Adequate training and training of personnel is an essential component of the control system on the use of animals in the scientific experimentation of all persons involved in the functions of: (1) animal care, (2) in the design and implementation of procedures and projects, (3) in the on-site monitoring of animal welfare and care, (4) as well as persons assuming the duties of the designated veterinarian and euthanasia. All of them must have prior and appropriate training for their function.
The training is based on minimum requirements of university degree and theoretical-practical training regulated by Order ECC/566/2015 (boe.es), of March 20, which establishes the training requirements to be met by personnel handling animals used, raised or supplied for experimentation and other scientific purposes, including teaching. This order has been partially amended by Order CNU/120/2025 (boe.es) of 3 February, particularly with regard to the maintenance of training (art. 20).
The competent bodies of the Autonomous Communities are responsible for the recognition of this training through the issuance of a training certificate to enable them to perform these functions and which is valid throughout the national territory.
It is also up to them to develop the requirements to be met by the entities providing this training and the specific training programmes for each of the functions involved in the use of experimental animals and to carry out a recognition of the training courses and corresponding diplomas.
In the interests of transparency, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities to publish the recognized training courses, for which the competent bodies of the Autonomous Communities are invited to communicate within three months of their recognition, the training courses available in their territorial scope.
Based on initial training, the system regulates the continuous training of staff who are subject to an update every eight years of their training. Numerous entities provide training courses in this area, some relevant training providers are listed below:
European ETPLAS Platform (etplas.eu) (Education and Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science) has developed a series of free virtual training modules in ETPLAS Learn (learn.etplas.eu) for personnel working with experimental animals. Its modules can be used both for their integration in training programs aimed at obtaining initial training, and for continuous training. The isolated realization of the modules would not imply in any case obtaining the training to work with experimental animals. ETPLAS also gives visibility on its page to the training provided by other organizations and centers.
The Spanish Society for Laboratory Animal Sciences - SECAL (secal.es), also contributes significantly to enhancing the quality of the system through training.SECAL holds a biennial national congress and a scientific day, publishes books for teaching, informative material and the magazine “Laboratory Animals”, in addition to organizing training courses and round tables.In particular, its Statistical Design Group in Animal Research, develops an important role by providing educational resources, guides and statistical tools that allow the researcher to properly plan their projects, ensuring animal welfare and obtaining reliable results.
The Platform on Biobanks and Biomodels (isciii.es) funded by ISCIII, in addition to providing research support services and also provides a significant offer of training courses (isciiibiobanksbiomodels.es) in animal models, organoids and other methods alternative to the use of animals in research, at the service of the biomedical research system in Spain.
As a professional reference framework, the Commission has drawn up a new training framework document, National Competent Authorities for the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, on the basis of consultation with experts and a period of negotiation and approval by the Member States, and it is expected that its approval will soon be officially confirmed. The document presents an in-depth review of the training system in this area: in particular it provides a definition of regulated functions and roles and their qualification; of the necessary and specific modules of function/role/task; it includes work under supervision and the training register; it describes a system of evaluation of learning results; also the systems of accreditation, approval and acceptance in courses; and it develops a complete framework of continuous professional development (CPD).
At the meeting of the Spanish Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes (CEPAFIC) held on December 1, 2020, a guide was adopted, elaborated with the aim of facilitating and harmonizing the process of recognition of the maintenance of the training of the aforementioned personnel.
