The IACUC requires that all personnel listed in an animal use protocol have basic IACUC training. The animal user training for new users includes a classroom (Zoom or on-demand) component with a quiz, and CITI online modules and quizzes. Project specific training needs to be described in the protocol for each person for review by the IACUC.
All animal users must renew their animal users' training certification every three years by retaking the CITI training. If an animal user's training certification expires he/she may not work with animals.
If you have questions about animal user training, please contact Elaine Nogueira at @email.
Please review the below information carefully before signing up for a training.
- All Animal user trainings are conducted via Zoom.
- Pre-registration is required.
- Registration closes 48 hours prior to the scheduled class.
- You will receive a Zoom invite after you sign up.
Additional trainings are required if conducting surgeries, these are listed in the training checklist in the Classroom Training Materials folder.
Notes:
- Please start the Occupational Health clearance process (OHSP) as soon as possible. If you are not OHSP cleared, you cannot perform animal work. See instructions for How to Complete Form for the Animal Handler’s Occupational Health Program (OHSP).
- You will receive a secure message from Kirsten Bergstrom the day before the training to start the OHSP process.
- Open the message, complete and return.
- Check your secure messages on the health portal to find out what is pending for you to be OHSP cleared.
- This is how UHS will be communicating with you. If you have not received an automated email from UHS that you are OHSP cleared, you still have to take action.
- To find out what you need to do, communicate with Kirsten through the health portal or email her.
- Compliance Office and UHS are two separate departments and any medical questions must be directed to Kirsten Bergstrom via the health portal.
To make animal care appointments (researchers that need immunizations, etc.), call 413-992-8003.
If you are a group of 4 or more and wish to schedule a class, or you have other training requirement related questions, please contact Elaine Nogueira at @email
For on-demand training that you can complete at any time, please first carefully review this PowerPoint training presentation. Click on each slide to listen to audio. Once finished, please complete the Animal User Classroom Training Quiz. Once you have passed the quiz, you will receive credit for Animal User Training.
If you can't access the quiz, please contact @email.
Registration is required. Trainings take place in LSL N106 (Life Sciences Laboratory)
Hands on animal surgery training is required if you will be performing surgery. It is optional to other animal users listed on a protocol.
Trainings will be 3 hours long. A maximum of 6 participants can attend per session. Priority will be given to animal users performing surgeries who require the training.
The online training component consists of the CITI training course Working with the IACUC Course plus species-specific course(s). CITI courses are a set of modules. After each module you are prompted to take a quiz. You need to score at least 80% to pass the course. Your IACUC animal user training is valid for 3 years from the date you complete the CITI courses.
- Go to the CITI Home page
- Choose Log In Through My Organization
- Select University of Massachusetts Amherst and from the dropdown menu and Continue to SSO Login/Instructions.
- Enter your UMass Amherst NetID and Password.
- On the Main Menu page, click University of Massachusetts Amherst Courses.
- Under My Learner Tools for University of Massachusetts Amherst, click Add a Course.
- Click on the last instruction, Continue to Question 1, to go to the course menu.
In the Course menu:
- Click the 3rd checkbox, Lab Animal Research. Then, select Next at the bottom of the page.
- Select the second checkbox, Working with the IACUC Course is required if you plan to use laboratory animals in your work or plan to supervise such work, as well as the species specific course(s) appropriate for your project.
- Select the Next blue tab at the bottom of the page until you are brought to your grade book.
- Go to My Courses at the top of the page.
- Then click on View Courses.
- Under Courses Ready to Begin, select Start Now.
You do not need to complete a course in a single session. CITI saves your work and provides a list of modules and their status. When you have successfully completed all the modules in a course it will indicate Passed under My Courses > Status and you can print a completion certificate.
You do not need to inform the IACUC Office when you have completed an online course. CITI automatically adds your name to the UMass Amherst list of certified animal users.
It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator on a teaching protocol to assure everyone involved in teaching (staff, teaching assistants) is properly trained in the regulations, animal handling and the procedures described in the protocol before the activities using animals start.
The professor or person teaching the course must have current IACUC training.
The instructor is responsible for informing the TAs of training requirements. TAs who assist in classes where animals are used and in which the instructor is present at all times are not required to take the basic IACUC classroom training. TAs who will be solely responsible for supervising students taking a class in which animals are used (i.e. conduct or supervise the lab/class in the absence of the instructor) must have current basic IACUC training and be added to the protocol.
The instructor is responsible for training TAs, students and other personnel who will work with live animals as part of the class. This training must include basic information about the regulations that affect use of animals in research and teaching and instruction in the techniques, and specialized procedures involving animals that will be needed in the class.
The instructor is responsible for informing students, TAs, and staff of risks associated with working with live or dead animals. Risks include developing allergies or possible exposure to zoonotic diseases. Students should be advised that even when the risk level is low people with special health conditions (e.g. pregnant, having a compromised immune system) may be at greater risk. On request, the Director of Animal Care (413-545-5268) or (413-992-8295 - after hours or emergencies) and/or the Biosafety Officer (413-545-2682) will provide information on risks associated with specific teaching protocols.
The instructor is responsible for informing students when chemicals from embalmed or treated animals may present a hazard and knowing what personal protective equipment (PPE) is appropriate for the activities.
For more details, including basic Information for teaching assistants who do not take the classroom training, read Guidelines for PIs and TAs Training Requirements.
To ensure that visiting scientists and scholars engaged in research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst comply with state and federal regulations and university policies and guidelines which apply to the handling of, and potential exposure to, hazardous materials (including exposure to live animals) the Faculty Senate requires visitors to comply with Faculty Senate Policy Concerning Safety and Training Protocols for Visiting Scientists and Scholars. It is the responsibility of the visitor's host to ensure the visitor complies with this policy.
Visiting scientists here for more than a month must complete training requirements required for UMass personnel.
For visitors here for less than a month the training requirement for animal users may be waived if the visitor is always supervised by his/her host while working with animals. Prior approval must always be obtained.
The UMass Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP) covers all full-time, part-time, or temporary employees and students of the University of Massachusetts Amherst who have contact, in terms of physical proximity to, or handling of animals in the course of their employment for research, teaching or testing purposes.
A new animal user at UMass Amherst completes the OHSP during the Basic IACUC classroom Animal User Training. OHSP forms are reviewed by a health professional at University Health Services (UHS).
The IACUC and/or Biosafety Officer in Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) may withhold approval for the work with animals until occupational health concerns have been addressed.
At UMass Amherst animal users receive:
- Training in safe practices and procedures
- Participation in the OHSP
- Protection from exposure through safe practices
- Information concerning specific risks related to exposure to animals and/or other hazards (e.g. zoonotic disease, injury, exposure to hazards)
- Training in basic safety practices
Everyone working with animals needs to be aware of the potential for transmission of zoonotic diseases. More information is available on the Stanford University website.