Introduction

One of the resources provided by the CCAC to support the development and implementation of an institutional training program by the animal care committee (ACC) is a series of twelve web-based modules covering the general core topics for all animal users and specific core topics for the Laboratory Animal/Teaching Stream of the Recommended Syllabus.

These modules have been developed and produced with funding received from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

The modules were written by a team from the University of Saskatchewan, the University of British Columbia and the CCAC Secretariat. Several scientists, animal care professionals and representatives from the Canadian public and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies have reviewed the material extensively. Various institutions across Canada conducted beta-testing of these modules.

Each module deals with a specific topic and specific goals. There are a few overlaps between modules; but modules are independent from each other so ACCs have the necessary flexibility to integrate one or more of these modules within their own institutional training program as they see fit.

Questions are listed at the end of each module to help readers focus their attention on key elements. The bank of questions and associated answers will be forwarded to ACCs upon request (ccac@ccac.ca) if they choose to use them for performance evaluations of the competency of their animal users.

The following chart lists the twelve modules of the core topics. To view the objectives of a particular module, click on the title of that module.