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Interpreter and translator training in Washington

5 interpreter and translator programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

3 schools offer these interpreter programs, and Washington has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Interpreters work in spoken or sign language and translators in written language; medical interpreters help patients talk with doctors and nurses, and court interpreters work in courts. Most have a bachelor's degree and must be fluent in English and at least one other language. Certification is usually optional, but most states require it for court interpreters.1

In Washington, 1 of the 5 programs asks for a high school diploma or equivalent and 4 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 5 programs here are medical interpreter course (4 programs) and translator or interpreter certificate (general, 1 program).

See the 5 programs

How much does interpreter training cost in Washington?

$1,326 to $2,595 is what most interpreter and translator programs in Washington cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 5 programs with a price. All of them: $995 to $3,195

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not reported
None of the 5 programs report it
Working 6 months later
Not reported
None of the 5 programs report it
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
None of the 5 programs report it
Length
12 to 30 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Washington may also offer interpreter training. How these figures are made

Is there free interpreter training in Washington?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 5 interpreter and translator programs in Washington approved for WIOA funding

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5 programs

  • Translator or interpreter certificate (general)OnlineEducation and courses

    Professional Interpreter

    Pierce College

    Based in Lakewood, WA

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Pierce College, based in Lakewood, WATranslator or interpreter certificate (general) · Accredited schoolOnline · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$995
    Program website, Professional Interpreter at Pierce College
    More details about Professional Interpreter at Pierce College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    1 week, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $995
    Program website, Professional Interpreter at Pierce College

  • Medical interpreter courseHybridPrerequisite courses

    Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English)

    Yakima Valley College

    Yakima

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Yakima Valley College, YakimaMedical interpreter course · Accredited schoolHybrid · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,326
    Program website, Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) at Yakima Valley College
    More details about Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) at Yakima Valley College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,326
    Program website, Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) at Yakima Valley College

  • Medical interpreter courseHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) GES165

    Clover Park Technical College

    Lakewood

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Clover Park Technical College, LakewoodMedical interpreter course · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,395
    Program website, Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) GES165 at Clover Park Technical College
    More details about Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) GES165 at Clover Park Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    30 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,395
    Program website, Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) GES165 at Clover Park Technical College

  • Medical interpreter courseOnlinePrerequisite courses

    Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English)

    Pierce College

    Based in Lakewood, WA

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Pierce College, based in Lakewood, WAMedical interpreter course · Accredited schoolOnline · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,595
    Program website, Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) at Pierce College
    More details about Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) at Pierce College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    28 weeks, 7 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,595
    Program website, Medical Interpreter (Spanish/English) at Pierce College

  • Medical interpreter courseOnlinePrerequisite courses

    Advanced Medical Interpreter (Spanish) GES1007

    Clover Park Technical College

    Based in Lakewood, WA

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Clover Park Technical College, based in Lakewood, WAMedical interpreter course · Accredited schoolOnline · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,195
    Program website, Advanced Medical Interpreter (Spanish) GES1007 at Clover Park Technical College
    More details about Advanced Medical Interpreter (Spanish) GES1007 at Clover Park Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    40 weeks, 6 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,195
    Program website, Advanced Medical Interpreter (Spanish) GES1007 at Clover Park Technical College

How to pay for interpreter training in Washington

WIOA funding can pay for interpreter training in Washington

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for interpreter training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for interpreter training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Interpreter and translator training in Yakima, Seattle and other Washington cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 3 programs are online.

Other training in Washington

How interpreter training compares with the rest of business and office work: Business and office training in Washington

Where the Washington interpreter program numbers come from

Which Washington interpreter programs are on this list?

These are the interpreter programs Washington approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Washington offers.

How the prices and results of Washington interpreter programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about interpreter training in Washington

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Interpreters and Translators
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List