I don't know where to begin. I was shocked by my Spanish test result. I needed a 11 or 12 to pass. I would have been okay with an 11, but I got a 10. It's insane considering I'm a native speaker, born and raised. I'm not sure what metrics are used to determine the score, but it's ridiculous. Who signs off on this? I tried calling for clarification, but I couldn't reach anyone. Their automated system is outdated for a "language services agency." Why isn't there a live person or customer service line available? Before posting this review, I read other reviews to make sure I wasn't the only one having this issue and it's disappointing because, based on other people's reviews, their tests are flawed and low quality. My message to companies thinking they will do the work for you is this: AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS! read more

A big shout-out to Yasser! He administered my MSA exam and was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and patient, as he explained the whole process to me. I highly recommend working with this company. Right off the bat, you'll feel you're in good hands with language experts who know exactly what they're doing. read more

I have completed and passed the 40 hour medical interpreter training by Alta lang services and let me tell you it is conducted very professionally. The instructors are amazing. The lectures are so beneficial. If you want to be a professional level interpreter sign up for Alta lang. you can't beat the price and payment plan. It's simply the best. Every time I contacted Service. They had a great attitude. Stephanie was exceptionally helpful when she contacted me about a question that I had regarding what I need to do next to prepare for National Certification. I'll never forget the great experience because it'll have a positive impact on improving my career and I'm very grateful that I came across such amazing staff and instructors. Thank you Alta! I'll stay in touch! read more

Great student support and service! Updating my review. In the beginning it was miscommunication that was addressed by Stephanie. I subscribed and completed the course, that was interesting and I have learned a lot even that I am an RN and have seen different situations during my career. I was able to complete course on my iPhone or iPad for the majority. One of the lessons was easier to complete on laptop. I had a baby after I completed the course and ALTA was very nice and provided me with extra week to take the exam!!!! Really appreciated that gesture!!!Written exam was completed on iPad. Results were provided timely for both, written and verbal exam ( I passed). I requested confirmation of payments for my job to reimburse me and Alta provided it also. I am planning to recommend this to my coworkers and register for possible job with ALTA:) read more

As a professional certified court interpreter I wanted to expand my options and decided to obtain my certification as a medical interpreter. Having to do the mandatory 40 orientation course was worrying, I have seen many schools and academies that are not as good as their publicity. After much investigation and thought I decided to go with ALTA for the following reasons. Experience, recommended by CCHI, flexible payment plan, reviews and employee owned and managed company, this was a big factor. The course was great, stimulating, not boring at all. Videos and text book are knowledgeable, plenty of office hour support, vocabulary, tutoring and coaching is optional. As a full time interpreter the flexibility of the course was very important since working and studying can be at times overwhelming. Towards the end date of my course two important things happened in my life. The first I was interviewed and accepted as a part time position medical interpreter for Yale New Haven Hospital, during the course of the interview when I explained that I was studying with ALTA to be certified, that tipped the scale and Yale Hospital spoke very highly off ALTA ! The second is that I accepted a new job with the Judicial department in Florida so I had to move and could not finish my course in the time established nor accept the new job with Yale New Haven Hospital. I called ALTA explained the situation and they extended my time a few weeks free of charge. THANK YOU. This week I am taking my exam, I feel good and confident, I got this !! Thank you ALTA. I made the perfect choice. read more

I paid their training online, I didn't enjoy it. The class was poorly designed , they have some mistakes in their video and the practice. And I have to say that the worst part is the office hour(question-answer time). Stephanie W. may be a good Spanish interpreter BUT she's really a lossy interpreter tutor! The office hour is only 1 hour and twice a week, Stephanie canceled a lot. ( and btw, ONLY one person answer questions for everybody studying online.) And sometimes she left earlier. And she's also not very friendly! Sometimes she's getting annoyed. Sometimes there were 10 people waiting online for question-answering AND Stephanie kept telling us her stories, when she's in school, when she's in hospital, ballllaaaaa... It seemed she thought we had 10 hours to wait! In my opinion, these are all NOT necessary examples, especially when there're 10 people are waiting. And she likes to talk with students who speak Spanish and if you don't speak Spanish, it seems that you're NOT welcome there. And one thing I think it's really NOT fair. Students who speak Spanish can ask questions about how to exactly interpret a Spanish word to English, BUT for other languages because Stephanie doesn't speak other languages, we had to pay for a coach. $60/h. If we paid the same amount of $, we should get the same service. Everybody should can ask question in their own language. Anyway, I don't want to waste too much my time. Summary: I'm super dissatisfied with Stephanie W. and the class. read more

