Health Sciences and Social Services Preventive Health

HIV Pre-Test Information and Support Provision Training

SAQA US 252403 | NQF 4 | Credits 8 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the knowledge and skills to provide accurate, non-judgmental pre-test information to individuals considering an HIV test. It covers the key elements of informed consent, confidentiality, and emotional support to ensure clients make informed decisions. The training aligns with South African health protocols and ethical standards.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply the principles of informed consent and confidentiality when providing pre-test information.
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills to address client concerns and questions about HIV testing.
  • Analyze the emotional and social factors that may influence a client's decision to test.
  • Evaluate the client's readiness for testing and provide appropriate support.
  • Implement pre-test procedures according to national guidelines and protocols.
  • Demonstrate respect for diversity and non-discriminatory practices in pre-test interactions.

Target Audience

This course is designed for healthcare workers, HIV counsellors, community health workers, and any professionals involved in HIV testing services in South Africa.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of HIV and Pre-Test Information

Objectives:
• Describe the basic biology of HIV and its modes of transmission.
• Explain the purpose and importance of pre-test information in HIV testing.
• Identify key ethical principles guiding pre-test information provision.
• List the components of informed consent for HIV testing.

Topics:
• Overview of HIV: virus structure, transmission routes, and disease progression.
• Introduction to pre-test information: definition, goals, and legal framework.
• Ethical considerations: confidentiality, autonomy, and non-discrimination.
• Informed consent: elements and process in HIV testing.
• National HIV testing guidelines and policies.
• Role of the pre-test counselor: responsibilities and boundaries.
• Stigma and discrimination: impact on testing uptake.
• Communication basics for pre-test sessions.

Day 2: Communication Skills and Risk Assessment

Objectives:
• Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Conduct a client-centered risk assessment for HIV.
• Identify barriers to testing and strategies to address them.
• Apply active listening and empathy in pre-test interactions.

Topics:
• Client-centered approach: principles and benefits.
• Verbal communication: open-ended questions, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Non-verbal communication: eye contact, posture, and tone.
• Risk assessment: sexual history, injection drug use, and occupational exposure.
• Barriers to testing: fear, stigma, and lack of knowledge.
• Motivational interviewing techniques to enhance testing uptake.
• Role-play: conducting a pre-test information session.
• Handling sensitive topics with cultural competence.

Day 3: Pre-Test Information Content and Tailoring

Objectives:
• Outline the mandatory content of pre-test information according to SAQA standards.
• Tailor information to different client populations (e.g., youth, pregnant women, key populations).
• Explain the window period and its implications for testing.
• Discuss the benefits and limitations of different HIV testing methods.

Topics:
• Mandatory pre-test information: HIV basics, transmission, prevention, and testing process.
• Window period: definition, duration, and impact on test results.
• Testing methods: rapid tests, ELISA, and confirmatory tests.
• Benefits of knowing HIV status: treatment access and prevention.
• Limitations: false positives/negatives and confirmatory testing.
• Tailoring information: age, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural context.
• Special considerations for pregnant women, couples, and adolescents.
• Information for key populations: sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs.

Day 4: Support Provision and Referral Pathways

Objectives:
• Identify emotional and psychosocial needs of clients during pre-testing.
• Provide appropriate emotional support and crisis intervention.
• Describe referral pathways for HIV prevention, treatment, and support services.
• Develop a personalized support plan for clients.

Topics:
• Emotional responses to HIV testing: anxiety, fear, and denial.
• Crisis intervention: recognizing distress and providing immediate support.
• Psychosocial support: counseling techniques and resources.
• Referral pathways: prevention (PrEP, condoms), treatment (ART), and support groups.
• Linking clients to care: steps and follow-up.
• Disclosure support: preparing for partner notification.
• Self-care for counselors: managing compassion fatigue.
• Ethical dilemmas in support provision.

Day 5: Practical Integration and Assessment

Objectives:
• Conduct a complete pre-test information session from start to finish.
• Integrate communication, risk assessment, and support skills.
• Evaluate own performance through self-reflection and feedback.
• Apply ethical and legal standards in simulated scenarios.

Topics:
• Review of key concepts from Days 1-4.
• Mock pre-test sessions with peer feedback.
• Documentation and record-keeping requirements.
• Quality assurance in pre-test information provision.
• Self-assessment and reflective practice.
• Final assessment: observed structured clinical examination (OSCE).
• Course evaluation and action planning for continued learning.
• Certification requirements and next steps.

Practicals

16 hours of practicals To be conducted online or on-campus or in-house
Overview

Practicals are essential for developing hands-on communication and counseling skills. Learners will engage in role-plays, simulated pre-test sessions, and observed practice to integrate theory with real-world application.

Practical Activities
  • Communication Skills Practice — Learners practice active listening, open-ended questioning, and empathy through structured role-plays in pairs. (4h)
  • Risk Assessment Simulation — Learners conduct a client-centered risk assessment using a standardized client scenario, focusing on sensitive history-taking. (4h)
  • Full Pre-Test Session Role-Play — Each learner leads a complete pre-test information session with a simulated client, covering all mandatory content and support. (4h)
  • Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) — Learners are assessed on a standardized pre-test session by a trained assessor using a competency checklist. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) 100% 30%
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 50%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Practicals 30% + Daily Average 20% + Final Test 50%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 19 Oct 2026 Fri 23 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 15 Feb 2027 Fri 19 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 19 Jul 2027 Fri 23 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 18 Oct 2027 Fri 22 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Fri 21 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 492 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,916 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $5,238 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $1,863 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $5,238 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,078 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 26 Oct 2026 Fri 30 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Fri 22 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 22 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 22 Mar 2027 Fri 26 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 26 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 25 Oct 2027 Fri 29 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 24 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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