There are two trainer levels - Facility Trainers and Master Trainers.
Facility Trainers
Facility trainers train staff within their (bricks and mortar) facility only, as part of their job description, in their normal paid time (i.e. not as an independent contractor). Facility Trainers cannot train staff from other facilities even if they are part of the same health service.
There are essentially 3 stages to becoming a FIM Facility Trainer:
1. Current Credentialing at ≥85% with 3yrs plus experience as credentialed FIM clinician (including the past 12 months
2. Attend a FIM workshop conducted by an AROC Master Trainer in 12 months preceding Trainer workshop
This is not to teach candidate Facility Trainers about FIM principles (it’s expected they should have a solid understanding of this already) but among other things it gives the candidate opportunity to observe an experienced trainer and better prepares them for the train the train FT workshop.
3. Attend the FIM Facility Trainer (train the trainer) workshop and successfully meet competencies
Criteria to become a Candidate Facility Trainer in the first place
- Have a current credentialing status
- Achieved ≥85% on the first attempt in most recent credentialing exam
- Have 3+ years experience in using the FIM tool as a credentialed FIM clinician, inclusive of the last 12 months (for the currency of practice)
- Trained in FIM by an AROC Master Trainer within the preceding 12 months of applying for the Facility Trainer workshop
- Have expertise and/or relevant experience in training others
- Be prepared to actively participate in the workshop, including presenting part of the workshop to other participants
- Supported by their employer to attend a Facility Trainer workshop
- The employer is aware that training as a Facility Trainer equips them to present training workshops to internal staff regularly. Employer prepared to provide opportunities for the trainer to train
- Expected to undertake training on their return within a three-month timeframe
- At AROC's discretion, there may be a requirement for the first post-training workshop to be co-trained with and evaluated by a Master Trainer prior to Facility Trainer status being awarded
Ongoing Requirements
FIM Facility Trainers must maintain their accreditation on two levels:
- FIM accreditation – completing the FIM exam every 2 years with a score of at least ≥85%
- Facility Trainer accreditation – as per the Ongoing Requirements below
To maintain their status, Facility Trainers will be regularly reviewed regarding the below criteria.
- Trained at least one workshop per year at their facility
- Passed the exam with at least 85% at first attempt every two years
- Attended a Facility Trainer workshop conducted by an AROC Master Trainer at least every four years
- Ensure completion of feedback surveys by participants and addition of workshop attendance record to AOS after your workshop
- At completion of a workshop:
- submit the attendance sheet to AROC,
- ensure participants complete the online feedback survey and,
- add a Workshop Attendance to participants AOS record.
- It is strongly recommended trainers:
- dial into the FIM Facility Trainer Support Meetings for their state (generally held every 6 months)
- attend a FIM workshop conducted by an AROC Master Trainer every 4 years when they attend the Facility Trainer workshop as a refresher
AROC recommends and teaches that FIM workshops should be conducted over at least a 6 hr period. Download more information about workshop duration (pdf).
Master Trainers
There are a limited number of Master Trainer positions. If a vacancy arises, AROC seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified people to fill the vacancy. Master Trainers are independently contracted to AROC and train outside their facility for payment. Workshops they conduct within their own facility, are as a Facility Trainer in their normal paid time. Master Trainers train in all facilities (public and private) and they conduct both the workshops for clinicians and the Facility Trainer workshops.
Master Trainers have in-depth experience with the FIM instrument and with training others how to administer it.
To become a Master Trainer
- Invited by AROC to become a Master Trainer
- Trained in FIM or WeeFIM scoring by an AROC Master Trainer
- Achieve 90+% in the most recent credentialing exam
- Satisfactory completion of the Facility Trainer workshop
- Current credentialing status
- At least five years of experience using the FIM instrument
- At least three years as a Facility Trainer and/or evidence of training expertise and experience
- Positive review by a current Master Trainer against a set of standard competencies:
- Knowledge of subject matter
- Delivery of subject matter
- Ability to handle questions
- Active engagement of the audience
- Effective listening skills
- Confidence in presenting
- Ability to adapt presentation style to the audience
- Use of teaching strategies to facilitate discussion and learning
- Contributes to a supportive, interactive learning environment
FIM™ and WeeFIM® are trademarks of the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, a division of UB Foundation Activities, Inc.