Ok, I'm going to have to go with my original impression of this place. Avoid at all costs. After communicating with Manny, I decided to give Alta another shot and take my test with them. (my original experience was taking lessons from them). I reported to my supervisor's office to have him dial the number for my test. (standard procedure). He accidentally dialed the wrong number and got the guy who schedules tests only. My supervisor apologized and asked for the correct number. The Alta employee started an argument with him, insisting that Alta had given me the correct number to call (they hadnt, but that in itself was not a problem). My supervisor calmly insisted that we did not have the number and would the gentleman please give us the correct one. The Alta employee preferred to continue the argument and when my supervisor asked for the 5th time, he was given the number. This was all on speakerphone and I heard everything. I was so upset by this that I was a nervous mess for the test. After the test I called Alta back to explain that I hadnt flaked and wasn't trying to cause a problem, but that I honestly had not been given a special number. I got the same guy who had answered the phone when my supervisor had called. He again started an argument (this time with me) stating that he was "only trying to help" by arguing with my supe. He said, "what if I hadnt answered the phone? Then you would have missed your test and can't reschedule for three months". I pointed out that with my supervisor right there, I doubt there would have been a penalty for attempting the test and not being able to get through. He then called me a liar and said, "maybe you just forgot that you got the number". I was livid. I am not the only person with a horror story about Alta. Such stories abound at my workplace. Misplaced test results, attitudes like this guys...on and on. My advice? STEER CLEAR read more

Their German test is riddled with logical inconsistencies and errors. Some multiple choice questions have two perfectly correct answers and some have none at all. It reads as if it was translated from another language. You should avoid using this company to test potential employees. Their product is poorly developed. There are far superior alternatives available than this company. read more

I have a bachelor's degree in foreign language, have taught my native language in a State University for 2 years and this company has qualified me as an "intermediate" level speaker. It is incomprehensible to me how someone that was born and raised in a country can be given an intermediate level of fluency in that respective country's language. I am in the travel business and the questions asked are completely basic with minimum vocabulary required. My evaluator's English proficiency was poor and I would be very surprised if that person had any higher level of training in languages -including her native tongue- in order to evaluate someone's language skills. I have spoken with several people, all native speakers, that have taken the same test and they all have agreed with the questionable level of language proficiency of these evaluators. The evaluation criteria seems completely random and the "faults" they find seem made up. The test rating seems to be given based on personal, subjective opinion of each evaluator. It is a shame that corporations hire this institution to evaluate the language proficiency of their employees. There must not be many options out there if they have to resort to ALTA. read more

Love the people at ALTA! My Spanish lessons were effective & I loved my teacher.

I've worked in a professional capacity with ALTA staff and have been very impressed with the quality of their service delivery. ALTA staff has conducted an interpreter training at my agency. Additionally, I've referred interpreters to ALTA's medical interpreter course. Staff was professional, friendly, and very competent in the training they provided to my agency. My interpreters reported a change in their overall interpretation delivery and reported that they utilize the skills/techniques ALTA staff taught them in their daily work life. I've personally noticed a difference in my interpreters work performance. ALTA Language Services receives high marks from my end. read more

I completed the 40-hour course and passed both written and oral tests and got permission to work as a medical interpreter in the US. Alta provided a wonderful training experience for me. They have excellent e-learning materials you can complete at your own pace with abundant supporting resources including the textbook, roleplay training material, glossaries for different languages, etc. You can also meet other students who may share your language combination and with whom you can practice medical interpreting in your spare time. What is special about ALTA is that they have three online courses every week where you can meet three tutors and ask them any questions related to medical interpreting. Besides, ALTA has provided online classes for more languages including Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. I love ALTA and the team. They are supportive, respond to queries quickly, and professional. After comparing ALTA with other medical interpreting training institutions, I chose ALTA. I believe this is where you should choose if you want the first step into the medical interpreting field as I do. You won't regret! read more

My name is Hedayat. I am a multi lingual person. In January 2017, I took a series of tests with ALTA and I could manage to pass the tests successfully but in order to know more about my performance in the tests, I contacted ALTA Testing Service Representative and asked if they could provide me with my scores? The answer was NO!! Because this is ALTA's policy I was told!!! I wonder how can it be possible for a test taker not to be aware of his/her scores?! My question is; Isn't it the ultimate goal for test takers to identify their strengths and weaknesses for further improvements? By adopting and imposing this policy, ALTA does not want the test takers know how to improve their language skills under the excuse that they have indicated their policy in the contracts - with the recruiting agencies who refer the candidates to them- that they will not share the scores with the test takers!!!! but why? Isn't it the rights of the test taker to know about the results in order to identify his/her strengths/weaknesses? Can any Medical Lab hide the test results from the patients under the excuse that as the doctor has prescribed the tests, the Lab can only share the test results with the treating doctor?!! Does this make sense? I just see this policy as ripping off the customers as the candidates who wish to evaluate their language skills by ALTA, must pay another fee by themselves in order to be re evaluated for the same tests!! I do not recommend ALTA to those who wish to be treated fairly, logically and enjoy a proper customer service . Thank you . read more