General Training Requirements
All personnel named on a protocol—including students, lab techs, visiting scholars, and affiliates—are required to complete the online training course Working with the IACUC in addition to any other Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training modules appropriate for the planned work. For example, if the protocol proposes the use of mice or rats, all named personnel also must complete the modules Working with Mice (or Rats) in Research Settings and Reducing Pain and Distress in Laboratory Mice and Rats.
Completion of CITI modules by all personnel proposing to work with animals will be verified by the ORIA IACUC team at the time of protocol application, continuing review, and when new personnel, including students, are added to the protocol.
If you have Georgia Tech login credentials - you MUST use the Georgia Tech Single Sign On (SSO) option to get credit.
Those WITHOUT Georgia Tech login credentials can either use an existing GT affiliation in CITI or they can request access here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are researchers required to complete this training?
Federal Regulations require proper training to ensure the following:
- Humane methods of animal maintenance and experimentation, including the basic needs of each species of animal, proper handling and care for the various species of each animal used by the facility, and proper pre-procedural and post-procedural care of animals
- Research and testing methods that minimize the number of animals required to obtain valid results and minimize animal distress
- Proper use of anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers for any species of animals used by the facility
- Methods whereby deficiencies in animal care and treatment are reported, including deficiencies in animal care and treatment reported by any employee of the facility
In addition, PIs are responsible for providing adequate and appropriate training to team members (students, co-PIs, lab techs). The animal facility manager and the attending veterinarian also provide training in animal handling.
Are Non-Georgia Tech personnel required to comply with training requirements?
Yes. Visiting scholars, affiliates, and others not employed by or enrolled at Georgia Tech, but participating in animal projects in Georgia Tech facilities, must complete the required CITI training modules.
Are there any exceptions to these training requirements?
Occasionally, a large program or center grant to a single Principal Investigator (PI) will fund multiple faculty members’ activities. In many of these cases, the program/center grant PI is not a member of the research team on animal protocols funded by the grant. In these situations, the requirement to complete CITI modules is waived for the PI if he/she has absolutely no involvement in the animal work.
What are the available training modules?
All personnel named on a protocol—including students, lab techs, visiting scholars, and affiliates—are required to complete the online training course "Working with the IACUC: Investigators, Staff, and Students" in addition to any other CITI training modules appropriate for the planned work. For example, if the protocol proposes the use of zebrafish, all named personnel also must complete the module "Working with Zebrafish in Research Settings."
Here is the list of training modules. Login to the CITI Program to access modules. (You will need your GT Account and Password.)
| Mandatory module if working with vertebrate animals |
| CITI: IACUC Working with the IACUC |
| CITI: IACUC Working with the IACUC Refresher |
| Module to be taken dependent on species working with |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Amphibians in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Cats in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Dogs in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working With Ferrets in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Fish in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Gerbils in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working With Guinea Pigs in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Hamsters in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Mice in Research |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Non-Human Primates in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Rabbits in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Rats in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Reptiles in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Swine in Research Settings |
| CITI: IACUC Working with Zebrafish in Research Settings |
| Module to be taken if conducting survival surgery on any species |
| CITI: IACUC Aseptic surgery |
| Module to be also taken if working with mice and rats |
| CITI: IACUC Reducing Pain and Distress in Laboratory Mice and Rats |