Training

Purpose

This guidance outlines education, training, and occupational health and safety requirements for individuals who work with or are exposed to vertebrate animals in Oregon State University’s (OSU) Animal Care & Use Program. It applies to researchers, staff, students, volunteers, and visitors.

Contact: [email protected] for assistance or questions.

 

Prerequisites and Training Summary

Prerequisites and Training Summary
Participants CITI Training (Working with IACUC) Animal Exposure Program (AEP) Enrollment (Occupational Health) Activity | Facility | Equipment-Specific Training Training Records

Protocol Participants (PIs, researchers, students, protocol employees)

 Required Required Required Required

Animal Facility & Husbandry Staff

 Required Required Required Required

Facilities & Trade Staff

 Optional Required Required Required

Students (classroom exposure only)

 Optional Optional (via class instruction) Required (syllabus/instructor) Required (syllabus)

Non-employees & Volunteers

 Required Required Required Required

 

Definitions

AEP: Animal Exposure Program (part of Occupational Health Services)

APO: Animal Program Office, within the Office of Research Integrity

EH&S: Environmental Health & Safety

LARC: Laboratory Animal Resources Center

PI: Principal Investigator

Program: OSU Animal Care and Use Program

Protocol Participant: Individual listed on an IACUC protocol

Student Class Participant: Student exposed to animals through coursework only

 

IACUC Participant Categories and Requirements

Protocol Participants:

Includes PIs, researchers, students, and employees listed on an IACUC protocol.

Prerequisites:
  1. CITI Training: Working with the IACUC
  2. AEP form submission, review, and clearance
Instruction:
  1. PI-directed training and skill verification
  2. Accessible Training records

Animal Facility & Animal Care Staff:

Includes veterinary technicians, husbandry staff, students, and others working primarily with animals in OSU facilities.

Prerequisites:
  1. CITI Training: Working with the IACUC
  2. AEP form submission, review, and clearance
Instruction
  1. Facility- and species-specific training directed by supervisor or facility manager
  2. Accessible Training records

Facilities, Trades, & Security Staff:

Includes Facilities Services, Public Safety, and others requiring access to animal areas.

Prerequisites
  1. AEP form submission, review, and clearance
  2. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) in-person training
  3. Supervisor/facility manager instruction and verification
Instruction
  1. Facility- and species-specific training directed by supervisor or facility manager
  2. Accessible Training records

Students (Class Exposure Only):

Includes students in classes with animal exposure but not engaged in research/teaching protocols.

Instruction
  1. Instructors must notify students of Student Health Services medical consultations and activity-specific risks
  2. PI/instructor must provide and document activity-specific training (syllabus or equivalent)

Non-employees & Volunteers:

Includes volunteers and other non-OSU employees working with animals or in animal facilities.

Prerequisites
  1. AEP form submission, review, and clearance
Instruction
  1. Facility manager or PI directed training and verification
  2. Accessible Training records

Authorized Visitors (Brief Access):

Applies to public tours and outreach events.

  • Visitors require facility permission and supervisor/manager oversight

Participant Requirement Descriptions

CITI Training Module: “Working with the IACUC” Registration

  • Click Register for your initial login.
A login page for CITI program with an arrow pointing to the word, "Register" which is circled.

 

  • Select your organization:Oregon State University.
CITI Program training page with Oregon State University circled in red.

 

  • Type Oregon State University, check both boxes, then click Create a CITI Program Account. ⚠️ Do not select “Log in with Oregon State University.”
A CITI Program login page with select parts of the page circled in red.

 

  • Enter you name and email address.

Complete Registration Steps 1–6. Select Curriculum.
Answer each question in the Curriculum selection:
o    Human Subjects (IRB) → Not at this time
o    Institutional/Signatory Officials → Not at this time
o    Vertebrate Animal Research (IACUC) → Yes 
(enrolls you in “Working with the IACUC”)
o    Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) → Not at this time
o    Conflicts of Interest (COI) → Not at this time
o    Export Compliance → Not at this time
o    COVID-19 → As applicable

  • Complete the Course: Finish all modules of the “Working with the IACUC” course 

 

Animal Exposure Program (AEP) Enrollment and Clearance (Occupational Health)

If the participant is an OSU employee, both A and B must be completed and submitted to Occupational Health:
A. Supervisor/PI’s must initiate the AEP Risk Assessment document.

(Once completed by the supervisor/PI DocuSign will route it to the participant for completion.)

B. OSU EMPLOYEE must complete the Confidential Medical Information document.
If the participant is not an OSU employee, supervisors/PIs are to submit this Animal Exposure Program Questionnaire.

Targeted Training & Skill Verification

  • Protocol-specific training: The PI or supervisor must train and verify the participant's skills before independent work.
  • Facility-specific training: Directed by supervisor/facility manager.
  • Class-specific training: The Instructor must document training in the syllabus or equivalent.
  • Hands-on training: May begin once prerequisites are met. Skills must be verified before independent work.
  • Training records must be detailed and accessible.

Additional Resources (Recommended)

  • CITI Program has elective modules available at no cost
  • Procedures with Care instructional videos (procedureswithcare.org.uk)
  • Guidance from LARC or the Animal Program Office