Biorisk Education & Professional Competency

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Britton Nicholson
6 years ago
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1 Biorisk Education & Professional Competency Maureen Ellis Executive Director, International Federation of Biosafety Associations

Biorisk Education & Competency Training and education programs in biorisk management are offered worldwide by many different organizations Training impart knowledge & build skills around

2 Biorisk Education & Competency Training and education programs in biorisk management are offered worldwide by many different organizations Training impart knowledge & build skills around that knowledge Initial step towards competency Abilities when knowledge and skills are consistently applied in the real-world setting Competency combination of knowledge, skills and abilities

3 Biorisk Education & Competency Previously no independent, internationally standardized mechanism to assess and validate an individual s competency in biorisk management IFBA asked by members and other partners to develop a new certification program for safety and security of individuals handling infectious disease agents Performance test to validate the individual s knowledge, skills, and abilities against a standardized competency model Essential component of overall effort to reduce biosafety and biosecurity risks and strengthen global health security

4 IFBA s Professional Certification Program Ongoing independent assessment for competent performance in a variety of technical disciplines related to biosafety and biosecurity

IFBA s Professional Certification Program Followed

Globally accepted benchmark for organizations

principles for measuring the competency of

5 IFBA s Professional Certification Program Followed a rigorous process in accordance with ISO Globally accepted benchmark for organizations certifying persons Uses psychometrically sound principles for measuring the competency of individuals Produces valid, fair, reliable, and defensible examinations

6 Developing Exams Exam content Body of Knowledge developed by Technical Committees with worldwide representation Identify Domains (topic areas) and knowledge, skills, abilities statements

Developing Exams Job Task Analysis by international community

(i.e. how many exam questions are needed for each topic area)

guidance from psychometrician Knowledge, skills, and abilities

7 Developing Exams Job Task Analysis by international community to assign importance of each topic area Develop exam blue print (i.e. how many exam questions are needed for each topic area) Exam questions items are written by Technical Committees with guidance from psychometrician Knowledge, skills, and abilities (application of knowledge, situational & problem solving questions)

each question and rates the % of minimally competent candidates that

8 Developing Exams A new set of subject matter experts then set passing score for each examination through an Angoff study Each SME evaluates each question and rates the % of minimally competent candidates that would answer the question correctly Statistical analysis to set passing score

9 IFBA Professional Certifications Offered Professional Certification currently offered in 5 different technical disciplines Biorisk Management (Certification in Biorisk Management is a pre-requisite to all other certifications)

10 IFBA Professional Certifications Offered Biosecurity Biological Waste Management

11 IFBA Professional Certifications Offered Biosafety Cabinet Selection, Installation & Safe Use Biocontainment Facility Design, Operations & Maintenance

12 Biorisk Management exams are offered in multiple languages French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish Exam Delivery

Member Biosafety Association conferences and other events Special exam sessions

13 Exam Delivery Exams are offered online and in paper-based sessions Only English version of exams are offered online at this time In conjunction with our IFBA Member Biosafety Association conferences and other events Special exam sessions can also be scheduled and must be proctored by one of IFBA s approved exam proctors

14 Online Exam Delivery Uses a secure remote proctoring technology

15 Certifior Candidate Management System All candidates (online or paper-based exams at conferences) must create an account in Certifior at Issued a unique Candidate ID number

16 Exam Payment & Pre-requisites Candidates must pay the certification fee of $200 USD Discounted pricing available for specified countries in this region $100 USD Candidates must attest to the Statement of Confidentiality and Code of Conduct

17 Exam Statistics to Date 673 total certifications completed/in progress 98 candidates sat for the exam online 57 candidates identified as veterinary/agricultural sector 84 candidates required language other than English French (41), Arabic (13), Spanish (18), Russian (12)

18 Exam Statistics to Date Candidates to date are from 58 countries around the world

19 Publish a Directory of Certified Individuals

20 IFBA Certified Individuals Use the designation IFBA Professional Certification Valid for a period of 5 years specific recertification requirements must be met to maintain certification

21 Partners & Sponsors Many partners and sponsors in the delivery of the certification program to all regions of the world

including Animal Biosafety and Risk Assessment Outreach to

22 Next Steps Translate the remaining 4 exams into Russian, Arabic, French, Spanish Develop new certifications including Animal Biosafety and Risk Assessment Outreach to governments & institutions to adopt need for certified individuals

23 Thank you Maureen Ellis Executive Director International Federation of Biosafety Associations

Biorisk Management Professional Certification Program. Maureen Ellis Executive Director International Federation of Biosafety Associations

Biorisk Management Professional Certification Program Maureen Ellis Executive Director International Federation of Biosafety Associations International Federation of Biosafety Associations 37 Member national