Training

Animal welfare regulations require that personnel working with animals are qualified through appropriate training involving the proper handling and care of animals and the regulatory requirements of animal research.

*If you will be involved in field research, please visit the Field Research Page for separate training instructions.

Each individual applying to work with animals or requesting access to the Animal Care Facility must complete the following training and immunization requirements:

1. Online Training
   • Description: These online training modules are designed to provide an understanding of animal research regulations and proper care and handling of animals in a research setting.
   • Link: http://hazel.forest.net/latanet/client/uta/introduction.htm
   • Log-In Instructions: The username is "uta" and the password is "animals".
   • Required Modules:
     1. The Base Module (The Humane Care & Use of Laboratory Animals)
     2. The Safety Module (Occupational Health & Safety)
     3. The Species Module (one or more of the species-specific modules pertaining to your research)
   • Optional Modules:
     1. Techniques Modules (Aseptic Surgery of Rodents, Anesthesia and Analgesia of Rodents) - strongly recommended if you will be performing surgery


2. Hands-On Training
   • Description: This training is provided by UTA's Animal Care Technician, Alphas Wicker, and is designed to acclimate the individual to the handling of animals and provide training on proper techniques.
   • Instructions: To schedule an appointment for Hands-On Training, contact Alphas Wicker at 817-272-5236 or awicker@uta.edu.
   • Techniques and items covered:
   1. Animal facility tour
   2. Supplies
   3. First aid
   4. Policies and SOPs, i.e. needle stick policy, occupational safety, etc.
   5. Acclimation to animal handling
   6. Animal restraint methods
   7. Injections
   8. Gavaging
   9. Blood draw


3. Immunization Requirements
   • Description: UTA and IACUC policy require that individuals working with animals receive a tetanus immunization. If you have already received a tetanus immunization, please submit the record to Regulatory Services (ORIC). The immunization must not be older than 10 years, or you will have to be re-immunized. A tetanus immunization can be obtained from UTA Health Services: http://www.uta.edu/health_services/.
   • Instructions: Proof of tetanus immunization (shot record) must be provided to ORIC. If you already have an appointment with ORIC to obtain access to the Animal Care Facility, you may turn in the immunization record at that time. It can also be sent to ORIC in the following ways:
     
     Regulatory Services
     Mail: Box 19188
     Fax: 817-272-1111
     Drop Off: Arlington Technology Incubator (ATI) Building
     202 E. Border (intersection of Border St. and Mesquite St.)
     Suite 201 (first door on right as you enter building)