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  4. Institutional Animal User Training Program
  5. Training Process

Training Process

Training through the Institutional Animal User Training Program ensures researchers are prepared for their assigned-procedures, supporting both excellent animal welfare and high-quality science.

Good welfare = good science.

Principal investigators (PIs) are responsible for ensuring their personnel are trained according to Western & CCAC requirements; PIs must keep Cayuse up to date with all personnel and procedures.

This ensures correct training, regulatory compliance, and accurate audit records.

Failure to update may result in delays, non-compliance, or suspension of activities.

Step-by-Step

For all new animal use protocols, modifications and/or annual renewals:

PI assigns personnel to procedures on the AUP in Cayuse under “Personnel & Procedures.” This allows the training team to determine required training.

  • Standard-procedures: Standard procedures automatically trigger the relevant coursework and prerequisites by the IAUTP team.

  • Protocol-specific procedures: Require additional details to ensure appropriate training is assigned.
    1. The PI must clearly define the procedure within the procedure description pages; and 
    2. Specify the required training components on the personnel page.
    3. Clarify the following details about the procedure on the personnel page under the “Additional Training Requests” prompt.
      • Gas anesthesia and/or injectable anesthesia
      • Survival and/or non-survival surgery
      • Aseptic surgical techniques and/or Surgical Closure Techniques

Refer to our course offerings for the list of courses we offer to get an idea for the type of training a student may need. 

Submit a modification with the procedure(s) newly assigned to the personnel to assign a procedure to personnel. 

Note: A procedure may be on an AUP already but still needs to be assigned to a person if they were not previously assigned to it. 

Do not perform new procedures until they are added to your Cayuse profile. If it is not listed, you are not approved—regardless of experience.

Once the AUP is received, the IAUTP reviews assigned procedures and determines required training.

Personnel will then receive a registration letter outlining their procedures and required courses.

If training is missing, submit an Additional Training Request Form and ensure the AUP reflects the correct procedures.

After receiving the Registration Letter:

  1. Check all your assigned-procedures on the AUP are in your registration letter.
  2. Log into Brightspace through the link on your registration letter to see the course you have been registered for.
  3. Review the IAUTP module as this gives you detailed information and instructions on how to complete your training.
  4. Complete the two quizzes associated with this module to demonstrate your knowledge of your AUP.

 

  1. Read all online content & watch all videos.
  2. Review Western’s policies & procedures & relevant CCAC Guidelines.
  3. Return to Brightspace and pass quiz with 80% (a lower grade is not considered passing and you will not be able to attend the associated hands-on workshop).

Through Brightspace, sign up for hands-on workshops via the link on the “Workshop Information” page within the course’s online material & coordinate your curriculum to suit your schedule and the prerequisites.

Hands-on workshops must be completed in the order listed on your registration form or listed in the IAUTP Overview module; be sure to sign-up for each workshop in the appropriate sequence.
  1. Check your prerequisites and homework are complete. This includes prerequisite course work and the online quiz and reading associated with each workshop.
  2. Attend workshops:
    1. For an in-person demonstration of clinical skills by our instructors;
    2. To practice your procedure techniques; and
    3. To demonstrate your new skill through a practical assessment.

Unprepared Fees

Hands-on workshops require IAUTP advanced preparation, instructor time, coordination with animal care staff, and have limited seating.

Therefore, students who:

  • Do not attend a registered session (no-show);
  • Arrive late;
  • Attend workshops out of order; or 
  • Arrive without prerequisite coursework & 80% passing quiz grade by 12 am the night before

may be denied entry and charged the full workshop fee, which will be applied to the PI's lab account.

This policy ensures responsible use of institutional resources, prevents unused training spaces, and maintains fairness for other researchers waiting for workshop space.

Tardiness: We start live demonstrations at the beginning of the workshop; even missing the first five minutes means missing key safety and animal welfare information. And unfortunately, because our workshops are often full, we cannot stop to repeat it or repeat the demonstration on the animals, in keeping with the 3Rs.


Forward your certificate and clinical skill practical evaluation to your PI for their reference from Brightspace.

This process ensures:

  • Training assignments match procedures on the AUP;
  • Personnel complete the right courses in the correct sequence;
  • PIs avoid unnecessary fees due to incomplete prerequisites; and
  • Personnel remain within compliance of regulatory standards.

 

Additional Requests for Training

Complete this form to request additional training if:

  • You need training for newly added skills or procedures after AUP approval, or
  • You require training beyond what is listed in your registration letter.

Note: If assigned procedures change, a Cayuse modification is still required. Submitting this form will also prompt the IAUTP to remind the lab.

Additional Training Request Form

 

Re-Takes

The online content—including videos, reading material, CCAC guidelines, and UWO policies & procedures—is designed to prepare you before practicing in person. Reviewing these materials is the best way to succeed in the workshop the first time.

Online content: work through it as much as you need to prepare for in-person workshops and for online quizzes

Quizzes require an 80% passing grade and must be retaken—with review as needed—until passed, to attend hands-on workshops. In other words, if you do not get 80% on your quiz, study and retake it as many times as needed to pass.

Hands-on workshops can be repeated as needed at no extra cost, but doing so may delay your project start and IAUTP completion.

 

Contact Us

For more information about institutional animal user training program processes, please contact training@uwo.ca.