IAT
Level 4
QN: 610/2717/0
Curriculum Active
IAT Level 4 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science and Technology
Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by IAT. Classified as a Vocationally-Related Qualification. Total guided learning hours: 1900 hours.
Qualification Level
Level 4
Awarding Body
IAT
Syllabus Units
11 Units
Guided Hours
1900 hrs
Instant access to interactive lessons, quizzes, and spaced revision.
Course Syllabus & Study Modules
Complete breakdown of verified curriculum topics and learning objectives.
1
Advanced animal husbandry, care and enrichment practices
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the use of refined methods for handling different species and show an appreciation of why these methods are preferred over others.
- Describe how to handle different laboratory species
- Be able to explain when each handling technique is appropriate and to describe the behavioural signatures of animals under stress.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of appropriate housing and how animal welfare is maintained in the animal facility
- Describe appropriate housing for laboratory species and the important factors that contribute to good housing
- Discuss how different housing might be appropriate for different scientific needs (including infections and lone housing)
- Describe suitable environmental conditions and enrichment for the relevant species and how these conditions are monitored
- Be able to use environmental measure equipment, read charts, graphs or tables generated by environmental monitoring equipment and evaluate potential problems
- Describe how environmental conditions may need to be varied according to the species, age, and life stage or specific care conditions (e.g. peri-operative care, immuno-deficient species, genetically altered strains)
- Discuss the possible effects of an uncontrolled environment on animal welfare and experimental results
- Explain how refinements in housing and environment contribute to the continuous improvement of welfare, husbandry and enrichment practices
- Understand different types of enrichment, its uses and how to develop an enrichment regime
- Describe different types of enrichment for different species and how to keep abreast of new developments.
- Be able to devise enrichment regimes for specific scenarios and understand why different enrichment might refine animal care
- Monitor the success of new enrichment efforts.
- Understand the basis of biosecurity efforts, the risks and possible causes of infection outbreaks.
- Describe the broad innate and immune response
- Explain how these protect the animal
- Identify models or situations where these responses may be compromised
- Discuss potential sources of disease in the animal facility including viruses, bacteria and parasites.
2
Animal welfare legislation
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Discuss how legislation interacts with the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986Describe legislation relevant to the housing, husbandry and transport of animals
- Discuss how this legislation interacts with ASPA
- Describe measures for ensuring compliance with the relevant legislation
- Explain how the relevant legislation applies to given scenarios
- Identify good practice
3
Application of the 3Rs to the severity assessment framework
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes a scientific procedure and how the severity of such procedures is classified prospectivelyDefine the concept of a procedure and state when a procedure falls within the scope of the legislation.
- Identify where the legal definition of the lower threshold and upper limits of severity of procedures are described in the legislation.Provide examples of procedures that fall below the threshold for legislation.
- Describe the four categories of severity of procedures defined in the legislation, give examples of each category and state the circumstances in which the severe category may be exceeded.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and value of the severity assessment framework
- Explain the reasons for undertaking severity assessment of procedures.
- Explain the multiple factors that should be considered in both prospective and actual assessment of severity. State the legal requirements for prospective and on-going actual severity assessment.
- Describe the concepts of direct and contingent suffering and be able to give examples of procedural and non-procedural harms.
- Describe cumulative severity, the factors to be considered in assessing cumulative severity and the effect this may have on the prospective and actual classification of severity.
- Apply the severity assessment framework
- Discuss factors to be considered and methods available for assessing and recording the welfare of animals e.g. score sheets.
- Explain why a “team” approach, with input from people with different expertise, experience and priorities, e.g. researchers, animal technologists and care staff and the attending veterinarian, should be used to deliver an effective welfare assessment. Correctly assign both prospective and actual severity to at least one example from each of the severity categories.
- Describe what a humane end point is. List relevant sources of information on severity assessment.
