Laboratory animal science -basic course and species-specific course rodents and rabbit

The Laboratory Animal Science course is intended for researchers who are going to plan and perform animal experiments (ex. Art. 9. Of the Dutch Act on animal experimentation or Wod). You need two certificates: the basic course and a species-specific course.

Animal experiments should only be set up and carried out by experts. In all cases, harm to the well-being of the experimental animal must be reduced to the absolute minimum. After all, all animals ultimately have the same intrinsic value. This requires knowledge, expertise and a correct attitude towards laboratory animals. Utrecht University has been providing the course on Laboratory Animal Science since 1986, making it the longest-running and most frequently taught Laboratory Animal Science course in Europe. The course is recognized by the Dutch government and FELASA accredited since April 2019 (function A+B for the basic course PLUS a species specific course). The Laboratory Animal Science course discusses, among other things, the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement), which are essential when setting up or conducting animal experiments. Laws and regulations regarding animal testing, ethics, animal welfare, experimental design and more subjects related to Laboratory Animal Science are also covered in this course.

Additional Information Rodents and Rabbits

• This course is taught in English.
• Because you will work with animals during the course, we would like to remind you that it is wise to get vaccinated against tetanus.
• A different rate applies to employees of the UU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, see ‘Registration’.
• The duration of this course is ca. 80 hours, spread across 2.5 weeks. 100% attendance is mandatory.
• This course will only proceed if there are sufficient participants.

Learning Outcomes for Rodents and Rabbits Course

The learning outcomes of this course are in accordance with the Education and Training Framework gerelateerd aan Directive EU/2010/63 (see pages 40-74 for all learning outcomes). See Programme for more information.

Target Group for Rodents and Rabbits Course

The Laboratory Animal Science course is intended for researchers who are going to plan and perform animal experiments (ex. Art. 9. Of the Dutch Act on animal experimentation or Wod). Please note: the course on Laboratory Animal Science is only part of the legal requirements for an ‘Article 9 officer’. In addition to obtaining the certificates from a recognized course in Laboratory Animal Science (introduction course plus a species-specific course), you must be scientifically trained (MSc level) in a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area in a scientific discipline relevant to the work being undertaken.

Legal requirements

To assess whether you meet the legal requirements to plan and perform animal experiments and to be registered as an Article 9 officer, please contact the Animal Welfare Body of your license holder. For more information regarding competency in animal experimentation, check out the website of the 3Rs Centre and the Animal Welfare Body Utrecht.

Relevant links

• Read more about the Laboratory Animal Science course and the training requirements for persons planning and performing animal experiments.
• For more information about the Dutch Act on animal experimentation regarding competences and education, please check the website of the 3Rs-Centre ULS.
• For more information on a European level please visit the ETPLAS-website (Education and Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science).

The learning outcomes of this course are in accordance with the Education and Training Framework gerelateerd aan Directive EU/2010/63 (see pages 40-74 for all learning outcomes).

The following modules are covered:

Core modules:
1 National legislation
2 Ethics, animal welfare and the 3Rs (level 1)
3.1 Basic and appropriate biology - theory
4 Animal care, health and management
5 Recognition of pain, suffering and distress
6.1 Humane methods of killing - theory

Function specific modules:
3.2 Basic and appropriate biology – skills
7 Minimally invasive procedures without anaesthesia – theory (partially)
8 Minimally invasive procedures without anaesthesia – skills
9 Ethics, animal welfare and the 3Rs (level 2)
10 Design of procedures and projects (level 1)
11 Design of procedures and projects (level 2)

Task specific modules:
20 Anaesthesia for minor procedures
21 Advanced anaesthesia for surgical and prolonged procedures
22 Principles of surgery

Literature

The course uses the book Principles of laboratory animal science, revised edition, 2001, L.F.M. van Zutphen, V. Baumans and F. Ohl (eds.) (ISBN 13: 978-0-444-50612-2).

The studyguide will be provided to registered participants on the first day of the course.

21 May 2024 – 7 June 2024 (exam: 7 June 2024) fully booked
8 July 2024 – 25 July 2024 (exam: 25 July 2024)
16 September 2024 – 3 October 2024 (exam: 3 October 2024)
25 November 2024 – 12 December 2024 (exam: 12 December 2024)

In case a course is fully booked, you can still submit the registration form and indicate that you would like to be added to the waiting list.

Location: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine UU, Utrecht Science Park

To register for this course, please fill in the registration form.

Send the completed form, including the accompanying attachments, to LAS@uu.nl

NOTE: Are you a UU MSc student or an employee of the UU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine? Then there is a different registration procedure, see for more information the tab enrollment.

This course is open to researchers and master students (in a biological, biomedical or zootechnical study field, with sufficient knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biological/biomedical subjects). The course has a compulsory entrance exam (see below).

Entrance Exam

The Laboratory Animal Science course requires general knowledge on the subjects of anatomy/zoology and physiology. This knowledge is tested in the compulsory entrance exam. You register for the entrance exam and the Laboratory Animal Science course at the same time through this form. The entrance exam consists of multiple choice questions and will take up to 1 hour to complete. At the bottom of this page you can download more information to prepare for the entrance exam.

Registration

To register for this course, please fill in the registration form.

Send the completed form, including the accompanying attachments, to LAS@uu.nl

NOTE: Are you a UU MSc student or an employee of the UU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine? Then there is a different registration procedure, see below.

UU MSc Students

UU MSc students in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience and Cognition should register in consultation with their administration office via infobms@umcutrecht.nl by completing the separate registration form (scroll down for more info and the registration forms).

UU MSc students of Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Science and Business or Biosciences should register in consultation with their administration office via science.gsls@uu.nl by completing the separate registration form (scroll down for more info and the registration forms).

Employees of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UU)

The course fees are different for employees of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UU):

• Basic course and species-specific rodent and rabbit course: € 1,130
• Basic course: € 985
• Species-specific rodent and rabbit course: € 400

Mail to LAS@uu.nl for more information.

Certificate

The certificates for the basic and species-specific course will be awarded when you have successfully passed the entrance exam and the final exam of the course.

Former participants who lost their certificates can request a new one for a €25 fee paid in advance. Please contact the main office of the Laboratory Animal Science course.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

Payment

After submitting your application, you receive a link to our web shop, where you can finalise payment with iDEAL (preferably) or credit card. Are you a MSc student at Utrecht University’s Graduate School of Life Sciences? If so, we will send an invoice directly to the administration of your programme.

Cancellation Policy

When cancelling a registration:

• 22 or more days prior to the course start date: no costs will be charged.
• 7–21 days prior to the course start date: 50% of the costs will be charged.
• 7 or fewer days before the course start date or no-show: the full amount will be charged.

las@uu.nl