Guidance Document for Identifying Training and Assessment Requirements for Animal Users
See policy UW-4111, Training Requirements.This document identifies and describes each training and assessment requirement, defines distinct animal user groups (e.g. students) and which requirements are relevant to each, deadlines to complete each requirement, and includes a training matrix. Consequences of failing to meet these requirements are described in UW-4111, Training Requirements.
I. Mandatory Training and Assessments
Research Animal Resources and Compliance (RARC):
UW Animal User Orientation: An online training module describing the basic rules and regulations of using animals for research, teaching and outreach.
- Must be completed prior to being named on a protocol.
- No opt-out.
Animal User Recertification: An online refresher training module for active animal users (protocol and non-protocol) reminding users of regulatory requirements and consequences of violations, and highlighting resources for veterinary services, training services, protocol/IACUC questions, and compliance questions.
- Must be completed every five years after initial completion of Animal User Orientation
- No opt-out
Species-specific Training: Training occurs via hands-on training and online courses.
- Must be completed within 30 days of being added to an IACUC-approved protocol
- Extensions beyond 30 days must be requested through RARC.
- Individuals may work with animals within the 30-day grace period under the direct supervision of a supervisor who has completed the required training.
- Waiver may be granted at the discretion of the Chief Campus Veterinarian designee
- Not required of animal users who completed the UW Animal User Orientation prior to 10/29/2007, unless the user will begin working with a species they have not worked with before.
Surgery Fundamentals: Online prerequisites and a hands-on wetlab for individuals who perform survival or non-survival surgeries more than five minutes in duration (see below for equivalent training for non-survival surgery of shorter duration).
- Must be completed within 30 days of being added to an IACUC-approved protocol as performing surgery
- Extensions beyond 30 days must be requested through RARC.
- Individuals may work with animals within the 30-day grace period under the direct supervision of a supervisor who has completed the required training.
- Waiver may be granted at the discretion and mutual agreement of the CCV, IACUC chair and the Senior Program Veterinarian (SPV) or their respective designees.
- Not required of animal users who completed the UW Animal User Orientation prior to 10/29/2007.
Nonsurvival Surgery Fundamentals: Online training for individuals who perform non-survival surgery five minutes or less in duration, in lieu of Surgery Fundamentals.
- Must be completed within 30 days of being added to an IACUC-approved protocol
- Extensions beyond 30 days must be requested through RARC.
- Individuals may work with animals within 30-day grace period under the direct supervision of a supervisor who has completed the required training.
- Not required of animal users who completed the UW Animal User Orientation prior to 10/29/2007.
- No opt-out.
Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S):
Occupational Health risk assessment via the Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire (ACRQ):
- Must be completed and evaluated before animal contact.
- Must be updated annually.
- See policy UW-4121, Occupational Health Program Enrollment, for additional information.
Animal Research Safety:
Occupational Health and Safety training for animal users: Basic environmental and occupational health, chemical and biological safety training appropriate to each user’s planned animal activities (e.g. biomedical vs. agricultural use vs. wildlife).- No hard deadline; ARS staff follow up with individuals until completed.
- Must be renewed once every five years.
- No opt-out.
"Risk Communication in Animal Facilities”: An online training module emphasizing the importance of communicating the use of dangerous agents in the shared spaces.
- No hard deadline; ARS staff follow up with individuals until completed.
- Must be renewed once every three years.
- No opt-out.
Unit-Specific (School / College / Department / Facility):
Unit-specific Training: The employing School/College animal program may require additional unit-specific training, with or without opt-out options, as a condition of employment. Any such requirements must be described in each animal program or facility in SOPs or other onboarding documents. All user groups must complete unit-specific training as directed.
II. User Groups and Requirements
Group 1: Faculty, Staff, and IACUC Members
Any individual named as a Study Team Member on an approved animal care and use protocol for teaching, research, or outreach.
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal User Recertification
- Species-specific Training
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
- Risk Communication in Animal Facilities
- If relevant, Surgery Fundamentals or Nonsurvival Surgery Fundamentals
Principle Investigators who will not have animal contact
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal User Recertification
Research animal veterinarians, research animal pathologists, and veterinary staff working in an animal care facility
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal User Recertification
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
Animal care staff
(includes individuals who work or volunteer in animal facilities whose primary role is animal husbandry)
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal User Recertification
- Species-specific Training
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
Animal Care and Use Committee members, including lay members & ex-officio
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal User Recertification
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital (VMTH) staff (including VMTH employed facility and maintenance personnel)
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal User Recertification
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
Group 2: Students
Any individual named on an approved animal care and use protocol for teaching, research, or outreach.
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal User Recertification
- Species-specific Training
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
- Risk Communication in Animal Facilities
- If relevant, Surgery Fundamentals or Nonsurvival Surgery Fundamentals
Students working for an animal facility who have direct contact with animals and not individually named in a protocol.
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
Veterinary Medical Students.
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Animal User Recertification
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
Students enrolled in a timetable course that involves supervised interaction with animals.
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Course dependent, as determined by EH&S
- Animal Contact Risk Questionnaire
- Occupational Health and Safety Training for Animal Users
Students participating in short-term (30 days or less) rotations in laboratories using animals.
- UW Animal User Orientation
- Must be supervised in animal areas and when working with animals
- When a rotating student then formally joins a lab, the student must be named on the relevant protocol and complete all required training.
Group 3: Visitors.
A visitor is defined as any individual who is not authorized to normally be in an animal use area.
- Unit-specific Training
Group 4: Service Personnel
These personnel are non-animal facility UW-Madison employees (e.g. physical plant personnel).
- Must communicate with a facility manager or equivalent prior to entering the facility.
- Unit-specific training
Author: H. McEntee, M. Peters, J. Welter, B. Schiffman
ePublication Date:
History: 4/2016; 7/2016; 11/2016; 12/2019; 10/2023
