HILLSBORO — Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD) and Linguava, a language services company based in Portland, have launched a new partnership offering high school seniors the opportunity to become qualified medical interpreters for free.

Beginning March 30, multilingual students from Washington, Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties can apply for professional training through Linguava’s Interpreter Academy — opening a powerful pathway into a purposeful, in-demand health care career.

Access to trained medical interpreters is increasingly vital as health care systems serve growing multilingual populations. Clear communication not only improves patient safety and trust but also helps providers deliver accurate diagnoses and culturally responsive care. The need for qualified interpreters continues to rise across Oregon and nationwide.

“In a diverse community like Washington County, access to qualified medical interpreters is critical to equitable health care,” says Todd Warlik, a registered nurse and the director of quality and patient safety at Hillsboro Medical Center. “Their work helps ensure that every patient, regardless of the language they speak, can receive safe, respectful and informed care.”

Linguava is a nationally recognized Portland-based language services company specializing in health care interpreting, translation, and interpreter training. Through its Interpreter Academy, bilingual individuals develop professional interpreting skills, medical terminology proficiency, and a strong foundation in ethics — competencies increasingly sought across hospitals, clinics and health care systems.

“This partnership creates a meaningful career pathway for multilingual students while directly addressing a growing workforce need,” says Adam Whalen, executive director of school performance and workforce development at NWRESD. “By offering regional access, we ensure students from urban, suburban, and rural communities alike can participate and explore a high-demand healthcare career that may not be available in their local high school.”

The initiative allows students to transform the language skills they already possess into a valuable professional credential — while supporting the long-term health care needs of their communities.

Program at a Glance

• Who is eligible: Multilingual high school seniors in Washington, Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties
• Cost: Free (a $1,000 value)
• Training provider: Linguava Interpreter Academy
• Timeline: Application window opens March 30 for an 8-day training this summer
• Next step: Complete the interest form to receive updates and application instructions

“This partnership program previews the kind of regional career learning opportunities we intend to expand—options that complement high school curricula, fill existing workforce training gaps, and connect students to real, high-demand professions,” says Whalen. “Linguava is one of many industry partners we hope to collaborate with to open these doors for learners across the region.”
 
Students can complete an interest form now to be notified as soon as the application window opens.