Information Resources for Interpreters

Professional Associations in Canada

• Canadian Translators and Interpreters Council (CTIC) 
• Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) 
• Order des traducteurs et interprètes agréés du Quebec (OTTIAQ) 
• Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS) 
• Association of Translators and Interpreters of Alberta (ATIA) 
• Corporation of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters of New (Brunswick (CTINB)
• Society of Translators and Interpreters of British Columbia (STIBC) 
• Literary Translators’ Association of Canada (LTAC) 
• Network of Translators in Education 

Other Canadian Organizations

• The Canadian Hearing Society 
• Critical Link 
• Ontario Council for Community Interpreting 

Medical Interpreting

• California Healthcare Interpreter’s Association 
• Cross Cultural Health Care Program (Seattle) 
• Diversity Rx 
• OCCI Healthcare Division (formerly HIN) 
• Massachusetts General Hospital—Medical Interpreter Services 
• International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) 
• Council on Interpreting in Health Care

Sites of Interest to Interpreters

• Association for Translation and Intercultural Studies
• European Society for Translation Studies
• The Role of Consecutive in Interpreter Training: A Cognitive View
• American Translators Association 

• Completed PD Events Form (online form)
• Encounter Form (PDF 90KB)
• Feedback Form (PDF 205KB)
• 2025 Direct Deposit Schedule (PDF 133 KB)
• 2024 Direct Deposit Schedule (PDF 479 KB)

Click here for an online application form.

Community interpreting provides a rewarding and flexible career. Interpreters work with AALS on a freelance basis. This means that you work for us as an independent contractor on an as-needed basis, depending on the needs of our client organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.

If you are already trained in community interpreting, have successfully passed the ILSAT or CILISAT, and have completed a medical terminology course, we would be happy to receive your application to work with AALS as a freelance community interpreter.

You will be required to attach the following documents:

• Certificate(s) of interpreter training course
• CILISAT or ILSAT assessment test results and certificate(s)
• Proof of completion of post-secondary medical terminology course
• Résumé outlining your training in community interpretation and work experience

How to meet our minimum qualifications

These tests were developed by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and are accepted by most interpreter services as well as many health care organizations as a minimum required standard for interpretation and language proficiency. Passing this language test is a requirement for Access Alliance interpreters. If there is no test available in a particular language, we will seek out references and will use the “on dossier” approach incorporating appropriate evaluation tools.

Medical Terminology Courses

Following completion of the core interpreter training, AALS interpreters are required to complete a college level course in medical terminology. The following Toronto area colleges offer these courses. Note that the costs listed are subject to change.

CISOC
For more information call 613-237-0502 (8:30 am – 5 pm, M-F), 613-261-7834 (5 pm – 8:30 am, M-F, weekends, holidays)

George Brown College
This is an online course. For more information, call 416-415-5000 ext. 4706.

Humber College
For more information call 416-675-5000.

Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences
This is a correspondence course. For more information, call 416-596-3177.

Skills for Change
Course Title: ESL/Medical Terminology. For more information call 416-658-7090.

Seneca College
Register on-line or by calling 416-493-4144 or, call 416-491-5050 ext. 2528 for more information.

Interpreter Core Competency Training Programs

Seneca College Language Interpreter Training Program
This 180-hour program consists of six 30-hour subjects. The program trains participants to interpret in health care, social services, and legal settings. Interested candidates may be required to attend an orientation session. Visit their website for more information or call 416-493-4144.

Humber College Language Interpreter Training Certificate
This 180-hour program consists of six 30-hour subjects. This is a certificate program intended to provide bilingual learners who wish to work as spoken language interpreters in the legal, in health-care and social services area, with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver effective interpreter services. Visit their website for more information or call 416-675-5006.

Mohawk College Language Interpreter Training
This 180-hour program consists of six 30-hour subjects. The training is an introduction to interpreting theory, with skills development practice in consecutive interpreting, sigh translation and note taking, simultaneous interpreting, standards of practice, and more.  Visit their website for more information. Some courses in this program are also offered through Distance Education.

York University Programs in Translation
Glendon College offers a post-degree certificate program in Spanish/English-English/Spanish translation as well as undergraduate and graduate degree programs in translation studies. Visit their website to learn more.