CCAC Online Ethics - July 1

The Canadian Council for Animal Care requires all personnel who work with animals in teaching and research at UBC and affiliated institutions to complete the Experimental Animal User Training Program.

This program varies among institutions but typically has at least five components:

1. Core component modules (text-based, required information);
   (CCAC online ethics course - see below) 
2. Institution-specific modules (text-based);
3. Practical animal handling and manipulation skills training;
   Click here for required courses for people who work with laboratory rodents
4. Practical skills evaluation; and
5. Documenting the training.

The Online Core Components Training Course

This course meets the requirements of the National Institutional Animal User Training (NIAUT) Program offered by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC). The 

Institutional training

on institutional animal user training, which describe the whole NIAUT program, ensure a high standard of animal care across Canada. Details of the NIAUT Program are provided on the CCAC website.

The course material is presented in twelve modules, each with specific topics and goals, which are organized into three groups (detailed in the Modules & Learning Objectives section). Each module is a self-contained unit, and there is one formal examination for each group. While there are overlaps between modules, no one module is a prerequisite for any other. If desired, the user may proceed straight to the examinations without reading the material.

The results of the examinations will be provided first to the user and to the UBC Animal Care Committee, which is responsible for ensuring compliance with CCAC guidelines and ensuring that all personnel who work with animals in a teaching or research capacity have adequate training.

The core components course was written by a team from UBC, the University of Saskatchewan and the CCAC. Scientists, animal care professionals and representatives from the Canadian public and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies reviewed the material extensively before it was approved for training purposes.

Funding for the development and production of the course was provided by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

Registration Information (for CCAC/Online ethics course)

This course is free for staff and students at UBC and the BC Cancer Agency whose teaching or research involves animals. To register for training at UBC, email acctraining@ors.ubc.ca with your:

• Name
• email address
• Department
• Campus-wide Login Name
• Phone Number
• Specify what animals you are working with (e.g. Lab Rodents, Fish, Farm Animals)

Please email fred.woo@ubc.ca with any enquiries or call Fred Woo (604-827-5115). For non-UBC staff taking the course, there is a $50.00 charge per student. Our office will email you an invoice for the applicable charge(s). Please return the invoice and your cheque to:

Fred Woo
The University of British Columbia
Office of Research Services
TEF 3 Building
102 - 6190 Agronomy Road
Vancouver, BC   V6T 1Z3

Cheque payable to: The University of British Columbia