- Why is There a Certification Program?
- What Does the Certification Program Involve?
- General Certification (CITI Program Training)
- **UPDATED
3/31/09**
- Species-Specific Training
- Training in Aseptic Surgical Techniques
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Animal User Requirements
All animal research at UCLA must be conducted in accordance with the federal regulations as set forth in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the 1996
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, PHS Policy for the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, as well as UCLA's policies and procedures as set forth in the UCLA Animal Care and Use Training Manual.
One primary mandate central to all regulations and policies is that the ARC must be responsible for providing training to the investigators, animal technicians, and other personnel directly involved with animal care or use at UCLA. Training must include, but is not limited to, the following topics: (1) the humane practice of animal maintenance and experimentation; and (2) research or testing methods that minimize or eliminate the use of animals or limit pain or distress.
With over 3500 active animal users at any one time, it is not possible for the ARC to provide one-on-one training for each person. Therefore, the ARC created the Certification Program, bearing in mind that training is ultimately a cooperative effort between many
members of the research community. Obviously, the primary responsibility for training resides with the principal investigator or faculty sponsor, as the case may be. In addition, the
Office of Animal Research Oversight (OARO) and the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine (DLAM) supplement such training with the ARC Certification Program as described in this fact sheet. Other departments, such as Biological Safety and Radiation Safety, may elect to have their own training programs. Together, through the combined efforts of all involved parties, both the spirit and letter of the law mandating training can be fulfilled at UCLA.
ARC policy mandates that all Principal Investigators, as well as all personnel having direct contact with live vertebrate animals, must obtain ARC certification prior to initiating work with laboratory animals. For detailed information on who must be certified or to inquire about the certification status of personnel, please call the
Office of Animal Research Oversight (OARO) at (310) 206-6308 or
OARO@research.ucla.edu.
UCLA's Certification Program is composed of two components (general
certification and species-specific training). Please note that participants are required to complete both components of certification in order to be certified. Additionally,
personnel who will be involved with survival surgery procedures on mammals or birds must participate in an aseptic surgical techniques class (see
Section E below).
NEW - Updated Online Training Program
Requirement for All Personnel Listed on Applications to Involve Animal Subjects
in Research, Testing, or Teaching
Beginning March 31, 2009, UCLA will replace the current ARC Certification test for
laboratory animal users with the nationally recognized
Collaborative Institutional Training
Initiative (CITI). UCLA chose
CITI because the content is extensively reviewed, critiqued and updated, the
program meets federal requirements, and certification is transferable to and
from other institutions. The CITI
program also provides personnel the option to complete education modules
relevant to their research programs and disciplines.
All personnel listed on an ARC protocol must complete the online
CITI "Animal Research" training course prior to
approval to work with animals. In addition, all active animal users must be re-certified every three
years, effective September 1, 2009.
If you are a NEW animal user: All new animal users must complete the
CITI
training prior to being approved to work with animals, and will need to be
re-certified every three years thereafter.
If you are a CURRENT animal user:
- Individuals who completed the ARC Certification Exam (the "written
exam") before September 1, 2006 will need to be re-certified by
September 1, 2009.
- Individuals who completed the ARC Certification Exam after September
1, 2006 will need to be re-certified three years after the date of their
previous certification. (For example, if you completed certification on July
1, 2007, your certification to work with animals will expire on July 1,
2010.)
Investigators can view the certification dates of their research personnel
using the online Research Application Tracking System (RATS).
Effective September 1, 2009, the ARC will not issue approval for any new
application or any application for continuing review unless all
personnel listed on the protocol have completed certification within the
past three years. Any personnel being added to an existing protocol via an
amendment application must have been certified within the past three years as
well.
Please note that prior exemptions to the ARC Certification Test will no
longer be honored as of September 1, 2009. However, certifications and
exemptions for species-specific training and aseptic surgery will remain valid.
To access the CITI training module, click here. Please refer to the
CITI
Training Frequently Asked Questions for additional information on the
CITI certification requirements and how to register or complete the training.
If you have further questions, please contact Andrew Perkins in the Office of
Animal Research Oversight (OARO) at
310-206-6308 or OARO@research.ucla.edu.
Species-specific training is required for each species a trainee will be handling and is accomplished by participating in a species-specific training session with the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine (DLAM). You may complete species-specific training with DLAM either before or after you take the written exam. To register for species-specific training, please refer to the following information:
-
Participants who will be working with mice and/or rats must attend a handling and techniques wet lab conducted by DLAM. The class will begin with the viewing of a brief video followed by a discussion of topics such as recognition of pain and distress and proper euthanasia techniques. Rodent users will have an opportunity to learn how to safely handle and restrain these animals and will learn how to perform techniques such as giving injections and collecting blood.
As of April 2008, the Rodent Users Wet Lab has been split into separate
wet labs for mouse and rat users.
To register for the Mouse or Rat Users Wet Labs, please use DLAM's Online Enrollment system.
Mouse users must complete an online training module prior to enrolling in
the wet lab. For further information and to download materials for the lab, please visit the DLAM website.
-
Participants requiring species-specific training for species other than mice and rats must contact
Carmen Bryant Volpe (cbryant@mednet.ucla.edu
or 310-267-2842) at DLAM.
If you have additional questions regarding species-specific training, please email dlamtraining@mednet.ucla.edu or contact Gene Rukavina, DLAM Training Manager, at (310) 794-0282.
-
Species-specific training is not required for fish, reptiles, birds, and amphibians OTHER than frogs; the Principal Investigator is required to provide training for these excluded species.
Other exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
In addition to completing the written exam and species-specific training, personnel who will be involved with survival surgery procedures on mammals or birds are required to participate in an aseptic surgical techniques class administered by DLAM. This session begins with the viewing of a short video and a discussion on the importance and major points of aseptic surgery. Proper preparation of the surgeon, surgical instruments, and the animal patient will be emphasized during the hands-on portion of the class.
To register for the Aseptic Surgical Techniques Lab, please use DLAM's Online Enrollment system. For further information and to download materials for the lab, please visit the DLAM website.
In addition to completing the certification exam, species-specific training, and aseptic surgical techniques training (if applicable), please note that you will also need to complete the following requirements prior to conducting animal research:
- Medical History Questionnaire Form
The UCLA Medical History Questionnaire for Investigators, Technicians, Students and All Others Exposed to Laboratory Animals, must be completed by all investigators and personnel who are listed in an ARC protocol. In accordance with University Policy, completion of this form is mandatory for all personnel having contact with research animals or animal tissues and all personnel who have a security key card or key to enter the vivarium. Please note that the MHQ must be submitted to the Occupational Health Facility on an ANNUAL basis.
Forms can be completed online at the above address.
If you have questions regarding the form, please contact OHF at (310) 825-6771.
Addition as Personnel
The ARC must have record of all personnel working under animal research protocols. If you are not listed as personnel under your principal investigator's ARC protocol, he/she will need to submit an amendment for change in personnel to the ARC in order to officially add you to his/her list of animal users. This amendment can be submitted via the online Research Application Tracking System (RATS).
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