ISO 21998 Certification

Improving Access, Safety, and Understanding in Medical Communication

ISO 21998:2020 establishes global requirements for interpreting services in healthcare and medical settings. This standard ensures interpreters are professionally trained to support safe, ethical, and accurate communication between patients and healthcare providers—regardless of language or background.

Certification to ISO 21998 demonstrates your commitment to patient safety, privacy, and equity in healthcare access.

What Is ISO 21998?

ISO 21998:2020 focuses on interpreting in clinical and medical environments, including:

• Hospitals, clinics, and emergency care
• Telehealth and remote medical interpreting
• Public health and vaccination programs
• Mental health and specialist care
• It specifies requirements for:
• Interpreter competence in medical terminology
• Ethical conduct, including confidentiality and neutrality
• Safe, accurate delivery of interpreting services in health-related contexts
• Interactions with vulnerable populations

Benefits of ISO 21998 Certification

• Enhance Patient Safety – Improve accuracy in diagnosis, consent, and treatment
• Comply with Regulations – Align with HIPAA, GDPR, and national health policies
• Support Multilingual Communities – Serve diverse patients with cultural sensitivity
• Protect Data & Privacy – Ensure secure handling of sensitive health information
• Gain Client & Institutional Trust – Demonstrate professionalism in health interpretation

Who Should Get ISO 21998 Certified?

• Medical interpreting agencies
• Healthcare networks offering in-house language access
• Freelance interpreters working in medical environments
• Telehealth platforms with interpreting services
• Public health organizations and international aid providers

Requirements for Certification

To comply with ISO 21998, interpreting providers must:

• Use interpreters trained in medical language and procedures
• Have clear SOPs for confidentiality, neutrality, and interpreter preparation
• Provide access to support and reference tools during interpreting sessions
• Ensure role clarity, avoiding interpreter interference with clinical decisions
• Track feedback, quality control, and complaints

USQC 3-Step Certification Process

Gap Assessment & Planning
We assess your existing practices and compare them to ISO 21998 requirements.

Implementation & Documentation
We help you formalize medical interpreter training, SOPs, confidentiality policies, and documentation practices.

Certification Audit
A USQC auditor verifies that your system meets ISO 21998 criteria. Once successful, you receive your official certificate.

Remote and onsite audits available globally.

Why Choose USQC for ISO 21998 Certification?

• Deep expertise in language access for healthcare
• Real-world understanding of clinical operations
• Fast, friendly, and audit-ready certification process
• Bundle options with ISO 18841, 17100, or 9001
• Trusted by agencies, hospitals, and public health organizations worldwide