TRAINING INFORMATION FOR A.B.A. MODULES

All logbooks are only available to members (full or associate) of the ABA and will only be issued upon completion of an application form and full payment of the module fee.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

The purpose of each logbook is to provide structured competency based training. Trainees are required to complete each logbook in sections as an on-going record of their progress during the course of their training. A trainee’s progress will be monitored regularly and locally by a supervisor, who should be an on-site senior scientist with relevant experience. It may be that the supervisor is also the trainee’s line manager, but the ABA accepts that in some laboratories this may not be the case. If the trainee’s line manager is not suitable to act as their supervisor for the purpose of a training module then the trainee should ensure that they have the written agreement of their line manager in the application for the module. For some individuals no local supervisor may be available and in such cases the ABA committee will liaise with the trainee to ensure a suitable off-site supervisor is identified. However, as it is essential that the trainee is subject to regular on-going assessment, they must ensure that a suitable supervisor is in place prior to starting the module.
All trainees will be provided with an off-site mentor who is either an executive member of the ABA or an experienced andrologist nominated by the executive and recognised as being competent in the skills and knowledge covered in this training module. The purpose of a mentor is to provide guidance, support and encouragement for both the trainee and the supervisor during the course of the module.

All modules require access to certain equipment (see inventory below). Starting a training module is taken by the ABA as acceptance of this and trainees are required to get both their line-manager and supervisor to sign to indicate that this equipment and other relevant resources will be made available to the trainee. At the end of each discreet logbook section, supervisors are required to ‘sign-off’ training. Trainees must provide evidence of continuous and ongoing training. Those logbooks, which appear to be completed in a very short time frame i.e., at the end of the training period will not be viewed favourably and certification in such cases will not take place.

Trainees are expected to complete this module and reach the minimal standards within a reasonable time period that will be agreed with the ABA committee. The maximum time period depends largely on the candidates own particular local circumstances, including access to clinical material for training, proportion of the working week devoted to andrology and the access to supervisor time. Trainees can start their logbook at any time of the year. Included within the fee is registration for one ABA AGM which is held annually around April. During the meeting there will be a trainees’ lunch when you will have the opportunity to meet the committee and other trainees, and to discuss any issues that you may have with regard to the training.

SUBMISSION OF THE LOGBOOK

Upon completion trainees must submit their completed logbooks to the ABA committee. Providing the ABA committee are happy that the logbook is complete, trainees will be invited to attend for formal assessment. Dates will be set approximately 4 times each year and will take the form of a 20-30 minute viva examination conducted 2 people, a member of the ABA executive committee and a mentor. All trainees will be advised of the date and location of their viva and it is the trainee’s responsibility to ensure that they can attend. Trainee’s can expect to be questioned on any aspect of their logbook. Upon completion of the viva the logbook will be returned to the trainee and they will be informed of the outcome of the assessment within one month. The logbook remains the property of the trainee and it will form an important part of the trainee’s portfolio of training activity, in addition to being a source of reference material. Referral means that the minimal standard has not been achieved and any such candidate may re-submit for another examination which will be based on the prevailing standards at a time as agreed by the ABA committee.

INFORMATION FOR SUPERVISORS

All trainees undertaking any of the modules are required to nominate a supervisor. Ideally supervisors should have:

• A degree, or equivalent qualification.
• At least 5 years relevant experience.
• Attendance at a recognised andrology training course.

However, this list is only guidance and the ABA committee will consider the suitability of each supervisor on their merits. Therefore we ask that a 2-page CV for prospective supervisors be enclosed with your application.

Supervisors are required to:

• Provide support for the trainee.
• To ensure that the equipment/consumables will be made available for training purposes.
• To provide time for the trainee to complete aspects of this logbook during their normal working hours.