Education in lab animal science

Comparative Medicine Core Facility

Education in lab animal science

 

Theoretical education in laboratory animal science

Before you are allowed to work with laboratory animals, you need to pass an approved theoretical course in laboratory animal science. NTNU, UiB, UiO and UiT offer a web-based course in animal research (CAREiN) once every semester, arranged through UiB. For more information, visit the course website:

CAREIN

Courses from outside Norway might cover parts of your education. Contact head of facility for more information if relevant for you.

Practical training 

Initial practical training

After passing the theoretical course, you need practical training. You must be deemed competent in handling, restraint, health assessment, the most commonly used injection techniques, blood sampling and euthanasia before you are allowed to participate in experiments using laboratory animals (rodents) at CoMed. If you plan on working with large animals only, contact head of facility to discuss your practical training.

The training manual is developed by the CAREiN consortium and is used by all CAREiN institutions. Facility staff is responsible for this part of your training. The basic practical training consists of a minimum of three training sessions. More sessions will be arranged if you do not reach the necessary level of competence during the first three sessions.

Important:

  • Before you register for the practical training, send an email to anne.am@ntnu.no, with information about your theoretical course and your research plans. Reserchers with specific plans on using animals in their research might be prioritized for the practical training.
  • You need to read all the information on this website before the training.
  • As explained under HSE, you need a valid Tetanus vaccine before you are allowed to handle the animals.
  • We recommend you to look at this website before attending your first training session:

The initial practical training will be focusing on mice. If you are planning to use other species in your research, contact head of facility to make arrangements for further training. If you have received practical training at other institutions, contact the head of facility to discuss your need for further training.

To book the first practical training session in Bookitlab: 

  • Search for our core in Bookitlab: "MH - CoMed - Small animal facility"
  • Find a training session that works for you in the list of available training sessions (on the front page)
  • Press the blue square with an exclamation mark in the column at the left
  • Press "Save"

The next two sessions are arranged during the following weeks, usually the following Thursdays at 12:00. Make sure to be available on these time points when you book your first session. The exact time points for the second and third session will be discussed with the participants during the first training session.

We add more training groups continuously. Send an email to the head of facility if you have any questions. 

When your basic practical training is approved, you are allowed to start working in our facility. You must however be supervised by a named mentor until you are familiar with our facility and the relevant procedures used in your projects:

  • The mentor should be a person with previous experience from working at CoMed, preferably from the same research group.
  • The mentor should accompany you until you are competent in all relevant procedures and familiar with local routines.
  • The mentor should be available by phone for an additional period.
  • When your mentor find you capable of working independently in the facility, he or she can contact head of facility to confirm. You will then be granted access on your card.

Fill in this form together with your mentor and send it to head of facility after the last training session (it can also be found in the section "Access to the facility") :

New user form

You will receive your practical training diploma directly after the last training session.

If you plan on working in other animal facilities, you might need to extend your practical training. Contact head of facility if it is relevant for you.

 

Additional practical training

If you are planning to perform a new task/procedure and have not received adequate training, contact your supervisor or the head of the facility and schedule time for training. You are not allowed to perform any procedures without the necessary level of competence. This is required by law, and is important to secure a safe working environment and good animal welfare. Your tutor must supervise you when performing the procedure until you are competent and found ready to continue working on your own.

You should keep a record of all your competencies, using this form: Documentation of competency

Send the form to head of facility after learning a new procedure.

 

Continuing professional development - CPD

Everyone involved in working with laboratory animals must keep their competence in laboratory animal science up to date through continuing professional development, as required by the Regulation on animal experimentation. This can be done by attending courses, conferences and training sessions, externally, in house and online. Information about relevant courses will be posted on this website. Each person is responsible for keeping a record of their continuing education and add this information to their personal account in FOTS. 

You need to complete a minimum of 10 credits every year to be able to continue working in the facility and apply for new research projects in FOTS.

 

SOP: Opplæring av personale, oppfølging av kompetansekrav ved CoMed

 

Please read FELASAs recommendations on the subject:

Guidelines for Continuing Education for Persons Involved in Animal Experiments - FELASA Working Group

 

Links to useful information and web based tutorials for CPD:

 

02 Apr 2025