Who We Are
The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs) are a national network of leading HIV experts who provide locally based, tailored education, clinical consultation, and technical assistance to healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations to integrate state-of-the-science comprehensive care for people with or affected by HIV. The network is comprised of 2 national centers, 8 regional centers, more than 85 regional-partner (local) sites, the online National HIV Curriculum, the online National HIV PrEP Curriculum, 2 Integration of the National HIV Curriculum into Health Professions Training programs, and the HIV Clinical Training Tracks in Primary Care Residency Programs. The AETC Program is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB), of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under Part F of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP).
The AETC Program is the clinical training arm of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
What We Do
The AETC Program transforms HIV care by strengthening and expanding the HIV workforce. Healthcare professionals trained by the AETCs develop the confidence and competency to provide quality HIV-related healthcare to people with HIV and in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV.
The AETC Program supports the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the End the HIV Epidemic in the United States initiative by increasing the number of healthcare teams educated and motivated to care for individuals with HIV, and in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV. By strengthening and expanding the HIV healthcare workforce, the AETC Program works to improve healthcare outcomes of persons with HIV and communities disproportionately impacted by HIV throughout the U.S., the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the six U.S.-affiliated Pacific Jurisdictions.
How We Help
Training
AETC Program training, along with consultation, technical assistance, and capacity building, is targeted to the U.S. HIV healthcare workforce. The AETCs work with diverse groups of clinicians, including physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants/associates, nurses, oral health professionals, and pharmacists, as well as other multidisciplinary HIV care team members in a wide variety of clinical settings including Bureau of Primary Care funded Heath Centers, RWHAP funded clinics, departments of health, and correctional settings.
Training activities are offered in-person, online and via distanced-based platforms, and are based upon assessed needs.
An interactive training approach is emphasized to assist providers with complex issues related to the management of HIV care and treatment. AETCs collaborate with RWHAP grantees, health centers, community-based HIV/AIDS organizations, health professional schools and residency programs, and medical and health professional organizations.
Consultation, Capacity Building, and Technical Assistance
- Regional, local, and national AETC programs provide case-based and organizational education, training, consulting, and technical assistance.
- Regional AETCs and their local partnering sites work directly within the community through targeted interventions and support.
- National centers and programs provide resources, assistance, consultation, and training to support the HIV healthcare workforce and AETC Program faculty and staff.
- The National Clinician Consultation Center (NCCC) operates an HIV Warmline for individual clinician case consultations related to any clinical care related question regarding a patient with HIV, a PEPline for consultations on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a PrEPline for consultations on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a Perinatal Hotline for questions about the care of pregnant women with HIV and newborns exposed to HIV, a Hepatitis C Management line for consultations on hepatitis C mono-infection management, and a Substance Use Management line for advice on substance use management for clinicians.
- The National AETC Support Center (NASC) offers a virtual library of online training resources for adaptation by HIV healthcare workforce members to meet training needs, coordinates an annual in-person conference for RWHAP-funded clinical care prescribing clinicians, and provides technical assistance, marketing services, and capacity-building support for the AETC network.
- The National HIV Curriculum (NHC) and the National PrEP Curriculum, developed and managed by the University of Washington Infectious Diseases Education & Assessment (IDEA) Program, provides free, up-to-date content for clinicians to learn about HIV diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Both curricula provide self-guided lessons. Both offer free CME and CNE credits.
AETCs through the years: 35th Anniversary Video Commemoration
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