The Animal Welfare Act and the University’s PHS Assurance Policy require the institution to ensure that people caring for or using animals in research are qualified to do so. IACUC Document 106 defines the University of Kentucky's plan to ensure compliance with the training requirements for all personnel handling live research animals. The Office of the Attending Veterinarian (OAV) offers a Training Requirements Checklist to assist you in locating and completing all training resources relevant to animal research and lab work. In addition to IACUC requirements, Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, and Financial Disclosure/Conflict of Interest training resources are identified. The checklist is for your own personnel use and retention only and does not need to be submitted to the IACUC.
IACUC Training
Mandatory Education Requirements
Initial Requirements
Personnel that do not handle live animals do not need to be listed on the protocol. All personnel who plan to work with animals or are listed on an animal care and use protocol must complete the Initial Mandatory Education before the protocol will be approved and studies can commence. All personnel being added to a currently approved protocol must also complete the initial mandatory education before the amendment will be approved and access to the animal facility granted. Other training courses (i.e. from another institution) may meet or exceed the requirements if all elements of the course have been covered and a documented successful test score is provided. Responsibility for determining equivalency rests with the Office of the Attending Veterinarian (IACUC Office - provide course details, test scores, and information to Angela Croucher). Any courses completed to meet mandatory education do not count towards meeting your Continuing Education requirement detailed below.
Continuing Education Requirements
Personnel that do not handle live animals do not need to be listed on the protocol. All research personnel listed on any approved animal care and use protocol will be required to complete two* Continuing Education courses every three years regardless of the number of active protocols on which they are listed. Though selection of the elective course to fulfill this requirement is flexible, there is an expectation that the PI will take courses relevant to the species being studied and/or the procedures (i.e. surgery) being used. OAV or DLAR staff can be contacted to determine which course would be most valuable.
*“Animal Use Review for University of Kentucky personnel” which can be accessed through AALAS Learning Library AND one course of your choice, from the IACUC approved list of courses.
Exception for Research Training Consultants
Research consultants may be brought in for short term training or procedural expertise. Consultants are required to complete the mandatory education and to be listed on the IACUC protocol if their work involves physical handling, surgical manipulation, or physical interaction with the protocol's animals.
Decisions regarding exceptions will be considered by the IACUC Chair and Attending Veterinarian.