4
Application of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Discuss in detail the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and their responsibilities under it
- Apply the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 accurately given specific scenarios
- Critically appraise the role of the Animal Welfare Body in maintaining the health and well-being of laboratory animals, and minimising any adverse effects of experimental or scientific procedures on animals
- Describe the structure and role of the AWERB and Animals in Science Committee AWERB Hubs
- Evaluate the importance of different members in consideration of scientific programmes of work, including application of the 3Rs and ensuring animal welfare
- Evaluate the impact of legislation on the housing and welfare of laboratory animals
- Be able to identify where to find appropriate species-specific information on legislative requirements for housing
- Understand and describe the difference between the minima laid out in legislation and good or best practice in terms of likely impact on animal welfare
5
Assessing competence in the workplace
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- 1 Critically evaluate the meaning of competency
- Discuss the meaning of capability, competence and related concepts2 Discuss the use of different assessment strategies
- Discuss the use of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments.3 Devise assessment strategies appropriate to the learning objectives and assessment criteriaDefine suitable learning aims and objectives Assign suitable assessment criteria to the learning aims and objectives
- Apply the effective use of different assessment strategies
- Recognise that assessment forms part of the training and learning process and should be a positive experience4 Apply the principles of effective competency assessment in the workplace to assess knowledge, skills or behaviours required by their organisation
- Describe effective and ineffective assessment environments
- Identify potential barriers for the learner and suggest actions to minimise these.
- Develop a detailed assessment plan with clear assessment criteria.
- Manage & deliver the assessment event
- Review learner progress using diagnostic, formative and summative feedback5 Review quality and assure the training process
- Measure the success of the training process
- Evaluate the training and assessment process
- Describe the standardisation processProvide feedback to the training and assessment team
- Recognise the importance of recording individual’s progress
6
Developing Communication skills
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Evaluate and apply models of communication
- Recognise and explain the importance of clear communication, with reference to the factors affecting success
- Identify and describe different types and approaches available for written, verbal and visual communications
- Apply appropriate communication models for effective communication in different situations in the workplace
- Identify potential barriers to effective communication and apply suitable solutions
- Recognise the barriers to effective communication common to all models and routes
- Identify why these barriers are likely to ca
- use these routes of communication to fail Introduce methods to minimise the impact of communication barriers and improve the effectiveness of the communications in which they are involved
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the routes of communication used.
- Explain the use of communication methods chosen for given situations in their work place
- Describe possible methods for measuring the success of the range of routes of communication
- Review the success of communication processes, being able to describe what worked and what did not
- Effectively present information to individuals and groups and in writing and orally, in person and at a distance using technology such as ZoomEffectively communicate verbally to an individual, within small groups and larger groups of staff members Effectively communicate through the range of written communication routes relevant to their role Successfully set up and manage online meetings and presentations before achieving the desired outcome of the communication
7
Genetics for Laboratory Animal Research
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Describe the structure of a gene in the context of DNA molecules, chromosomes and the cell structureDefine gene, DNA, chromosome
- Describe the key organelles and their function in relation to protein synthesis
- Recognise the different components of a gene and what their functions are in gene regulation
- Discuss the processes involved in protein synthesis and DNA replication Define amino acid, codons, protein
- Discuss the stages of protein synthesis and DNA replication
- Describe the importance of cell divisionDescribes different types of cell division
- Devise breeding programmes for maintaining and delivering inbred and outbred mo
- Describe the use of different breeding programmes
- Explain the differences and similarities between the uses of genetically altered rodents, fish and poultryStates examples of how different genetically altered species have contributed to scientific research
8
Laboratory skills
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Demonstrate the skills required to use laboratory equipment (e.g. light microscope, centrifuge use/safety or using a PCR machine) effectively for routine animal husbandry or scientific purposes
- Recognise occasions when equipment would be needed for routine purposes
- Identify the main features of a light microscope, and their functions. Set up run equipment appropriately and safely
- Identify and discuss any results
- Calibrate & use common laboratory equipment
- Identify common laboratory equipment & describe their purpose and useCalibrate/standardise common laboratory equipment Safely operate
- record and report results with appropriate degrees of accuracy
- Identify common set-up problems with the equipment and be able to correct errors.
