Personnel Training in the Care and Use of Animals

SUBJECT: Personnel Training in the Care and Use of Animals	Effective Date: 4/27/2026	Policy Number: 10.4.22
��	Supersedes: 3/3/2023 12/13/2019 9/27/2019 9/30/2016 2/1/2015 2/29/2008	Page 1 of 6
��	Responsible Authorities: Principal Investigator Vice President, Research Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Associate Vice President for Research, Research Integrity Comparative Medicine

Background
The use of animals in research, testing, and teaching is governed by federal regulations, including the Health Research Extension Act, the Food Security Act, and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Training requirements, in particular, are described in Title 9, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Part 2.32 of the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR 9.1.A (2.32)] which requires all research facilities to ensure that all personnel involved in animal care, treatment, and use are qualified to perform their duties; that training and instruction are made available; and that the qualifications of personnel are reviewed with sufficient frequency to fulfill the research facility's regulatory responsibilities.

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th ed. (The Guide) adds that the IACUC should oversee and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program, and that personnel training should be documented. The requirements described in CFR 9.1.A (2.32) and in the Guide apply to scientists, animal care staff, technicians, members of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), the Institutional Official (IO), and any other individuals involved in animal care and use.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures that, when followed, will ensure that the institution as well as all personnel involved in vertebrate animal care, treatment, and use remain compliant with all training and related requirements of the Health Research Extension Act, the Food Security Act, and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
General Statement
An effective training program is required by Federal regulations and is an essential component of ��Vlog's Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP). All personnel involved in the care, use, and oversight of vertebrate animals and cephalopods must be appropriately trained in the principles of laboratory animal science and the ethical use of animals. The training program is designed to ensure that participants have the knowledge and technical skills necessary to conduct ethical, high quality animal research, teaching, testing, and oversight in a manner that protects animal welfare.
Policy
1. Training Requirement: All personnel involved in animal care, research, teaching, or regulatory oversight must possess the knowledge, training, and/or experience necessary to perform their assigned duties.
2. Covered Personnel: Training requirements apply to scientists, animal care staff, technicians, members of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), the Institutional Official (IO) and any other individuals involved in animal care and use.
3. Regulatory Familiarity: All personnel must be sufficiently familiar with applicable regulations and guidance, such as the AWA, PHS Policy and Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, as well as IACUC Policies including methods of reporting animal welfare concerns.
4. Protocol Listing and Prerequisites: All personnel working with animals must be listed on an IACUC protocol or amendment and must complete required in-person and didactic training and the CITI online training before approval to work with animals.
5. Species- and Procedure-specific Training: Species- and procedure-specific training is required for individuals performing specialized animal procedures, which may be identified during the protocol review process, requested by the PI, or determined by the Training Coordinator during the initial hands-on training. Training may include, but is not limited to, anesthesia and analgesia, aseptic technique, surgical procedures, postoperative care, recognition of pain/distress, and appropriate euthanasia methods.
6. Facility Access: Access to animal facilities will only be granted to personnel who have completed all required training and are authorized by the IACUC to participate in an animal activity.
7. Study- or Lab-Specific Procedures: Experimental procedures specific to a study or a laboratory (e.g., behavioral tests, capture methods for animals in field studies) must be taught by the PI or designee and appropriately documented.
8. Documentation of Prior Experience: New Principal and Co-Investigators, or other personnel with documented prior training or experience using a given species or animal model may submit a CV and supporting documentation for IACUC review. Based on this review, the IACUC may waive certain training requirements, as appropriate.
9. Training Format and Proficiency Assessment: Training is provided as a combination of online courses, didactic sessions, and hands-on workshops. Demonstration of procedural proficiency, including surgical skills, is required and must be assessed by the Attending Veterinarian (AV) or designee.
10. Visiting Scientists: Principal Investigators may request that visiting scientists be granted escorted hands-on access to animals by submitting CM Form 017: Vivarium Visitor Access Form. The visitor can provide documentation of relevant training completed at their home institution. The IACUC office, in consultation with the IACUC, will determine whether additional training will be required on a case-by-case basis.
11. Refresher Training: Refresher training is required via online CITI training for all personnel every three years. If appropriate to the circumstances, the IACUC may decide on more frequent or additional refresher training.
12. Communication of Training Updates: Changes in training requirements will be communicated to the stakeholders of the animal care and use program through informational meetings for research personnel, via email, IACUC targeted announcements, and personal communications. More frequent meetings of animal care and use program stakeholders may be scheduled as appropriate.
Definitions
1. Personnel: Any individual who works with, handles, or has direct contact with live vertebrate animals or cephalopods as part of an IACUC-approved activity. This includes, but is not limited to:
  1. Research personnel: Any individual who is working with animals and listed on an IACUC protocol, such as:
    - Scientists
    - Research technicians
    - Fellows, residents and post-docs
    - Students including undergraduate and graduate students
    - Visiting scholars
    - Volunteers
    - PIs and Co-PIs on IACUC protocols, even if those individuals will not have direct animal contact
  2. Comparative Medicine staff
