Institutional Animal Care
Education & Training
requirements for researchers who work with animals
Investigators and research staff who work with animals must be certified by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). As part of the review of a proposed study describing use of animals, the IACUC evaluates the training and experience of investigators and research staff who work with animals.
View USF IACUC Training Matrix
The 2011 8th Edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals issued by the National Research Council stipulates that all training should be documented and that all research groups should receive training in animal care and use legislation, IACUC function, ethics of animal use and the concepts of the Three Rs, methods for reporting concerns about animal use, occupational health and safety issues pertaining to animal use, animal handling, aseptic surgical technique, anesthesia and analgesia, euthanasia, and other subjects, as required by statute.
AALAC Course: Law, Regulations, Policies and the Guide
Based on the new guide requirements, the IACUC has tailored an online training course specific for USF researchers entitled "Laws, Regulations, Policies, and the Guide — USF Orientation" through the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Learning Library. Every six years, all Investigators and research staff who work with animals must complete this AALAS course.
To access the AALAS course, send an email to IACUC, requesting the establishment of an AALAS Learning Library (ALL) account. Please include your full name and your complete email address with the request for your ALL account. You will be provided by return email a temporary username and temporary password, as well as basic instructions for establishing your profile in the AALAS Learning Library.
Instructions for navigating in the AALAS Learning Library
A passing score of 85% correct is required to get credit for the course. If a passing score is not achieved trainees have an opportunity to retake the quiz component as many times as needed until they secure the required minimum score of 85%.
Once you have completed the AALAS training module, you must save a copy of your certificate of completion for future reference.
Basic Rodents Methodology Wet Lab Training
In accordance with IACUC Principle VIII.10, All new personnel, other than the PI, requesting IACUC certification must also upload the certificate of completion of hands‐on training in basic animal use methodology provided by Comparative Medicine or IACUC certified personnel with species experience (e.g., wildlife) to their ARC profile. Comparative Medicine offers formal hands‐on wet‐laboratory training. Curricula may vary depending on need as requested by research faculty or staff, or as required by the IACUC, and may include basic animal needs, proper animal handling, routes and methods of substance administration, proper pre‐procedural and post‐procedural care, aseptic surgical technique, methods of anesthesia and analgesia, use of equipment, and methods of euthanasia. Attendance and curricula are documented.
"Basic Rodent Biomethodologies Wet Lab" training can be arranged and documented by contacting Comparative Medicine by email. View the Comparative Medicine training schedule.
Once training in rodent biomethodologies is completed, you will have to upload the completed and signed "Basic Rodent Biomethodologies Training Certificate of Completion" to item 3.7 of your ARC profile.
Basic bio-methodology training in other unique species (e.g., wildlife) should be documented by uploading to item 3.7 of your ARC profile an email from an IACUC certified proficient trainer stating that:
"On (date), (provide name of trainer) provided (provide name of trainee) with training in basic care and use methods of XXX (species), including (retain only those categories that apply): (1) animal handling, (2) animal restraint, (3) animal health assessments, (4) routes of substance administration (state routes), (5) methods of ante mortem specimen collection (state methods), (6) methods of anesthesia/analgesia (state methods), and/or (7) methods of euthanasia (state methods). Once IACUC certified, (provide name of trainee) will be added to IACUC protocol #XXX by modification of that protocol to assist with IACUC approved procedures".
Please note that, if needed, additional documentation of training in physical methods of euthanasia, and/or in aseptic surgical procedures is required and can be arranged by contacting Comparative Medicine by email.
Once you complete and document introductory training in animal care and use, please email IACUC to indicate that you have uploaded your certificate of completion.
IACUC-REQUIRED SURVIVAL SURGICAL TRAINING
Principal Investigators proposing survival rodent aseptic surgical procedures and research personnel intending to contribute to the implementations of such procedures must provide the IACUC with a certificate of completion for the AALAS Learning Library (ALL) course entitled "Aseptic Technique in Rodent Survival Surgical Procedures" and for wet lab training in such procedures, prior to IACUC protocol approval.
The wet lab is offered by Comparative Medicine at regularly scheduled intervals. The wet lab is attended after completing the AALAS Learning Library Module. Access the AALAS Learning Library. For assistance with the AALAS Learning Library, please contact the IACUC office:
For questions regarding, and to schedule wet lab training, please contact the Comparative Medicine Training coordinator:
Instructions:
AALAS Navigation Instructions for USF IACUC Training (PDF)
The IACUC has updated IACUC Principle VIII.9 (PDF) regarding the documentation of required personnel training in methods of rodent survival aseptic surgical procedures that must be uploaded to an individual's ARC personnel profile prior to implementing such procedures in proposed IACUC protocol applications.
This new IACUC Principle VIII.9 is reflected in a new item 17.1.2a in the IACUC protocol application, which requires that the Principal Investigator (PI) and personnel that will serve as surgeons conducting survival aseptic surgical procedures in rodents be identified and certified as trained.
Your cooperation will contribute to keeping the institution in compliance with these new federal guidelines regarding the documentation of adequate training of research personnel using animals, and to the retention of full accreditation of the animal care and use program.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. If you have any questions, please contact the IACUC by email.
TRAINING FOR THE USE OF ELECTRONIC IACUC SUBMISSIONS
- The eIACUC can be accessed in the ARC Portal.
- ARC Portal System Help Desk contact information: (813) 974-2880 or via email.
- eIACUC User Manual for Study Team (PDF) – The user manual provides step-by-step instructions for using eIACUC.
- The Intro to eIACUC for Investigators & Study Staff training workshop provides participants with a comprehensive review of the eIACUC system to assist with the transition from a paper-based system to the electronic system. To request group training workshops for your department/college please email IACUC.
Your ongoing feedback will help enhance eIACUC the best possible resource. We welcome your suggestions and comments and hope that you will find this tool to be a substantial improvement in the way you perform your research.