Continuing Education for Health Professionals

Continuing Education for Health Professionals

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State Licensure Requirements

Many licensure boards in Kentucky require continuing education on HIV/AIDS (please check with your licensure board for specifics).

As of 2015, HIV/AIDS education no longer is required for Kentucky physicians or nurses.

CHFS-endorsed HIV/AIDS course on TRAIN.ORG for all health care personnel (free, 1.0 hour)

Combination Prevention – Working with Clients to Stop HIV Transmission 214901 (1.0 hour, general information on HIV).

Note: TRAIN will direct the learner to the Cardea Training Center. There is a registration process.

Registration and fees: This independent study is free of charge. There is no fee for a certificate of participation or CNE certificate.

After completing the course and receiving the certificate of completion, send certificate by CHFS PHPI.​

Required Training for HIV Testers

Kentucky law requires HIV testers to be trained in accordance with CDC guidance, which focuses on nonclinical settings. Two prerequisite TRAIN courses are required before attending a one-day, in-person course.  Certificates of completion must be submitted before registering for the one-day, in-person course. 

Note: This training is to accomplish HIV prevention counseling of rapid testing and how to interpret and give results. For training on test administration, including finger sticks, please refer to your agency or organization's protocols for shadowing and hands-on training.​

To complete the prerequisite courses:

  1. Create a TRAIN KY account if you don't already have one.
  2. Take the online prerequisite course Combination Prevention – Working with Clients to Stop HIV Transmission course #214901​ (1.0 hour, general information on HIV).
  3. Note: TRAIN will direct the learner to the Cardea Training Center. There is a registration process.
    Registration and Fees: This independent study is free of charge. There is no fee for a certificate of participation or CNE certificate.

  4. ​​​Take the online prerequisite course Implementing HIV Testing in Nonclinical Settings ​​course 1104889 (4.0 hours, testing guidance).​
  5. Note: This course consists of three modules, and is the replacement for Fundamentals of HIV Prevention Counseling. Completion of all three modules is required.

After completing both courses, please email certificate​s to Sandra Baggarly.

Kentucky Harm Reduction and Syringe Exchange Program

More information on the KY Syringe Exchange Programs

In response to Senate Bill 192 enacted during the 2015 regular legislative session, the Kentucky Department for Public Health has published guidelines for local health departments implementing Harm Reduction and Syringe Exchange Programs (HRSEP).

Senate Bill 192 impacts

KRS 218A.500

HRSEP Guidelines (Long Version)​​

HRSEP Guidelines (Short Version)

Did You Know?

Many Kentuckians with HIV do not get tested before they become sick

Historically, Kentucky has lower HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality rates than the United States overall. As of June 30, 2017, 10,244 cumulative HIV infections were diagnosed among Kentuckians, of which 63 percent had progressed to AIDS by that date. Of the Kentuckians diagnosed with AIDS in the last 10.5 years, 62 percent were unaware of their HIV infection until 30 or fewer days before their AIDS diagnosis, meaning many of them were infected and infectious for years resulting in spread of disease and poor health outcomes. In Kentucky, 56 percent of cumulative adult/ adolescent HIV cases identified their primary transmission route as men who have sex with men (MSM). Seventeen percent of adult/adolescent HIV cases reported heterosexual or female heterosexual contact as their primary transmission route, 10 percent reported injection drug use (IDU) and 5 percent reported both MSM and IDU. Eleven percent of cumulative adult/ ​​adolescent HIV cases were reported without a risk factor identified. Kentucky has an HIV rate of 7.6 per 100,000 and currently ranks 26th nationally. HIV testing is available at all family planning clinic sites using the Rapid HIV antibody testing. Additional diagnostic screening is used as needed. Clients with positive results are reported to the Kentucky HIV/AIDS Care Coordinator Program (KHCCP) in DPH. KHCCP helps provide quality care and treatment services to HIV-infected individuals and their families in a timely, consistent, continued manner of care.

CDC recommends HIV screening as part of routine clinical care in all health care settings with the right for the patient to opt-out.

Get Tested, Kentucky

Every county health department in Kentucky and many community-based organizations offer free anonymous or confidential HIV tests. Find a test site near you (opens a new browser window).​

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