TECH314-0720: Lab Animal Certification Test Review
Audio only - Webinar: The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a Zoom^tm platform.

Enrollment is closed.

Instructor: Mark Sharpless, MBA, Juris Masters, CMAR, RVT, VTS- Lab Animal Medicine

Course Open: July 28-September 4, 2020
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Tuesdays, August 4, 11, 18,and 25, 2020 8:30-10PM ET(USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter

To prepare for your online experience, review the VIN-VSPN CE informational video prior to the course open date.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate course course will be open to veterinary technicians/technologists that are preparing to sit the Lab Animal Certification exam.
VSPN CE Course: "This program has been approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval."(22-42322)

Course Description:
This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the field of Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science. In addition, the program will prepare students to sit for and to be successful with passing entry level professional certification examinations such as those available through the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS).

Week 1 (Real Time Session August 4): Introduction to Laboratory Animal Science and Medicine
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to

• Discuss the Animal Welfare Act and Regulations, The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and other related regulatory and compliance documents and organizations.
• Explain some of the history of the use of animals including some scientific advances in human and veterinary medicine.
• Discuss ethical considerations when working with animal models including the 3 R’s.
• Define Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) role and operations.
• Discuss Animal Welfare versus Animal Rights.
• Outline Facility Safety/Security/Emergency planning.
• Discuss occupational health considerations/potential hazards and zoonosis.
• Discuss job market and opportunities including professional certifications available.

Week 2 (Real Time Session August 11): Looking at the Research Animal Facility Environment and Equipment
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to

• Discuss Facility Environments including temperature and humidity requirements, monitoring and control systems, light cycles, and air flows.
• Explain the types of equipment used in a typical facility including cage and rack washers, tabletop and bulk autoclaves, common and specialized cages, restraint device, toys and enrichment devices, bedding dumping stations, animal anesthesia and monitoring systems, etc.
• Outline animal husbandry and care routines, Sanitation and Housekeeping policies and procedures and approved chemicals.
• Discuss Animal Nutrition including diets, formulas, specialized feed and devices, water, and diet handling and storage requirements.

Week 3 (Real Time Session August 18): Details about Research Animal Facility Programs
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to

• Discuss Animal Care programs and operations.
• Explain Veterinary Care programs and operations.
• Explain Post Approval monitoring programs.
• Discuss Sentinel animal programs.
• Outline Quality Assurance Programs and GLP.
• Discuss Breeding and Genetic programs.
• Explain Enrichment, behavioral management, and socialization programs.
• Discuss Compassion Fatigue and Employee Programs.

Week 4 (Real Time Session August 25): Animal Model Specifics
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to

• Discuss common laboratory animal species including genus and species and bio-data.
• Explain species specific handling and restraint.
• Discuss common diseases and treatments for each species.
• Discuss common clinical procedures and experimental techniques for each species, including blood collection and euthanasia.
• Explain species specific husbandry and care practices including breeding strategies, nutritional requirements, and environmental enrichment requirements.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course.

*The lecture portion of this course will be an audio presentation, please be prepared to listen.

*To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.

Required Textbook: There is no required textbook for this course.

About the Instructor:
Mark Sharpless, MBA, Juris Masters, CMAR, RVT, VTS-(Lab Animal Medicine) has been the Animal Care Operations Manager at the Emory University Yerkes National Primate Research Center Field Station facility since 1998. He has more than 30 years of research animal facility operations and management experience. In addition, Mark is actively involved in several professional organization focused on animal welfare. He also engaged in public education and outreach activities regarding laboratory animal science. He is a faculty member at Eastern Virginia Medical School in the Masters of Laboratory Animal Science program where he teaches Facilities Management. Mark earned a Master's in Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia and a Juris Master’s degree from The Emory University School of Law. His undergraduate degrees focused on animal health science and veterinary technology management. His areas of special knowledge and expertise include animal welfare, regulation and compliance, animal husbandry and care, veterinary technology, and animal research facility management and operations. He serves on the Emory University IACUC and has attained the designation of Veterinary Technician Specialist-Laboratory Animal Medicine. Mark currently serves as National AALAS District 4 Trustee.

Total CE Credit: 6

Tuition: $126 ($113 early bird special if enrolled by July 14, 2020)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

* Students currently enrolled in and taking at least 2 classes or 5 units at an AVMA accredited or CVMA approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).
*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close at 5pm ET on August 4, 2020, or when the maximum number of participants is reached.
*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
Enrollment is closed.

1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
3. Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
4. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 792 or email VSPNCE@vspn.org. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

*Note: "This program has been approved for 6 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval."(22-42322)This course has been approved for continual education units toward CVPM requirements through VHMA (08-02).

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VSPN office 800-846-0028 ext. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Lisa Kernaghan, LVT, RVT, CVT, VTS (ECC)
VSPN CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services: VSPNCE@vspn.org
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357

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