Qualified, knowledgeable and competent?

To be qualified, you need to meet extensive training requirements, which will depend on the role you play in a research project.

On 15 March 2023, the Lifelong Learning (LLL) policy, approved by the establishment licence holders UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University on 5 October 2021, goes into effect. What this means for you in practical terms is worked out in the implementation guide. In brief, it means that you must be re-registered every three years as a qualified and knowledgeable staff member.

Your department’s LLL coordinator will register you, after coordinating with your manager, using a portfolio you provide for this purpose. We do this at the beginning of a calendar year during the registration meetings, so make sure your portfolio is in order in time. One of the meetings we assume you will attend is the start meeting, Animal Experiments in Utrecht, where you will also hear more about what it takes to do animal research in Utrecht. You must also ensure that your competencies (abilities to perform particular tasks) are registered. This can be requested during the approval of a work protocol (WP). You can only be trained by a registered supervisor, and an registered assessor can run an assessment to determine whether you can be entrusted with independently performing a task with an animal.

Supervisor and assessor

The person who trains (the supervisor) or assesses (the assessor) whether a task involving laboratory animals may be entrusted to another:

• is a qualified and registered staff member
• is competent in a number of procedures
• is registered with the Animal Welfare Body as an assessor
• has taken an assessor training.

Principal Investigator

The researcher who bears the final responsibility for the animal experiment and submits the application:

• Has a Master’s degree in the relevant field of study.
• Has a certificate for the legally required Course on Laboratory Animal Science, including a relevant course in the specific animal species.
• Is registered with the Animal Welfare Body and has participated in the start meeting.
• Continues to educate him/herself with courses, conferences, skills training.
• Needs to register as researcher animal experiments.

Study Director

The researcher who performs the animal experiment:

• Has a Master’s degree in the relevant field of study and a certificate for the legally required Course on Laboratory Animal Science ór a diploma from a recognised educational programme (MBO-4, HBO, biotechnique or zoological analyst).
• Is registered with the Animal Welfare Body and has participated in the start meeting.
• Continues to educate him/herself with courses, conferences, skills training.
• Is demonstrably competent in the use of laboratory animals.
• Needs to register as researcher animal experiments.

Research analyst / biotechnician

The research analyst involved in the animal experiments:

• Has a diploma from a recognised educational programme (MBO-4, HBO, biotechnique or zoological analyst) with an animal experiments certificate (MBO-3).
• Is registered with the Animal Welfare Body and has participated in the start meeting.
• Continues to educate him/herself with courses, conferences, skills training.
• Is demonstrably competent in the use of laboratory animals.
• Needs to register according to Article 13f2 Wod.

Animal caretaker

The animal caretaker that works with laboratory animals:

• Has a recognised MBO level 3 animal caretaker diploma.
• Is registered with the Animal Welfare Body and has participated in the start meeting
• Continues to educate him/herself with courses, conferences, skills training.
• Is demonstrably competent in the use of laboratory animals.
• Needs to register according to Article 13f2 Wod.

Other Co-Worker

Special rules apply for temporary guest staff, students, interns and medical specialists who participate in experiments on animals. For example, they may only work with laboratory animals while under the supervision of an authorised individual, again after registration with the Animal Welfare Body.

Intern:
What an intern is allowed to do depends on the type or education followed. In this we follow the guideline published by the IvD Platform (in Dutch). This also applies if you are employed but have yet to complete part of your training. Even then you are considered a trainee with respect to work with laboratory animals. This can only be done for a limited period of time and only with the prospect of a license, because you are registered for your final part of your training.

(Medical) Specialists:
If, as an authorized employee, you wish to use specialists for certain techniques, this is possible under some circumstances and even desirable for the welfare of the laboratory animal or the quality of the experiment. For these procedures, exemptions can be requested from the NVWA by the IvD. The specialist then does not have to obtain a license or renew his registration. However, it is important to realize that this specialist then has no control over (the welfare of) the laboratory animal and must always be supervised by someone with a competence.

Temporary guest staff:
The possibilities for temporary guest staff to participate in animal experiments is quite limited. But if there are valid reasons, exemption can be requested from the NVWA. If a guest employee. Exceptions are guest employees who are invited to learn or demonstrate a specific technique or skill here. A shortened procedure may apply there.

In all cases, it is wise to contact the IvD very early. Registering an intern can be done fairly quickly, usually within a week. For a route of waiver, you must reserve at least 8 weeks.