- Recognise common errors during operation of equipment and respond appropriately. Correctly clean/ decontaminate and store equipment, as appropriate
- Demonstrate correct preparation of different types of formulations
- Describe the difference between solutions and suspensions and when each can be used.
- Identify appropriate vehicles for making formulations.
- Produce dilutions of appropriate concentrations. Accurately weigh and measure compounds and vehicles.
- Identify possible problems with formulations.
- Be able to collect data with appropriate levels of accuracy
- Be able to describe the types of measurement scales for data and recognise when they are being used appropriately/ inappropriately
- Be able to describe commonly used S.I. units Appropriately use the S.I. system in examples to demonstrate understanding
- Be able to identify common reporting errors
- Be able to describe differences between accuracy and precision
- Understand the importance of correctly and accurately reporting results
9
Necropsy skills
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Have a knowledge of the anatomical structure of the species in their care and be able to describe the purposes for and procedure of necropsy
- Identify key anatomical features and describe their structure and function
- Identify the purposes necropsy may be used for and how the purpose might alter the procedure
- Describe the process of dissection, observation, interpretation, and documentation
- Apply their knowledge of comparative anatomy to perform a necropsy and be able to identify how various tissues can be processed
- Prepare appropriate equipment to perform a necropsy
- Prepare a carcass and demonstrate a necropsy on a species appropriate to their work, including removal, weighing and trimming of major organs for further processing
- Complete a necropsy sheet to record relevant findings, including organ size and description and note of any abnormalities seen
- Be able to discuss and perform methods of tissue preservation and link them to the diagnostic or scientific use of the tissue and be able to describe the issues
- Describe common signs of ill health
- Describe normal tissues
- Discuss how tissues typically react to disease processes
10
Physiology of pain and distress in laboratory animals
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Have a understanding of the physiological basis of nociception, pain, stress and distress.
- Describe the organization and features of the nervous and endocrine system relevant to pain and stress perception
- Describe differences between species
- Be aware of pharmacological methods used to control pain perception and support tissue recoveryName common pharmacological agents used to control pain and describe how they are used
- Discuss how different species might react differently to the same pharmacological agent
- Describe the effect of pain on animal welfare and scientific results
- Identify potential sources of pain, suffering, distress and lasting harm
- Describe the potential effects of pain on animal welfare and scientific results
11
Training and developing staff in the workplace
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- 1 Evaluate the need to train and develop people in the workplace1.1 Explain the importance and benefits for identifying and training staff in the workplace 1.2 Identify training needs within the workplace using appropriate techniques such as gap analysis.1.3 Recognise the need to adapt training to meet the needs and learning styles of individual trainees and to modify delivery as appropriate to new technology and innovations.1.4 Link training to in-ho
- use Personal Development Reviews (PDR)
- Devise appropriate and productive training sessions and programmes2.1 Describe suitable learning aims and objectives2.2 Identify key topics to be addressed during the training session2.3 Link learning aims and objectives to the development of their colleagues2.4 Design suitable training activities and material, including a practical/interactive/theory component2.5 Apply the effective use of different assessment strategies2.6 Apply SOPs or DOPs in a safe and effective manner.
- Apply the principles of training in the workplace to develop knowledge, skills or behaviours required by their organisation3.1 Describe effective and ineffective learning environments.3.2 Describe potential barriers to learning, considering different learning styles and suggest actions to minimise these.3.3 Develop a detailed training plan with clear learning objectives and learning outcomes3.4 The use of management tools to identify training gaps in the workplace3.5 Manage and deliver the training event.3.6 Evaluate the success of the training course
Regulatory & Verification Details
- Qualification Number (QN)
- 610/2717/0
- Regulated Status
- Available to learners
- Awarding Body
- IAT
- Qualification Type
- Vocationally-Related Qualification
- Operational Start
- Sept 2023
- Operational End
- Sept 2028