Your Group Can

   Host a Class

A host provides the building in which we hold class, and often has a number of people in their group interested in attending and getting licensed.


Host Groups: If you have a group which will produce 10-20 students, we can schedule a date on our calendar to hold a class at your location.  For example, if you’re running a disaster service group and already have 20 students and a building, we can make one of the upcoming class dates yours.


Our classes are open to the public, and hosting gives your people an opportunity to register early. It also gives them a little longer to complete the confirmation process. When you host, we’ll hold at least half of the seats for your folks until three weeks before class.  If your folks don’t fill your seats, we will “top off” attendance from the general public (and the class waiting list, if there is one).


Scheduling


Class Date Availability: Requests to host a class are generally handled first-come-first-served.  Usually, we need to have three to four months in advance to work out the details, including:

  1. 1.Finding a suitable place to hold the class.

  2. 2.Choosing a mutually agreeable date from our calendar.

  3. 3.Coordinating to find a VE organization

  4. 4.Advertising so that we have sufficient enrollment to make all of the above worthwhile.


Facility Lead time:  We like to have the facility identified and committed 90 days (three months) in advance.  This allows time to preview the facility, coordinate a VE team and advertise the class so people can register. Please note that at most times we have already have commitments for Scheduled and Tentative classes 3 months or more into the future.


Announcing the class: We’ll provide you with a “class announcement” email you can forward to your people so they can register to attend the class. We recommend and request that you forward this “as is”, as it contains relevant context and instructions.


The Registration Process


Registration in advance is required: An instructor handles registration by email. We require advance registration to meet the exam team leader’s guidelines on the number of exams available.  We also want people to have study materials in advance - we want everyone to pass - and registration helps people become prepared.


Requesting Registration Instructions:  Registration starts by an applicant sending an email requesting registration instructions. An instructor replies, sending study materials and registration instructions to each candidate.


Completing Registration: Each registrant must reply to the instructions email, confirming that they have received the study materials and providing their FRN.  Only then is the registrant allocated a seat in the class or on the waiting list.   Prompt confirmation is best - those who do not reply promptly often end up on the waiting list, or worse, find the class full when they reply several weeks after getting the instructions.


Walk-ins: Since our classes are often full, we cannot accept walk-ins.  Advise your people to register at least 4 weeks in advance.


Direct email contact: We require direct email contact with each candidate for registration. (Unfortunately, “proxy registration” has been so problematic that we just can’t do it anymore.).


Sign up lists: You (as the class host/contact) may want to pass around a sign up sheet at your group’s meeting. These have always been problematic. Before you send us a list of candidates, you need to make sure that:

  1. 1.your people understand that the list is NOT signing them up for the class - it is signing them up to start the registration process. 

  2. 2.your people know they must reply to emails per instructions.

  3. 3.each person on the list provides first and last name and a valid, working email address.  Please send them email yourself to check that the address works before you send us a list. (“Bounced” emails are dropped from the list.)

  4. 4.any list you send arrives more than 30 days before the class date.  After that point, we cannot accept lists at all.


Facility Considerations


Parking: The facility generally needs to have ample parking. We can have as many as 40 students and 15 examiners. 


Rooms: Class requires a large room and the exam team requires one or two small rooms close by.  The classroom needs to have tables, chairs, a projection screen, podium, and whiteboard or chalkboard. The small room(s) for the exam team are used for paperwork and grading, and need to have a table or two and several chairs.


Tables/chairs: We plan for 35-40 students at tables (which means 12-14 tables).  We also need 2 or 3 tables in front for sign in (and handouts), projector setup, and instructor use.  


Projection Screen:  The room needs to have a screen (or other surface) for a computer projector.  If the room doesn’t have a projector, we can bring one.


Whiteboard/Chalkboard: We use a  white board or chalk board to illustrate topics along the way.  The room should have appropriate markers and/or chalk.


Podium: We prefer a podium when available. 


If you’d like to explore scheduling a class for your group, and/or have questions on the above, contact us by sending an email to AF6GM (sandiegohamclasses@me.com).



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