ColLaboratory FAQ
Information for independent contractor Instructors who provide classes on behalf of PBEM and its partner agencies in the five-county RDPO jurisdictions.
How do I become an Instructor through PBEM?
At this time PBEM's Instructor development program is closed to new applicants. The available grant funding has been spent.
How do I contact other Instructors?
If you are an active Instructor in the program, you were invited to join the ColLaboratoryPDX Google Group, which functions as our email discussion forum.
How many Instructors are assigned per class?
Almost always two.
Sometimes three.
Occasionally only one, if the audience is well known, and the Instructor is very experienced and comfortable with it.
How many students will I instruct in each class?
(See chart below.)
For CPR/FA classes, at least 16 seats (sometimes 17-20). Smaller classes are not worth the overhead. If an organization requests a session with fewer than 16 seats, we require the capacity to be 16, then backfill available spots with NETs who are waiting for certification. Sometimes larger classes (20-25) are arranged with the proper Student:Instructor Ratio, but those are rare exceptions.
For WFA we find the sweet spot to be 20 students.
What is the Student:Instructor Ratio (SIR)?
| Class | Students | HSI SIR | PBEM TC SIR | Manikins | Class Duration | Delivery | Student Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult/Child/Infant CPR AED | 16 | 12:1 max
6:1 recommended |
16:2 | 16 | 3½ hours | In-person | 2 years |
| Adult/Child/Infant CPR AED + Adult First Aid | 16 | 16:2 | 16 | 6 hours | In-person | 2 years | |
| Wilderness First Aid | 20 | 10:1 | 20:2 (or 20:3) | N/A | 20 hours | In-person or hybrid | 2 years |
What is the PBEM HSI Training Center (TC) number?
5363196
Glossary
HSI = Health Safety Institute, the organization which bestows PBEM's Training Center -- and Instructors' -- status. The brand represents a consolidation of groups formerly operating as HSI, ASHI, and Medic First Aid.
SIR = Student-to-Instructor Ratio
TC = HSI Training Center, which is authorized to train Instructors to deliver classes. Instructors are affiliated with PBEM's TC for administrative purposes. Instructors are also free to affiliate with other TCs as 'Shared Instructors'. Instructors may choose to establish their own TCs as well, for other business purposes.
WFA = Wilderness First Aid, which for NET/CERT purposes is defined as medical care provided in an austere environment where hospitals or other higher levels of care are not available. Portland after a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake will be 'wilderness' by this definition.