Trainings

This one-day experiential training enhances HIV test providers’ ability to respond to the impact of HIV-related stigma and discrimination on clients. Participants will examine their own experiences with stigma, practice ways to create less stigmatizing testing environments, and consider ways to help clients respond to stigmatizing experiences.

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This one-day, training is designed to increase confidence and effectiveness of HIV Test Counselors by deepening their skills in client-centered techniques. This training provides “a taste” of motivational interviewing, a counseling approach proven to help people change potentially harmful behaviors. We will focus on two challenging situations: clients who seem ambivalent about change, (those who are pulled between wanting to change and not wanting to change a problematic behavior) and second, clients who express resistance or resentment.

This one-day course trains participants to conduct a 50 microliter finger stick blood sample collection, as well as to run and read the Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo test. Successful participants will also be able to explain the basic testing technology (including the distinctions between antibody-only and antigen/antibody tests), the test’s window period, and its capacity to diagnose HIV infection during the acute infection stage.

This five-day experiential course teaches the skills necessary to conduct HIV and hepatitis C rapid antibody testing and counseling, including engagement, behavioral risk assessment, harm reduction, and cultural humility. Participants learn how to make appropriate referrals to services that can optimize client and community health, including HIV-related medical care, PrEP navigation, PEP, STD testing and treatment, HCV follow-up testing and care, and Partner Services. Our trainers teach HIV testing procedures using the OraQuick ADVANCE HIV 1/2 Rapid Test, OraQuick HCV Rapid Test and the Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Test. Successful participants also become proficient at collecting both 5 microliter and 50 microliter blood samples through finger stick. Components include: Group discussion, lecture and skills-modeling, small group activities, role-plays, and quizzes. Participants will become certified as California HIV Test Counselors by the California State Office of AIDS upon successful completion of all evaluated aspects of the training. Local Health Jurisdiction Coordinators register participants for this course.

This one-day re-examination is for participants who have previously taken the Basic Counselor Skills Training (BCST) and have partially demonstrated the counseling skills to become certified as HIV Test Counselors. The re-examination offers these participants an opportunity to demonstrate that they have mastered these skills through role-playing client testing scenarios. Potential participants are notified of their eligibility to take this re-examination through Local Health Jurisdiction Coordinators.

This one-day training improves participant familiarity, knowledge and comfort with harm reduction and substance use in the context of an HIV testing session.

This one-day (or half-day) re-examination is for participants who have previously taken the Basic Counselor Skills Training (BCST) and have not yet demonstrated the rapid testing skills necessary to become certified as HIV/HCV Test Counselors. The re-examination offers these participants an opportunity to demonstrate that they have mastered these skills as they conduct either OraQuick ADVANCE HIV 1/2 Rapid Tests and OraQuick HCV Rapid Tests or the Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Test (or all of these). Potential participants are notified of their eligibility to take this re-examination through Local Health Jurisdiction Coordinators.

This half-day training improves health care providers’ understanding of self-care practice and its benefits. It will help health care providers to identify points of stress and burn out in their professional life and how to develop a personalized self-care plan with points of support.

The Online Training for Integrated Hepatitis C/HIV Counseling and Testing is primarily directed to HIV test counselors who work at sites that also offer hepatitis C testing. The goals of the course are to increase counselors’ knowledge about hepatitis C and hepatitis C prevention, and to build skills for integrating hepatitis C prevention counseling into current HIV prevention counseling. This course is not required but is highly recommended for counselors working at sites that offer both tests.