Training and Certification

The University, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and individual investigators share a collective responsibility to ensure that research and teaching involving animals is guided by the highest ethical standards and is conducted in compliance with federal, state and university regulations governing such use. Ongoing education and training in the humane care and use of laboratory animals is a federal requirement.

Training Requirements for PI’s, Research Staff, Research Students and Animal Care Staff

The IACUC requires all personnel that conduct any research and/or teaching that involves handling, manipulating, or performing procedures on live vertebrate animals, whether in the laboratory or in the field to complete the required training and become certified to use animals. Protocols, modification requests and annual renewals will not be approved until all personnel listed are certified.

Please review the Training and Certification policy for the complete list of requirements.

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) is a web-based training program that was developed to provide required information on the humane care and use of lab animals as mandated by federal regulations. Required content depends on the user, the animal species involved and the procedures to be performed.   All personnel listed on an animal use protocol and all IACUC members must complete the required CITI training before working with the animals or serving on the IACUC.

Registering for a CITI Program Training Account

Note: if you already have a CITI account and just need to add the Animal Care and Use Curriculum, log in and then select "Add a Course". This will allow you to enroll in the Animal Care and Use training program.

Step 1:  Go to the CITI registration page and under “Select Your Organization Affiliation”, type “Wisconsin” in the box and then select University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  Click on “Continue To Create Your CITI Program Username/Password”.

Step 2: Enter your first and last name and email address.  Enter your name here as you would like it to appear on your completion reports.  Click on “Continue to Step 3”.

Step 3: Choose a username, password, and security question.  Click on “Continue to Step 4”.

Step 4: Enter demographic information and click on “Continue to Step 5”.

Step 5: Click “NO” when asked if you want to request Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits.  Answer the next two questions and click on “Continue to Step 6”.

Step 6: Complete the personal information requested.  For your Department, students can use their major (Biology, Microbiology, etc.).  For the Role in Research, choose a role that is most appropriate for your involvement in animal research.  Click on “Continue to Step 7”.

Step 7: Scroll down to Question 5, “Animal Care and Use” to select your curriculum and continue following the instructions below, do not click on the “View instructions page” on the CITI site.

Step 8:  Click on “Finalize Registration”.

Step 9:  Click on “University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Courses” to view your course list.

Instructions for Completing the Required CITI Animal Care and Use Training Courses

Step 1:  After you have selected your curriculum and have enrolled in the Learner Group appropriate to your role in Animal Research, you will be taken to the Main Menu page. This page lists the courses you are required to take.

Step 2:  Click the title of each course to begin or continue the course. 

Step 3:  Complete the Integrity Assurance Statement presented at the top of each course.  The system will allow you to start taking the course modules after completing it.

Step 4:  Complete the required modules and associated quizzes.

The minimum "passing" aggregate score for the quizzes is 80%.  A running tally is compiled in the grade book. If you want to improve a score on a quiz, you may repeat any quiz.  Scores obtained after a completion report has been issued will not be reflected on the completion report.

Step 5:  When you complete each module successfully, a Completion Report will be sent automatically to the IACUC Administrator.  You may print your completion report for your records but this is not required.

You may also submit a voluntary, anonymous user satisfaction survey.

General questions should be addressed to IACUC@uwlax.edu

Technical issues with the CITI web site should be addressed to citisupport@med.miami.edu or to 305-243-7970