Recommended Training Syllabus for an Institutional Animal User Training Program

As required in the CCAC guidelines on: institutional animal user training program, all personnel involved with the care and use of animals in research, teaching and testing must be adequately trained and must possess:

• adequate knowledge of the principles of experimental animal science relevant to their area of work (laboratory, field, or agriculture)
• the technical skills required for any procedure they must carry out
• an appreciation of the ethical issues of using animals for scientific purposes in Canada

CCAC Recommended Syllabus

To support institutions in implementing their animal user training program, the CCAC has developed the CCAC Recommended Syllabus for an Institutional Animal User Training Program, which includes core topics relevant to all personnel involved in the care and use of animals in science, as well as noncore topics specific to the type of animals used.

For practical information on the recommended syllabus, consult the examples of institutional animal user course descriptions posted here.

Training Modules and Resource Materials

In line with the recommended syllabus, the CCAC develops knowledge streams, which are intended as resources to support the development and implementation of the core and noncore topics of institutional animal user training programs by institutions and their animal care committees (ACCs), and to enhance flexibility in order to suit the needs of all animal users (including investigators, post-doctoral fellows, research staff and graduate students).