Harmonisation of education, training and CPD for laboratory animal caretakers and technicians - FELASA-EFAT WG

High skills and competences of laboratory animal caretakers and technicians are essential in order to ensure highest possible animal welfare standards and quality of animal experimentation. The structure of education and training of this group of staff, however, varies considerably between European countries. There is thus a need for a harmonised system for education, training and CPD that applies to all European caretakers and technicians to facilitate mobility of these professionals. This could be obtained via recommendations set forth by FELASA-EFAT that could form a platform for the establishment of new or adaptation of existing basic education, training and CPD activities. This would contribute to harmonize schemes of defined career pathway for laboratory animal caretakers and technicians. The task of the working group would be to develop recommendations for basic education, training and CPD of laboratory animal caretakers and technicians. The recommendations should be a guide for those involved in the education and training of caretakers and technicians on how best this education can be carried out.