Education requirements for the IU Animal Care and Use Program

Providing personnel with a comprehensive education program is essential in supporting the University's commitment to sustained excellence and compassion in the care and use of animals.

As a result, all personnel who work with animals in research, testing, or teaching must receive education in the proper care and use of research animals before beginning their work with animals.

The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) ensures that experienced and qualified personnel conduct procedures and maintain the highest animal welfare standards at all times. This is achieved by requiring specific animal care and use education classes to be completed based on each animal use protocol. These CITI education modules are required to be retaken every 5 years.

This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative:

CITI

All personnel who work with animals must take the following CITI courses:

• Working with the IACUC Course
• IUEHS Safety & Health for Animal Users

Personnel are also required to complete species-specific education:

• Mice
• Rats
• Reducing Pain and Distress in Laboratory Mice and Rats (this course is required to be taken if working with mice or rats)
• Frogs, Toads or other Amphibians
• Dogs
• Swine
• Hamsters
• Rabbits
• Gerbils
• Guinea Pigs
• Wildlife Research

Occupational Health and Safety Requirements

Enrollment in the Occupational Health and Safety Program for Personnel with Animal Exposure is also required. Before work can begin, all personnel must have an approved Risk Assessment and Medical Questionnaire.

For additional education, please contact the Laboratory Animal Center for your campus.

• Bloomington: The Clinical Veterinarian provides hands-on education for rodent aseptic technique to perform rodent surgeries, rodent handling, rodent dosing and blood collection, etc.  Please contact the Clinical Veterinarian, at iubdvm@iu.edu or 812-855-2356 if additional education is needed.
• Indianapolis: View available Animal Care Education Sessions. If you cannot find a class or session, contact larctrn@iu.edu.

If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact the Indiana University IACUC office at IUACUC@iu.edu