Training for Animal Users

IACUC Meeting and Training Schedules

Training is central to the mission of the IACUC. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is mandated by Federal regulations to provide training and education to ensure that investigators understand and comply with the provisions of the PHS Policy and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. If you are planning a project that involves working with vertebrate animals you and your research team must have a current training certification prior to beginning the project and must keep your training certifications current through the life of the project. This applies to PIs on an animal use protocol, even those who do not anticipate having any direct contact with animals, and all other members of the research team who have contact with live animals.

If you are using animals for the first time at UMass (staff, students, TAs, visiting scientists and postdocs) you must obtain UMass IACUC training certification by:

•  Attending a “UMass IACUC basics” class and

•  Taking the CITI online IACUC training. Note CITI training certification is transferable among institutions that use the CITI site.

“UMass IACUC basics” classes are scheduled at least monthly and also by arrangement for groups of four or more. The class covers “the UMass IACUC”, the UMass Occupational Health and Safety Program for animal users, and “Working in UMass Animal Facilities”. The CITI online training covers animal use ethics, laws and regulations, working with the IACUC, and has some species-specific modules.

Once you have IACUC training certification it is your responsibility to keep your certification current by getting recertified every three years. The CITI site sends a reminder. If you let your training certification lapse you cannot continue to work with live animals.

Please contact the Animal Care Office to sign up for a classroom training session. To take the online training follow the instructions for taking UMass CITI animal users online training.

© University of Massachusetts Amherst. Site Policies.
This page is maintained by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement.