Education

OULAC organizes laboratory animal courses for researchers, laboratory animal personnel, students and laboratory animal care takers. The contencts of the education is described in the EU guidelines: A working document on the development of a common education and training framework fo fulil the requirements under the Directive. Courses in OULAC follow these guidelines.

Course for those carrying out procedures

• Annually in English
• Includes a theoretical part and practical training
• For the competence, you need to participate in the species and procedure specific practical training and show later your competence
• About 30 lectures
• Hands-on exercises (Mice )

Course for those designing projects

• Together with a proper university degree gives the competence to design and conduct animal experiments
• Preliminary attendance in the course for those carrying out procedures is mandatory
• Participant must have appropriate studies for 180 credits
• Course includes lectures and discussions; and preparation of an individual project plan

Animal care takers acquire their professional skills in the daily work, and participating in the education for animal care takers. The skills are shown in the examination for further vocational qualification. Further education and competence can be shown in the higher level examination, giving the specialist vocational qualification. Ammattiopisto Livia is organising this education.

Continuing education in laboratory animal science and practical training is offered in national and international training events and meetings.

Several universities also organize, in addition to the qualifying course for researchers, course days in the laboratory animal field for maintaining and updating competence. The courses are usually announced separately on the University Laboratory Animal Centre website.

Finnish laboratory animal associations FinLAS (Suomen koe-eläintieteen yhdistys), FALAV (Finnish Association for Laboratory Animal Veterinarians) and KATY (An association for laboratory animal technicians and employees) organize seminars and training days in the laboratory animal field. The events are announced on the FinLAS website and they are usually open for all employees in the field.

Scand-LAS (Scandinavian Society for Laboratory Animal Science) organizes training days once a year. The language used during the three-day training days is English, and the program includes both scientific presentations as well as those related to practical work, demonstrations and workshops.

The European umbrella organisation FELASA (Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations) organiszes a congress every three years. The congress is the biggest convention in the field organised in Europe, and experts and researchers in laboratory animal science from all over the world participate in it.

Continuing education for veterinarians in particular is offered by ESLAV (European Society of Laboratory Animal Veterinarians) during its annual meetings.

It is possible to specialise in laboratory animal science by completing the Master of Laboratory Animal Science degree programme at the University of Copenhagen, for example.

European College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, ECLAM offers veterinarians the possibility to specialise in laboratory animal science. A veterinarian can become a specialized veterinarian in laboratory animal science in Europe (ECLAM diplomate) by completing a training program approved by ECLAM and passing the final examination.

• The registration for the course is open 26.1. - 13.4. 2026

• The course Moodle Platform is open 2.2. - 11.5. 2026

Aim of this course: This course is intended for people who are planning to carry out procedures (function A) and/or euthanize animals (function D) in scientific projects. Everyone who is working with laboratory animals, must have adequate education and training before the work can start.

Course language: English.

Credits: The course theory (040911S) gives 2 ECTS and the hands-on training 0,5 ECTS.

Registration form spring 2026.xlsx

(Notice: registration in Peppi is not possible)

More information:
Hanna-Marja Voipio, email: Hanna-Marja.Voipio(at)oulu.fi
Sakari Laaksonen, email: Sakari.Laaksonen(at)oulu.fi

You can find more information regarding the competencies, examinations, and hands-on training in an introductory presentation.

Introduction Procedure course spring 2026

NOTICE: Competence to do procedures on animals

A person who has passed this theory course, has the possibility to gain a species- and procedure-specific competence by participating in the hands-on training sessions organised by OULAC (KEKS). Training will be arranged only for those who will need competence in their work, to avoid the unnecessary use of animals. You can practice the procedures on mice. You will get a procedure-specific certificate after showing a successful performance. After this preliminary training, you still need to practice your skills further under the supervision of an experienced researcher before the final competence for working with animals can be approved. Only a competent person is allowed to do procedures on animals independently.

EU Modules included in Functions A & D (carrying out procedures and killing animals):

Theory:

Module 1: National legislation
Module 2: Ethics, animal welfare and the Three Rs (level 1)
Module 3.1: Basic and appropriate biology – species specific (theory)
Module 4: Animal care, health and management – species specific (theory)
Module 5: Recognition of pain, suffering and distress – species specific
Module 6.1: Humane methods of killing - species specific (theory)
Module 7: Minimally invasive procedures without anaesthesia – species specific (theory)
Module 10: Design of procedures and projects (level 1)
Module 20: Anaesthesia for minor procedures
Module 21: Advanced anaesthesia for surgical or prolonged procedures
Module 22: Principles of surgery

Hands-on training:

Basic

Module 3.2: Basic and appropriate biology – species specific (practical)

Procedures, on request

Module 6.2: Humane methods of killing - species specific (skills)

Module 8: Minimally invasive procedures without anaesthesia – species specific (skills)

• The registration for digital laboratory animal course is open between 26.1. - 9.3.2026
• The Course Moodle Platform is open from 2.2. - 11.5.2026

Aim of this course: This course is intended for people who need to design scientific projects using animals (function B). A designer competence is compulsory for designing animal experiments and when applying for a project licence to use animals in scientific or educational purpose.

Prerequisites for attending the course:

• A higher academic degree in a scientific discipline relevant to laboratory animal research, or studies for such a degree that are near completion.
• A completed course for people carrying out procedures on animals (function A).

Contents of the course: The contents are based on the “Working document on the development of a common education and training framework to fulfil the requirements under Articles 23 and 24 of the Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes”. (https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/fca9ae7f-2554-…)

The digital Moodle course is module-based. Modules include self-study material, lectures, videos and exercises. The course also includes separate exercises (writing a project licence application and reviewing a scientific article) and a written examination. The estimated time needed to go through the course is about 50-55 hours.

The licence application and article review exercises will be given when you start the course and have to be returned by 13 April.

Written examination: There will be four exam dates, and it is possible to re-take the exam twice (at most three attempts per student). The exam must be passed before the course platform is closed. The dates will be:

• Thursday 25.2. at 9.00-11.00
• Thursday 23.3. at 9.00-11.00
• Thursday 20.4. at 9.00-11.00
• Wednesday 11.5. at 9.00-11.00

Course language: English.

Credits: The course theory (040912S) gives 2 ECTS

Registration between 26 January and 9 March: Fill in the separate registration form (a separate file) and email it to Eija Nissinen, email: Eija.Nissinen(at)oulu.fi and cc. Hanna-Marja.Voipio(at)oulu.fi

Registration_form_Design_course 2026.xlsx
(Notice: registration in Peppi is not possible.)

More information:
Sakari Laaksonen, email: Sakari.Laaksonen(at)oulu.fi
Hanna-Marja Voipio, email: Hanna-Marja.Voipio(at)oulu.fi

You can find more information in an introductory presentation.

Introduction Designer course 2026 spring

EU Modules included in OULAC Designing procedures and projects (B) course

Function specific prerequisite modules for function B (theory)

Module 7 Minimally invasive procedures without anaesthesia – species specific
Module 9 Ethics, animal welfare and the Three Rs (level 2)
Module 10 Design of procedures and projects (level 1)
Module 11 Design of procedures and projects (level 2)