The STI Foundation Advanced Competency training and assessment is structured as a 6-24-month clinical attachment (minimum of 50 clinical sessions) within a Level 3 Specialist Sexual Health / Integrated Sexual Health and Contraception service.
STI Foundation Advanced Competency
- aims to develop the knowledge, skills, experience and competence of healthcare professionals to diagnose and manage sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- provides a framework to ensure that sufficient experience is gained to practise at an advanced level.
- is suitable for specialist sexual health nurses working towards independent and advanced clinical practice and for those planning to lead and deliver Level 2 standard sexual health services.
- certification at Advanced level enables the successful trainee to register as a STIF Competency Trainer
Training is provided by Registered STI Foundation Competency Trainers.
Registration criteria
The prospective trainee is required to hold a valid STI Foundation Intermediate Competency Certificate issued on or after 1 August 2020. It is the responsibility of the Registered STI Foundation Competency Trainer to determine that the trainee has the appropriate level of knowledge and practical clinical experience to undertake the STI Foundation Advanced Competency training and assessments within the specified training period of 24 months from the date of the first assessment.
STI Foundation Advanced Competency registration
- £450
STI Foundation Advanced E-learning (eHIV-STI)
You do not need to be registered on the STI Foundation Advanced programme to undertake the e-learning. It is highly recommended that you complete 50% of the e-learning before commencing your training and assessments.
Time frame for completion of training
24 months from the date of the first assessment. STI Foundation recognises that COVID19 is likely to cause disruption to training. The timeframe remains unchanged; training extensions as result of the pandemic are given.
A training extension request form needs to be completed prospectively, not retrospectively.
On successful completion of the training and assessment programme, a Certificate of STI Foundation Advanced Competency is awarded. The Certificate needs to be revalidated every five years. Link to the STI Foundation Revalidation web page
The STIF Intermediate Competency Training and Assessment programme is a workplace-based training package to train and assess the competence of healthcare professionals to manage patients in primary and secondary care presenting with symptomatic sexually transmitted infections. It involves tailored one-to-one clinical training and assessment (using workplace-based assessments) by specialists within a sexual health clinic setting.
Training is provided by Registered STIF Competency Trainers.
E-learning (eHIV-STI) to be completed
You do not need to be registered on the STIF Intermediate programme to undertake the e-learning. It is highly recommended that you complete 50% of the e-learning before commencing your training and assessments.
Time frame for completion of training:
The STIF Intermediate Competency training and assessment pathway should be completed within 12 months of the date of the first assessment (unless extenuating circumstances).
On successful completion of the training and assessment programme, a Certificate of STIF Intermediate Competency is awarded. The Certificate needs to be revalidated every five years.
Next steps
- Trainee submits signed registration form to the BASHH-STIF Secretariat
- a purchase order is required if an invoice is to be raised for the registration fee
- Registration is confirmed and access to training materials is provided once the registration fee has been paid
Knowledge and skills required for STIF Intermediate Competency training
| Knowledge/skill | Doctors | Nurses |
| STIF Core theory course or equivalent* | Essential | Essential |
| STIF Plus theory course | Highly recommended | Highly recommended |
| e-Learning for Healthcare (eLfH) sessions in the Sexual Health and HIV (eHIV-STI) project and others | Essential
(recommended to complete 50% before commencement of training) |
Essential
(recommended to complete 50% before commencement of training) |
It is the responsibility of your Registered STIF Competency Trainer to determine that you have the appropriate level of knowledge and practical clinical experience to undertake the STIF Intermediate Competency training and assessments.
Registration fees:
Non-BASHH member: £325 plus VAT BASHH member: £275 plus VAT