2. Visiting scientist: An individual from another institution who is temporarily present at ��Vlog to collaborate, assist, or instruct in IACUC-approved animal activities.
Accountability
The Principal Investigator (PI) will be responsible for:
- Ensuring that personnel are appropriately listed on the relevant IACUC protocol, have completed required initial and refresher training, and are approved before working with animals.
- Ensuring personnel receive additional training when new species, procedures, or responsibilities are added during the course of an approved study.
- Providing protocol specific training, supervising personnel and verifying proficiency before allowing independent performance of animal procedures.
- Ensuring training in appropriate methods of euthanasia as outlined in the IACUC protocol.
- Ensuring that all training activities for all protocol personnel are documented using a method approved by the IACUC.
The IACUC will be responsible for:
- Establishing, directing, and periodically reviewing training requirements based on personnel roles, experience, and animal use activities.
- Verifying that all personnel involved in animal activities are appropriately trained prior to approval.
The Research Integrity office will be responsible for:
- Maintaining training records in coordination with the CM Training Coordinator and providing documentation to the IACUC upon request.
The Office of Comparative Medicine (CM) will be responsible for:
- Ensuring that CM personnel comply with this policy and are appropriately trained.
- Developing, coordinating, and implementing IACUC-approved, didactic and hands-on training, including training in surgery, aseptic technique, post-operative care, and recognition of pain/distress.
- Documenting training activities and maintaining records, with documentation provided to the Research Integrity Office.
Procedures
1. Core Training requirement for New Personnel
  1. All new personnel involved in animal care, use, or oversight must complete ethics and regulatory training covering:
    1. Ethical use of animals and the 3Rs
    2. Applicable laws, regulations, and IACUC Policies
    3. IACUC roles and responsibilities
    4. Reporting animal welfare concerns
    5. Responsibilities of the PI and research personnel
    6. Occupational health requirements
    7. Euthanasia
2. Training for Animal Care Personnel: New animal care personnel must complete role-appropriate online courses and required classroom instruction before starting work with animals. Job-specific and regulatory training will be provided during initial onboarding and through annual refresher training in accordance with CM SOP001.
3. Online Training (CITI): All research and animal care personnel must complete required online training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). Required modules are listed on the Research Integrity website.
4. In-Person and Didactic Training for Research and Animal Care Personnel: In addition to CITI training, new research and animal care personnel must complete applicable in-person/wet lab training components, which may include:
  1. Ethical use of animals, IACUC function and the 3R's (applicable for ALL researchers and animal care personnel).
  2. Animal handling and restraint, substance administration, and euthanasia (required for personnel working in central vivaria).
  3. Animal facility orientation (required for personnel working in central vivaria).
  4. Satellite facility orientation: For PI-managed satellite facilities, the responsible PI must ensure new personnel receive facility-specific orientation. This training must be documented, when applicable.
5. Training Assessment for New PIs and Research Personnel: New PIs to ��Vlog's animal care and use program must meet with the AV or designee to discuss study design, protocol requirements, and personnel experience. The AV or designee is authorized by the IACUC to assess prior experience and determine required training, which may include:
  1. Completion of required in-person training, or
  2. Demonstration of procedural proficiency to the AV or designee prior to independent work.
6. Survival Surgical Training: Personnel performing survival surgery must meet Guide requirements for surgical technique, including asepsis, tissue handling, hemostasis, and post-operative care.
  1. For new protocols and amendments:
    1. Personnel must include role description and surgical responsibilities.
    2. Personnel must either demonstrate proficiency to the AV or designee or complete AV-approved surgical training workshops and perform initial surgeries under CM supervision.
    3. New surgical procedures require consultation with a veterinarian prior to implementation.
7. Euthanasia training: Euthanasia methods must comply with the AVMA Guidelines and the IACUC Euthanasia Policy. Personnel must be trained and proficient in the approved method, as follows:
  1. General euthanasia principles covered in introductory ethics training
  2. CO₂ euthanasia for rodents trained by CM staff
  3. Cervical dislocation or decapitation without anesthesia requires hands-on training or proficiency demonstration to the AV or designee
  4. Field-based euthanasia methods must be trained by the PI, documented, and reported to the AV and/or IACUC
8. Breeding Colony Management: Establishment or management of rodent breeding colonies requires attendance at the "Managing a Rodent Breeding Colony" training unless colony management is provided by CM on a fee-for-service basis.
9. Additional Training Requirements: The IACUC may require established personnel to attend additional training or workshops when deemed necessary to ensure animal welfare or regulatory compliance.
10. Documentation: All training attendance, content, proficiency assessments, and procedural competencies must be documented by the AV or designee. Documentation is required for both new and experienced personnel.
11. Refresher Training: Refresher training is required at least every three (3) years. Personnel will receive automated notifications through CITI and must complete assigned refresher modules addressing regulatory updates and policy changes.
12. New Techniques and Facility Updates: Training on new techniques or facility procedures will be provided as needed and may be required based on relevance to approved protocols and species used. Facility orientation refresher training may be mandated to address procedural changes or disaster preparedness updates.
Policy Renewal Date
4/27/2029
References

POLICY APPROVAL

Initiating Authority: Vice President for Research and Institutional Official

Gregg B. Fields, Ph.D., Vice President for Research

Executed signature pages are available in the Initiating Authority Office(s)

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Personnel Training in the Care and Use of Animals

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