Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting

The Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting course is for people who speak English and at least one other language fluently and wishes to become a professional interpreting career. The course is suitable for candidates who wish to acquire an interpreting qualification(s), which will allow them to work towards becoming an effective Community Interpreter.

Successfully completing the Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting is the minimum requirement for anyone who wishes to take a role in the community as an interpreter and accept paid assignment(s) here in the UK.

Interpreter(s) Working or wish to Work in the following Sectors;

• Education
• Charities
• Health services
• Housing
• Immigration
• Local Government
• Mental Health
• Social Services
• Welfare and Benefits

It is suitable for people who are brand new to the profession, and also those who already have some interpreting experience.

YOU DO NOT NEED ANY EXISTING INTERPRETING QUALIFICATIONS TO TAKE THE LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE IN COMMUNITY INTERPRETING.

All that is required to start the Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting is to be fluent in two or more languages, including English.

The Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting is an entry-level course, meaning you do not need any other qualifications, in interpreting or any other subject, and you do not need to prove your language ability prior to starting this course.

The Learn Q Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting is the entry-level qualification for paid interpreting in the UK. It is required to register with the majority of Language Service Providers (Interpreting Agencies) and public services for interpreting assignments.

The assessment for the Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting is a practical examination of your interpreting ability, which takes place remotely, using videoconferencing software (Zoom).

It is a role-play assessment where you have to act as a professional interpreter, demonstrating your language skills and knowledge of relevant terminology and requirements.

You do not need to write long essays, write anything down in either language, or answer any questions.

The exam is made up of two parts:

Part 1 (25 mins): a two-way (consecutive) health interpreting role play (where you interpret a conversation between a doctor and a patient, using both English and your other language)

Part 2 (10 mins): a health site translation (you are provided a text in English of around 250 words, you read through it first and then you read it out loud in your other language – as though you were reading it for someone who couldn’t read the English version)

The Learn Q Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting is Accredited by Gatehouse Awards, and Regulated by Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator for England who ensure qualifications are sufficiently valid and trusted.

You can find out more about Gatehouse Awards and Ofqual, plus find links to our qualifications on Ofqual’s register on the About Us page.

The Learn Q Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting takes an average of 10 – 12 weeks to complete, with a combined study time of 60-80 hours, including the exam.

After working as an interpreter for a recommended minimum of 2 years, some interpreters choose to move on to taking a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting. The DPSI is a degree equivalent qualification that is seen as the ‘gold’ standard for interpreters and can be used to find legal interpreting work.

The DPSI has a very low pass rate even for experienced interpreters so at Learn Q we don’t recommend attempting it without a minimum of a Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting and 2 years professional interpreting experience.