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Training and Onboarding

Please follow these FOUR STEPS to complete IACUC training for handling and caring for animals prior to being approved on an Animal Study Protocol (ASP).

*Note: Steps 2 and 3 can be performed at the same time.

Step 1: Obtain NetID

You must have a NetID from your school/department and a Northwestern-affiliated email address.

Ask your department or click here to request a NetID. If you have additional questions, please contact the IACUC Office at acuc@northwestern.edu.

Step 2: AALAS Training

All AALAS Training Courses must be completed by each individual listed on an Animal Study Protocol (ASP) prior to being submitted to the IACUC.

*This process can occur at the same time as Step 3*

  1. Visit the AALAS Learning Library. (Using Firefox or Chrome as a web browser.)
  2. Select "Sign in" in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
  3. Choose the option to sign in through your institution, and select “Northwestern University.”  Then enter your NetID and password. After signing in, you will be added to the NU waitlist. 
  4. Complete the AALAS Training Request Form. 
  5. Notify your PI that you have completed the form and inform them they will soon receive an email asking to confirm your selected trainings. Your training courses will not be assigned until your PI verifies their accuracy.
  6. After PI approval, the IACUC Office will assign you the requested coursework within AALAS. You will receive an email notification that the courses have been assigned to you. 
  7. To complete the assigned courses, log into the AALAS Learning Library and click on “Assignments” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. All required courses will be listed, including required species-specific courses. 

To view a reference list of all required training courses for each species, click here.

Note that some species and/or procedures require specific hands-on courses that are completed with the Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) after protocol approval. For more information, please visit the CCM Training page.

Step 3: Occupational Health Services (OHS) Enrollment

All individuals must complete their OHS Enrollment prior to protocol approval.

All personnel must renew their OHS Enrollment every three years. Please re-complete this step if you are renewing your OHS.

*This process can occur at the same time as Step 2*

  1. Complete the OHS Enrollment Authorization Form. Your enrollment will not proceed until this step is complete.
  2. Monitor your email for a link to complete your Health Questionnaire. Your next steps for this process depend on which campus (Chicago or Evanston) you will be primarily working on:
If you do not receive your health questionnaire within 2 business days of submitting your OHS Enrollment Form, please contact the IACUC office at acuc@northwestern.edu

Chicago Campus

Evanston Campus

Complete the Corporate Health Medical Questionnaire

Upon receipt of the enrollment authorization form, you will be sent a direct email with a link from Corporate Health containing the Corporate Health Medical Questionnaire for Accessing Animal Facilities. 

Complete the Endeavor Health OMEGA Medical Questionnaire

Upon receipt of the enrollment authorization form, you will be sent a direct email from "Northwestern Univeristy via Smartsheet" with instructions on how to download and complete the Endeavor Health OMEGA Medical Questionnaire.

Step 4: Ask your PI / PI Proxy to add you to their applicable protocols

All study staff must be listed on an approved protocol before they can begin any animal work.

Contact your PI and ask them to add you to a protocol. Researchers must be added to an approved protocol before requesting CCM facility access or enrolling in the Introduction to Aseptic and Surgical Technique hands-on course.

What should I do after I've been approved on a protocol?

  1. Register for a CCM Facility Orientation, request CCM facility access, and register for additional CCM Training Classes, if necessary. For more information and to see if additional courses are required, visit CCM's training page.
  2. For personnel working with rodents, register for the Rodent Euthanasia with Valve on Rack course.
  3. Initiate a Laboratory Personnel Training Record to document new and on-going training of laboratory specific live animal procedures per the Laboratory Personnel (In-Lab) Training Record SOP.

Additionally...

What if I need additional training on the eIACUC System (e.g. PI Proxy, Lab Editor)?

Please submit a Training & Assistance Request Form to schedule your training session with one of our specialists.

Additional Resources