SHICK Initial Training Requirements

Counselor Initial Training Instructions

• After a Successful Interview

  • Coordinator forwards the application to the State SHICK office.

  • Coordinator provides information on the online Pre-Training below.
    
    1. Pre-Training study should begin immediately.
  • The State SHICK emails the documents necessary to conduct a background check to the applicant.
    1. Applicant completes the required background check forms and emails all required forms to [email protected],
    2. Mails the background check paperwork to the State SHICK office, 503 S Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66603,
    3. Or faxes required forms to (785) 296-0256.

  • Applicant does not need to wait for notification of the background check completion to begin Pre-Training courses.

  • State office performs background check. This process may take up to two months.
    • Sponsoring organization and applicant are notified of results.
  • Applicant completes online Pre-Training and registers for Course 4 Basic Training.
  • Applicant attends seven hour in-person training, Course 4 - Basic training
  • Applicant is certified as a Medicare Grants counselor

  • New counselor works with local Coordinator to begin solo counseling with Medicare beneficiaries

• Pre-Training Requirements

  Online pre-training consists of online training through the SHIP Technical Assistance Center and the SMP Resource Center.
  

• SHICK Medicare Pre-Training Courses

  Counselors will complete online video courses through the Courses link on the SHIP TA Center Online Counselor Certification Tool (OCCT). Registration is required.

  A final exam may be required completed prior to attendance at the in-person training session. You must register for the in-person training session you plan to attend.

  Applicants may also find the SHICK Counselor Handbook helpful while studying the pre-training courses. It is available as a PDF at http://www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/commission-on-aging/medicare-programs/shick/shick-coordinator-counselor-information/counselor-information-resource-page.

• SHIP Technical Assistance Center Registration

  To register on the SHIP Technical Assistance Center (SHIP TA Center):

  1. Go to https://portal.shiptacenter.org/Login.aspx.
  2. Click on the green Submit request to be a Registered User box.
  3. Complete the required information on the Account Sign-up page and click the register box at the bottom.
     1. Select "SHIP Trainee" as your Role.
  4. You will receive an email at the email address you entered to confirm that it is a working email.
     1. You must confirm your email address through the link provided in the message within 24 hours. If it has been more than 24 hours, please contact the SHICK office to have the email resent.
  5. Once you have confirmed your email address, the State SHICK Office will approve your registration and schedule you for any required exams.

  (Registration on the SHIP Technical Assistance Center is available only for SHIP Counselors and SHIP Trainee counselors.)

• SMP Resource Center Registration - SMP Foundations Training

  SMP Foundations training is accessed through the TRAX training system in the SMP Resource Library. Users must create an account by going to https://www.smpresource.org/Registration/Default.aspx.
  
  

  1. Click on the "Create an account" link under "Not a Member?".
  2. Click the "Become a Trainee" button.
  3. Complete the registration form. Fields marked with a red * are required.
  4. Enter this information for these specific fields
     1. Organization: * (Enter “Kansas”)
     2. Supervisor Name: * (Enter your supervisor or coordinator)
     3. SMP Role: * (Select “Counselor”)
     4. Paid Status: * (Select either “In-kind/Partner” if you will be counseling as part of your paid position or “Volunteer” if you will not be counseling as part of a paid position)
     5. State/Territory: * (Select “Kansas”)

  Your account will be automatically created. SHICK/SMP staff will assign the SMP Foundations curriculum to your account for completion. You will then be able to complete SMP Foundations training when  the training has been assigned.
  
  NOTE: If you select “Sign Up for Resource Library Access”, your account will NOT be automatically created. It requires approval. The Director, at approval, will select the access level: Trainee, Associate, or Coordinator.

• Completing the SMP Foundations Training

  1. After logging in at https://www.smpresource.org/Login.aspx, you will be on the Welcome to TRAX page.
  2. Click on the “Take my Training” button at the bottom of the page.
  3. Your assigned training will display on the next page.
  4. You should review all four chapters, including the Medicare chapter, as the SMP Foundations Assessment will cover all four chapters.
     1. You may need to disable your pop-up blocker in your browser to view the chapters.
  5. The SMP Foundations manual is available as a PDF document to download.

• In-Person Course 4 - Basic Training

  Initial Training Course 4: Medicare Basics -  This is a 7-hour in-person session, either in-person at a selected location or via videoconference individually at their home or office.
  

  Once all required pre-training session courses have been certified, the new applicant is required to attend a scheduled training session, either in-person at a selected location or via videoconferencing individually at their home or office. If all pre-training courses are not completed prior to the applicant's scheduled in-person Course 4 training, the applicant will not be eligible to attend the Course 4 training.
  

   

  This course will provide comprehensive review of pre-training material, with additional topics including use of Medicare tools and SHIP reporting requirements
  

  If you have not yet registered for Course 4, please go to the Annual Training Calendar to select a date and register.

  https://kdads.ks.gov/kdads-commissions/long-term-services-supports/aging-services/medicare-programs/shick/shick-coordinator-counselor-information/shick-annual-training-calendar