Training Requirements:

Listed below are the training requirements personnel need to complete in order to work with animals at the University of Washington. Courses such as our species specific courses are optional, but strongly recommened. For a full listing of the Training Program's course offerrings, please visit the "Online Courses" and "In Person Courses" pages.

All individuals working with animals must complete the following:

  • Online Laws and Regulations training. This training must be updated every 5 years.
  • Submit the Animal Use Medical Screening (AUMS) form to the Occupational Health Nurse. Screening needs to be updated as per the Occupational Health Nurse's recommendations. Please reference the instructions listed on the form for further information.
  • Submit a New Personnel form to the IACUC office to be added to your PI's protocol. Please reference the instructions listed on the form for further information.

For individuals working within centralized Department of Comparative Medicine vivaria:

  • If you are a rodent user, you will be required to complete the online Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) training on an annual basis.
  • Individuals (both rodent and non-rodent users) who need to enter centralized vivaria must complete the Facility Orientation for the appropriate facility prior to initial entry approval. Prerequisites: Must be listed on a UW protocol. Rodent Users must complete the SPF training.
  • Individuals who will work in Animal Bio-Safety Level 2 or 3 rooms within centralized vivaria must complete the Animal Bio-Safety Level 2 or 3 Room Orientation . Prerequisite: Completion of the facility orientation.
  • Individuals who will work in a Helicobacter free room must complete the Helicobacter Free Room Training. Prerequisite: Completion of the facility orientation.

For individuals working with animals in a decentralized facility (i.e., not a Comparative Medicine run vivarium):

Aquatics:

Rodents:

  • Individuals who provide husbandry and care for their own rodents must complete the Decentralized Animal Care and Records class and the Sick Rodent Recognition class (Note: these classes are offered back to back). The PI or a professional staff lab manager is also required to complete both classes.

Species other than aquatics and rodents:

  • Individuals who provide husbandry and care for their own animals (non-aquatic and non-rodent) must complete the Decentralized Animal Care and Records class. The PI or a professional staff lab manager is also required to complete this class.

Certification is required for individuals performing the following procedures:

Mice:

  • Cervical dislocation (anesthetized or unanesthetized)
  • Retro-orbital bleeding (anesthetized or unanesthetized)
  • Retro-orbital injections (performed on anesthetized mice only)
  • Decapitation on adult mice >14 days old (unanesthetized)

Rats:

  • Cervical dislocation performed only on rats < 200 grams (anesthetized or unanesthetized)
  • Retro-orbital bleeding (performed on anesthetized rats only)
  • Decapitation on adult rats >14 days old (unanesthetized)

Fish:

  • Stunning followed by caudal tail vein severing
  • Stunning followed by gill severing
  • Stunning followed by decapitation

Frogs:

  • Pithing

Birds:

  • Decapitation (unanesthetized)
  • Cervical dislocation (unanesthetized)

Rabbits:

  • Decapitation (unanesthetized)
  • Penetrating captive bolt pistol
  • Cervical dislocation performed only on rabbits < 1 Kg (anesthetized or unanesthetized)

Guinea Pigs:

  • Decapitation (unanesthetized)

Hamsters:

  • Decapitation (unanesthetized)