Indiana Tuberculosis Education

The American Lung Association has been dedicated to ending tuberculosis since its founding by volunteers in 1904. The American Lung Association’s Indiana Tuberculosis Education Program was created in 1980 and we are proud to continue it today. Thank you to the Indiana Department of Health and numerous dedicated health professionals for their service over the past 40 years to protect and serve the residents of Indiana.

The American Lung Association provides education and training for health care professionals to become certified to administer TB skin tests and follow-up evaluations.

The American Lung Association also offers TB educational programs to provide health care professionals with the latest tuberculosis information available.

 The Indiana Tuberculosis Education Program has three levels:

BASIC TB VALIDATION COURSE 

The goals of the Basic TB Validation Course are to provide the:

1. Basic history, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and control of TB infection and disease; 
2. Training to administer, read and record Mantoux tuberculin skin tests (TSTs); and
3. Information about the current trends and concerns of TB infection and disease.

Who is eligible: Interested healthcare professionals who administer, read and record Mantoux tuberculin skin tests. The American Lung Association welcomes CMAs to complete the Basic TB Validation Course; however, CMAs are not eligible for the TB Instructor Course.  Please note:  Indiana long-term care, assisted living facilities and home care agency regulations require that the health care professionals be licensed to practice the administration (subdermal injections) and interpretation (assessment skills) of the Basic TB Validation Course.

STEPS TO OBTAIN BASIC VALIDATION CARD:

These TWO Steps must be completed in sequence to receive a Basic TB Validation Card that is valid for three years:

1. Complete the Indiana Department of Health TB Basics and TB Test Used to Identify TB Infection online course. This includes:
   • Viewing the entire online course material
   • Passing the final 20-question test with a score of 80% or higher. 
2. Within 60 days of completing the Indiana Department of Health online course above and under direct supervision (in-person) of an American Lung Association TB Instructor, participants will need to successfully complete the Basic TB Validation Course. This will include:
   • Demonstrate proficiency in reading the “Reactor Arm” indurations, using the proper CDC techniques and achieving a reading that is within 2 mm of the correct answer.
   • Demonstrate competency in the simulation of a Mantoux-type intradermal injection, using sterile normal saline and a sterile TB syringe and needle on a live person’s arm.

The TB Instructor will submit all Basic TB Validation Course rosters to the Lung Association, at which time the participant will receive their IN TB Basic Validation Card from the Lung Association. A fee does apply. This validation card is valid for three years.

INSTRUCTOR TB VALIDATION COURSE

Over 500 health care professionals are currently active TB Instructors in Indiana. 

The TB Instructor course is designed to train future TB instructors and cover:

1. How to instruct the American Lung Association’s Basic TB Validation Course. 
2. All materials, procedures, and policies for leading the skills demonstration of administration, reading, and recording of Mantoux TB skin tests. 
3. American Lung Association TB Education Program forms, their submission and resources available. 
4. The need to carefully assess and meet the needs of each Basic TB Validation Course participant.

Who is eligible:

Persons with an Indiana professional health care license or four-year degree in health-related field 

STEPS TO OBTAIN INSTRUCTOR VALIDATION CARD:

1. Must have held Basic TB Validation Card for 6-months.
2. Fill out and submit a TB Instructor Course Registration Form and Statement of Financial and Resource Support for TB Education Course to a Master Trainer (or the Lung Association).
3. Complete the TB Instructor Course and achieve a score of 90% or higher on the 50-question test.
4. Notify the Lung Association at least 30-day’s in advance of scheduled Basic TB Validation Course.
5. After successfully completing all of the above, the Master Trainer will submit all paperwork, via email, to the American Lung Association and request a new TB Instructor card. A fee does apply.
6. The TB Instructor validation is good until December 31 of each year.

To renew as a TB Instructor: 

To remain in good standing, TB Instructors must have taught at least one Basic TB Validation Course in that calendar year, submitted paperwork to the Lung Association and attended the required continuing education training. Continued education training is mandatory to complete every even year, and instructors will need to meet the 6-credit hour requirement. At the end of each calendar year, the TB Instructor can submit to the Lung Association for a new TB Instructor Validation Card to be valid for the following calendar year. A fee does apply.

Failure to renew will lapse your instructor card status. All steps to earn a new instructor card will be required to regain Instructor status.

TB MASTER TRAINER

The Master Trainer course is designed to teach individuals to lead TB Instructor trainings. In addition to instructing on all subject matter contained in both the TB Instructor Course and Basic TB Validation Course, numerous case studies are reviewed. This validation is good until December 31 of each year. At that time, if the TB Master Trainer is in good standing (same qualifications as a TB Instructor listed above), a new TB Master Trainer Validation Card will be issued by the Lung Association.

Who is eligible:

Must be a TB Instructor in active, good standing.

Contact the American Lung Association for addition information.

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 317-210-8553 or toll-free 800-LUNG-USA