DCI Course

Achieve your Level 6 interpreting qualification through a flexible, portfolio-based route,
with personalised one-to-one support in your language.

Law & Health Pathways available

Overview

A flexible route to your Level 6 interpreting qualification.

The Level 6 Diploma in Community Interpreting (DCI) is a nationally recognised, portfolio-based qualification designed for experienced interpreters ready to progress to professional Level 6 practice.

Unlike an exam-based qualification, we assess your competence progressively through a portfolio of evidence completed throughout your training.

Choose from two specialist pathways:
DCI Law: for interpreters working towards legal settings.
DCI Health: for interpreters working towards healthcare and advanced medical settings.

Considering the DCI or DPSI? The key difference is how you’re assessed: the DCI is portfolio-based, while the DPSI is exam-based.

DCI Law - Course Details

Develop your expertise in legal interpreting.

The DCI Law pathway is designed for experienced interpreters who want to develop the specialist knowledge, terminology and practical skills required to work confidently across legal and criminal justice settings.

You’ll build your understanding of the legal system in England and Wales alongside the equivalent systems in the country of your other working language, with specialist training across:

Police · Courts · Immigration · Prison & Probation

Throughout the course, you’ll develop your legal terminology and build specialist glossaries while strengthening the practical skills required at Level 6, including consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, sight translation and written translation.

Your private sessions with a specialist tutor in your language give you the opportunity to put those skills into practice, receive personalised feedback and demonstrate your competence progressively as you build your portfolio.

DCI Health - Course Details

Develop your expertise in health & public-service interpreting.

The DCI Health pathway is designed for experienced interpreters who want to develop the specialist knowledge, terminology and practical skills required to work confidently across healthcare and wider public-service settings.

You’ll develop your understanding of the NHS and health professions, alongside specialist areas including maternity and sexual health, human anatomy and medical conditions, oncology and palliative care, and mental health. Your training also extends into key community settings including social services, housing and education.

Throughout the course, you’ll build specialist glossaries while strengthening the practical skills required at Level 6, including consecutive and simultaneous interpreting, sight translation and written translation.

Your private sessions with a specialist tutor in your language give you the opportunity to put those skills into practice, receive personalised feedback and demonstrate your competence progressively as you build your portfolio.

Course Syllabus

All DCI candidates develop the core professional skills required at Level 6:

Consecutive & Simultaneous Interpreting · Sight Translation · Written Translation · Professional Ethics · Continuing Professional Development

DCI Law:

Types of Crime · Police Powers & Procedures · Criminal Courts & Tribunals · Probation & Prison Services · Immigration · Civil & Family Law · Local Government

DCI Health

The NHS & Health Professionals · Sexual Health, Pregnancy & Childbirth · Human Body & Medical Conditions · Oncology & Palliative Care · Mental Health · Housing & Education · Social Services

Optional Module: Interpreting technology

Both pathways include: Ethics & CPD and Setting up as a Freelancer.

Choose your pathway

Apply Here

DCI Law:

12 private 1:1 sessions with a language tutor 

Duration: 6-8 months

One Time Payment: £1500

8 Month Payment Plan: 8 x £190

DCI Health:

12 private 1:1 sessions with a language tutor 

Duration: 6-8 months

One Time Payment: £1500

8 Month Payment Plan: 8 x £190

Personalised Support

12

Private one-to-one sessions with
a specialist tutor in your language.

Expert guidance in your language

Your DCI course includes 12 private one-to-one sessions with a specialist tutor in your language.

These dedicated sessions give you the opportunity to practise your interpreting and translation skills, develop specialist terminology and receive personalised feedback as you build your Level 6 portfolio.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

A qualification recognised across the profession. The DCI is a nationally recognised Level 6 qualification designed to demonstrate the professional skills required for interpreting in complex public-service settings.

1

NRPSI

DPSI Online's DCI Law and Health pathways are listed by NRPSI as qualifications that can meet its educational requirements for registration.*
2

PAIT

The Level 6 DCI Law pathway can support eligibility for the Police-Approved Interpreter and Translator scheme, subject to PAIT's separate experience and registration requirements.*
3

Home Office

The Level 6 DCI Law pathway is currently listed by the Home Office among the qualifications accepted when applying to its interpreter panel, subject to its other recruitment and eligibility requirements.
4

Ministry of Justice

The Level 6 DCI Law is recognised for professional interpreting within justice settings and can support eligibility for Ministry of Justice interpreting work, subject to current experience and registration requirements.

Where can your DCI take you?

DCI Law

Police •
Courts •
Immigration •
Prison & Probation •
Solicitors and legal services •
Other criminal justice/public-service settings

DCI Health

Healthcare services •
Mental health •
Social services •
Local government •
Education •
Other community/public-service settings

Individual employers and interpreting assignments may have additional experience, registration or vetting requirements.

Student Testimonials

““Thank you so much DPSI Online with Helena El Marsi, especially thanks to Ms Helena and my Vietnamese Language tutor Ms Nga Kibble because of their knowledge, enthusiasm and patience. This course expanded my knowledge and vocabulary, especially in Court settings. Thanks to this course, my interpreting skills have significantly improved and I am now much more confident in attending assignments in more complicated settings.

I cannot express my gratitude for Ms Helena and Ms Nga for being my tutors in guiding and inspiring me throughout the course and they are still very helpful and supportive as being my referees for me to apply to work at some Agencies even though the course finished.””

Huyen NguyenDCI Law Past Student - Language: Vietnamese

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Course Requirements?

Passing a pre-course assessment to ensure you are at the appropriate linguistic level for this course. 

Having native or near-native levels in both, English and the other language.

Adequate interpreting experience (voluntary or otherwise) – this course is not suitable for beginners.

How long do I have to complete the Level 6 DCI qualification?

The Level 6 DCI is a portfolio-based qualification that is usually completed within 6–8 months. However, you have up to 3 years from your registration date to finish all required units and achieve the full qualification.

This timeframe allows for extensions or resubmissions. After 3 years, your registration will expire in line with the awarding body’s regulations, and you will need to re-register if you wish to continue.

What languages is this course available in?

We offer languages on demand.

We offer the DCI Law, DPSI Law Course (and Exam) in over 45 language combinations, including many rare languages, with additional languages available on demand.

If you’re interested, simply submit your application or get in touch with us at info@dpsionline.co.uk. We’ll be happy to confirm language availability and guide you through the next steps.

What are the course dates & class schedule?

This course can be started at any time of the year and sessions are organised directly by yourself with the language tutor to suit both of your availability.

Ready to take your interpreting career to Level 6?

Apply for the DCI Course

Not sure which pathway right for you?

Email us your questions