Institutional Animal Care Training Program & Requirements

**Training Program Overview**
	Level I	Level II	Level III	Level IV
Administrators
	General background information available in the UTHSCSA "Responsible Care and Use of Animals in Research and Training" document, the two videos titled "The New Research Environment", "Hazardous Communications: Right to Know" and self-administered questionnaires. Information about the Occupational Health Program is also provided.
Investigators and Staff
	In-depth information regarding the humane care and use of the laboratory animal(s) the individuals will be working with. This information is available on videotape as well as through lectures, demonstrations and hands-on training.
Departmental Animal Research Officers
	In-depth information regarding the care and use of a wide variety of laboratory animals that the individual will conceivably be responsible for or working with. Included in Level III are lectures, demonstrations and hands-on training.
Department of Laboratory Animal Resources Staff
	This level is designed primarily to meet the training need of the staff of the Department of Laboratory Animal Resources and uses the three volume AALAS "Manual for Laboratory Animal Technicians" as the training guide.

Required

Offered

UTHSCSA Administrators and others responsible for research conducted at the Health Science Center but not directly involved in research.
Training: Review of the ethics of using laboratory animals for research and teaching, and the occupational health program. Includes rules and regulations of NIH, AAALAC, the USDA, UTHSCSA policies, IACUC procedures and history of the animal welfare movement. Level I is required, Levels II-IV are optional.
Requirements: Read "Responsible Care and Use of Animals in Research and Training" (restricted access), complete and return questionnaire, view the "New Research Environment" videotapes #1 and #2, "Hazardous Communications: Right to Know" and fill out and return the response cards.

Investigators and Staff who use laboratory animals in research, training or education.
Training: Review of the ethics of using laboratory animals for research and teaching, animal handling, animal welfare, occupational health and experimental procedures. Includes rules and regulations of NIH, AAALAC, the USDA, UTHSCSA policies, IACUC procedures and history of the animal welfare movement. This training is accomplished through the use of written materials and videotapes as well as lectures and demonstrations by LAR personnel. Levels I and II, or demonstrated proficiency, are required. Level III and IV are optional.
Requirements:Level I above plus review of the Guide, read FBR's "Biomedical Investigators Handbook," view film(s) on specie(s) to be used, fill out and return response cards.

Departmental Animal Research Officers
Training: Broadly based training in issues dealing with the ethics of using laboratory animals for research and teaching; the animal rights movement; rules and regulations of the NIH, AAALAC and the USDA; UTHSCSA policies; IACUC procedures; occupational health; protocol for monitoring departmental research involving animals; and methods of reporting. This training is accomplished through lectures and demonstrations by LAR personnel, orientation by the IACUC, written material and videotapes. Level I, II (or demonstrated proficiency), and III are required. Level IV optional. Requirements: Levels I and II above plus orientation by veterinarians, and viewing of film(s) on all species used by departmental researchers.

Department of Laboratory Animal Resources Staff
Training: General animal handling, animal welfare, occupational health, sanitation, nutrition and all aspects appropriate to the specific job(s) to be performed. Includes rules and regulations of NIH, AAALAC, AALAS and the USDA, UTHSCSA policies, IACUC procedures and history of the animal welfare movement. This training is accomplished through lectures, demonstrations, videotapes and written materials. All personnel are tested by written and practical examinations. Levels I and II, or demonstrated proficiency, are required, as well as in depth training using the LAR training S.O.P.s and the AALAS training manuals. LAR staff are fully trained and certified to handle all types of laboratory animals with the goal of AALAS certification at the Assistant Level for all animal handlers. LAR sets the standards for animals care and the occupational health of all persons involved with animals based upon the Guide and the Animal Welfare Act. The training program is reviewed and updated on a regular basis in accordance with the policies of AALAS and the USDA.
Requirements: Levels I, II and III above plus completion of the AALAS and LAR training programs with written and practical examination.

To obtain the appropriate training materials, please contact the Institutional Animal Care Program at ext. 7-3718, room 255A.

All personnel listed on a submitted protocol must complete the required training before a Principal Investigator may receive IACUC approval.

Contact Information