicated to our professional speaker series.

  • Location

    Online via Zoom (classroom components) and CANVAS online learning management system (self-paced study). In person events will take place in our office located at 1532B Dorchester Ave, Dorchester MA, or other locations within the Greater Boston community.

Learn more about our program and application through our public Information Sessions

webinars

Information Sessions

To accommodate interest in our program, we will be holding free online and in-person information sessions for potential applicants to ask additional questions about our program and application process which may not have been covered in the information session. Watching the recorded info session is highly encouraged before attending one of these sessions for further questions. For any individual situation related inquiries, please reach out to us via email at [email protected].

Our Information Session Schedule can be found here.

Note: Though it is highly recommended, you do not need to attend a session or webinar to apply.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the Found in Translation program, you must be:

  • A woman aged 18+

    If you consider yourself a woman, so do we. Transgender women are women and we encourage them to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to work as interpreters.

  • Fluent in English and another language

    To be eligible to participate in the Found in Translation Program, you will need to have fluency in English and another language. (We accept ALL languages.) You should speak both languages smoothly, comfortably and correctly with only minor mistakes. We utilize a college-level textbook which requires English language reading and comprehension skills. All of our presentations, professional development and mentoring sessions are in English, with language coaching held in both languages. For coursework around medical terminologies we require basic writing skill in another language as well as English, therefore candidates will be tested for both oral and written fluency assessments as part of eligibility determination. Special accommodations may be provided for uncommon languages.

  • A resident of the Greater Boston Area

    Our model relies heavily on in-person community-building and engagement between students, faculty, and volunteers. If someone does not live within the Greater Boston area, they will not be able to participate once it is safe again to carry out these components in a post-pandemic context. (Exceptions can be made for individuals with mobility challenges, but who still reside in this region.) In addition, after earning their certificates, we support graduates in finding work as interpreters in the Greater Boston area - a region where we have a deep professional presence and network, as well as a wealth of industry insight. We do not at this time have the capacity or resources in our flagship program to assist women who seek to work in other markets.

  • Low income (including homeless or formerly homeless)

    Eligibility is based on combined household income, regardless of if the applicant herself is employed. To be eligible for our program, your annual household income must be at or below the following amounts relative to your household size (adults + children).

    Recognizing that living in the Boston area is growing increasingly more expensive, we now use the "Very Low" income limit category. Please see our 2022 Changes blog post  for more details.

    • 1 person - $49,100
    • 2 people - $56,100
    • 3 people - $63,100
    • 4 people - $70,100
    • 5 people - $75,750
    • 6 people - $81,350
    • 7 people - $86,950
    • 8+ people - $92,550

    Income category data from the 2022 Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines for the Boston - Cambridge - Quincy metro area.

  • Earn less than $18/hr (if employed and receiving a W2), or less than $22/hr (if employed as a 1099 freelancer)

    Exceptions can be made for applicants who are working part-time jobs (ex. working fewer than 40 hours and/or do not receive benefits. Please see our 2022 Changes blog post  for more details.

  • Eligible to work in the United States

    The goal of Found in Translation is to prepare women for employment as medical interpreters.

    Women who are ineligible for employment in the United States face a legal barrier to employment which is outside the scope of our program, and will therefore not be considered. US employment eligibility requirements can be found at www.uscis.gov/i-9.

  • Have at least a High School Diploma/GED

    This level of education is required for employment as a medical interpreter, and like US employment eligibility, assisting with this type of service is outside the scope of our program. Graduates of our program range in education from recent GED recipients to former doctors in their home countries - and many have some form of post-secondary education.

    The diploma can be an international equivalent.

  • Not already hold a Medical Interpreter Certificate

    Please note that we are looking for candidates who have the talent and skill but not the means to enter the Medical Interpreting profession. Therefore, applicants who already hold a Medical Interpreter Certificate will not be considered.

flyers and letters 2018

Selection Process Timeline 

Found in Translation is now operating on a rolling admissions calendar and accepts applications throughout the year. Ahead of each class, we will review and process applications in our system on a first-come, first-served basis until our class is full. At that time, applicants who have started our process will be moved to our next cycle and given priority consideration for the following class. We advise applicants with specific semester preferences to apply as soon as possible, and to reach out to us for updates. It is our goal to issue final decisions on acceptance within 2 months of a submitted application.

We will move through each round on a rolling basis, and will make our best efforts to inform applicants of their status by email in a timely manner. Applicants can expect to spend 1-2 weeks in each stage.

See our blog post here for more details on changes to our selection process.

Online Application

Our selection process is based on economic needs and factors that we believe will lead to success in our program and in the medical interpreting profession (including language skills and motivation).

We encourage repeat applicants, and we give them special consideration in our selection process.

Note: We can only accept applications submitted online.

Informational Webinar

Eligible applicants are invited to view an informational 1-hour video webinar about our program and the interpreting profession, and complete a short online survey afterwards.

Viewing of the recording and submission of a survey is mandatory for consideration for our program.

This webinar is different from our pre-application Information Session webinars. You will still need to do this even if you attended an information session pre-application.

Individual Interviews

Upon completion of the webinar, candidates are invited for individual interviews.

At this stage, we also request proof of income, housing status (if homeless), and eligibility to work in the United States.

Language Testing and Final Selection

Finalists are chosen and connected to our Language Coaches for bilingual fluency testing, completed over the phone.

Final Selection is made based on information gathered across all rounds of our process.

Helpful Tips for Completing Your Application

  • Using our New Application Portal

    Found in Translation is using a new online portal to process applications. The new application requires you to complete eligibility questions, create an account, and then apply to the program. Please keep these steps in mind when starting your application. See the Application Page for details and a step-by-step guide for submitting an application.

  • Review Eligibility Criteria

    Determine if you are eligible before beginning your application. Criteria can be found above.

  • Review the Application

    Read through what the application asks for and make sure you have all the information you will need on-hand. This includes information about your household size, professional and educational history, income, and housing situation.

    All applications must be submitted online. Please submit only one application. 

  • Give Yourself Time

    Our application takes about one hour to complete, and it must be completed in one sitting. When you are done, you will receive a confirmation email. We highly encourage using a laptop or computer to fill out the application, rather than a mobile phone.

  • Write your essay separately

    The essay question is very important. It is your chance to tell us about yourself as an individual - and the best responses are AT LEAST 2 paragraphs and 7-8 sentences long. We strongly recommend that you write your essay separately in a word processor (MS Word, your email, a notes app) and then copy/paste your response into the form when you are ready to submit. 

    Writing your essays separately allows you to:

    1) take your time in crafting a response that best reflects your thoughts and abilities

    2) take advantage of tools like Spell Check

    3) be able to save all your hard work such that it isn't lost if you experience technical challenges submitting your application.

    Also - write your essay on your own. The essay should contain your own thoughts and reflect your writing style and proficiency, as these are all factors in our selection process.

  • Essay Question

    Please tell us about yourself, your background, and your future aspirations/goals. What led you to apply for this program, and why is this a good time for you to pursue this program?

  • Questions?

    Due to our small staff and the high volume of interest in the program, we cannot accept prospective applicant inquiries in-person. If you have questions, please attend one of our information sessions, or email us at [email protected].

grads at 2018 graduation