Basic Counselor Skills Training (BCST)

The Basic Counselor Skills Training (BCST) is a 5-day live certification training for prospective HIV/HCV Test Counselors.

If your County, agency, or site wishes to host a training, please be certain that the location you have in mind meets the following requirements, which are key to participant success:

• The room is large enough to safely and comfortably accommodate 21 people (18 participants, 3 trainers).
• The room has been measured and has at least 600 square feet in usable training space.
• There are enough tables and chairs for 18 participants to sit in a “U” formation, as well as 3 extra tables and 4 additional chairs for trainer use. The chairs and tables are movable.
• On Days 1 and 2, the artificial lighting in the room will be full and bright enough to read extremely faint lines. Stationary task lamps, including floor and desk lamps, may be brought in by the host, but all areas where participants are seated must be brightly and fully lit by the host agency.
• On Days 3, 4, and 5, there is adequate space for 9 pairs of participants to conduct role-plays without disturbing each other, while 2 trainers walk around the groups listening.
• The site is available to trainers to set up on Day 1 (Monday) at 8am.
• Trainers can leave materials in the training room overnight during the length of the training.
• The room has been reserved for all five days of the training. (Monday 8am to 6pm; Tuesday 8:30 am to 6pm; Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30 am to 5:30pm).
• The site is open during the above hours, or, if not, special arrangements have been made for trainers to have access to the room.
• A host site staff member will be identified to dispose of biohazardous waste (sharps containers and biohazard bags) which the staff member will be able to pick up on Tuesday at 6pm.
• Participants and trainers will have access to adequate bathroom facilities to accommodate 21 people.
• Site will provide 2 full pads of poster paper and an easel.

For an example of a room that meets all these requirements, click here and here.

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Counselor Re-Examination Training (CRE)

The Counselor Re-Examination Training (CRE) is for BCST participants who were nearly successful in passing the Counseling portion of the BCST. This is a one-day re-examination that allows participants to show that they have mastered the skills that were lacking at the time of their BCST and which were noted in writing on their Counseling Evaluation Forms.

If your County, agency, or site wishes to host a The Counselor Re-Examination Training (CRE) , please be certain that the location you have in mind meets the following requirements, which are key to participant success:

• The room is large enough to safely accommodate 10 people (8 participants, 2 trainers).
• The room has been measured and has at least 300 square feet in size.
• There is adequate space for 4 pairs of participants to conduct role-plays without disturbing each other, while 2 trainers walk around the groups listening.
• There are enough tables and chairs for 10 people. The chairs and tables are movable.
• The site is available to trainers to set up at 8:30 am.
• The room has been reserved for the full day of the training (8:30am to 5:00 pm).
• The site is open during the above hours, or, if not, special arrangements have been made for trainers to have access to the room.
• Participants and trainers will have access to adequate bathroom facilities to accommodate 10 people.
• Site will provide 1 full pad of poster paper and an easel, or a white board.

For an example of a room that meets all these requirements, click here and here.

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Proficiency Re-Examination (PRE)

The Proficiency Re-Examination (PRE) Training is for Basic Counselor Skills Training (BCST) participants who were unsuccessful in passing a technical component of the BCST (examples include: OraQuick Fingerstick; Alere Fingerstick; OraQuick Rapid Testing; Alere Rapid Testing). Each technical component missed has a review and re-examination component that is one-half day in length.

If your County, agency, or site wishes to host a training, please be certain that the location you have in mind meets the following requirements, which are key to participant success:

• The room is large enough to comfortably and safely accommodate 14 people (12 participants, 2 trainers).
• The room has been measured and has at least 300 square feet in size.
• There are enough tables and chairs for 14 people. The chairs and tables are movable.
• The artificial lighting in the room will be full and bright enough to read extremely faint lines. Stationary task lamps, including floor and desk lamps, may be brought in by the host, but all areas where participants are seated must be brightly and fully lit by the host agency.
• The site is available to trainers to set up at 8am.
• The room has been reserved for the entire day (8:00am to 6:00pm).
• The site is open during the above hours, or, if not, special arrangements have been made for trainers to have access to the room.
• A host site staff member will be identified to dispose of biohazardous waste (sharps containers and biohazard bags) at the end of the day.
• Participants and trainers will have access to adequate bathroom facilities to accommodate 14 people.
• Site will provide a full pad of poster paper and an easel.

For an example of a room that meets all these requirements, click here and here.

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Alere Determine Training

Alere Determine Training is a one day (Fingerstick + Rapid Testing) training for existing certified HIV Test Counselors who have not yet taken the Alere Determine Training, as well as for Basic Counselor Skills Training (BCST) participants who were unsuccessful in either (or both) the Alere Determine Fingerstick or the Alere Determine Rapid Testing components of the BCST.

If your County, agency, or site wishes to host a training, please be certain that the location you have in mind meets the following requirements, which are key to participant success:

• The room is large enough to safely accommodate 20 people (18 participants, 2 trainers).
• The room has been measured and is at least 450 square feet in size.
• There are enough tables and chairs for 18 participants to sit in a “U” formation, as well as 3 extra tables and 4 additional chairs for trainer use.
• The artificial lighting in the room will be full and bright enough to read extremely faint lines. Stationary task lamps, including floor and desk lamps, may be brought in by the host, but all areas where participants are seated must be brightly and fully lit by the host agency.
• The site is available to trainers to set up at 8am.
• The room has been reserved for the entire day (8:00am to 6:00pm).
• The site is open during the above hours, or, if not, special arrangements have been made for trainers to have access to the room.
• A host site staff member will be identified to dispose of biohazardous waste (sharps containers and biohazard bags) at the end of the day.
• Participants and trainers will have access to adequate bathroom facilities to accommodate 20 people.
• Site will provide a full pad of poster paper and an easel.

For an example of a room that meets all these requirements, click here and here.