Programme info

1. The participant can describe rodent behavior, care (including enrichment), biology (incl reproduction), and husbandry and the interplay between these elements.

2. The participant can approach, handle/pick up and restrain a rodent and return it to its cage/pen in a calm, confident and empathetic manner such that the animal is not distressed or caused harm.

3. The participant can describe the suitable routines, husbandry practices, environmental and housing conditions of rodents (including genetically modified animals) and how an animal facility is organized to ensure these. The participant can describe the different biosafety levels and measures to ensure a safe working environment for the people involved.

4. The participant can discriminate between the normal condition and behavior of rodents and one which is showing signs of pain, suffering, or distress. The participant can apply the severity classification system, assess cumulative severity and use humane endpoints.

5. The participant knows the principles of humane killing. The participant can describe the different methods available, provide details on for which rodent species and ages these methods are suitable, and select the most appropriate method.

6. The participant can describe and select the most appropriate methods of handling and restraint and can describe the techniques (and material needed) for injection, dosing, and sampling for rodents.

7. The participant can perform the most frequently used minimally invasive procedures (without the use of anesthesia) in rats and mice.

8. The participant can describe the use of anesthesia and the necessary equipment and design an anesthetic regimen and pain alleviation protocol for frequently used rat and mice models.