Animal Ethics and Care About the ACC Animal Ethics & Care Program Policies and Procedures Animal Use Protocols ACC Monthly Meetings ACC Fees Post-Approval Monitoring Sick Animal Response Institutional Animal User Training Program Assessment Requirements What You Need to Know About Training Training Process Course Offerings and Schedule Training Fees Training Exemptions Concerns Reporting & ACC Response

Training Exemptions

To request a training exemption, complete the form found below.

Applications are reviewed by IAUTP, ACC, and veterinarians.

Exemptions are limited, as all personnel must demonstrate competency to Western—often requiring assessment by a veterinarian. In many cases, attending workshops is faster and helps refresh skills and welfare knowledge.

Note: Exemptions are not permitted for the Handling & Care coursework, as this is where we review our Western specific documentation, Sick Animal Reporting, Post Approval Monitoring and standards of welfare.

Animal research standards don’t stand still—and neither should we. Expectations for animal welfare are continually rising as our scientific understanding of pain, distress, and wellbeing grows. Techniques that were considered acceptable years ago no longer reflect best practice today.

Ongoing improvement in clinical skills and animal handling is a core part of our ethical and professional responsibility. It is also a direct reflection of our commitment to Refinement, one of the Three Rs—ensuring procedures are performed as skillfully, gently, and thoughtfully as possible to minimize animal pain and distress.

No matter how experienced you are, there is always room to improve. Small refinements in technique, increased awareness of animal behavior, and regular reflection on our practices can have a meaningful impact on animal welfare and data quality.

For everyone alike, continuous learning is not a sign of inexperience—it is a hallmark of good science and responsible animal use.

Improving our skills is how we uphold animal welfare, strengthen our research, and meet the standards expected of a modern animal user training program.

Training Exemption Form

Contact Us

If you have any further questions about the training exemption process, please contact training@uwo.ca.