Safety office training
The University of Waterloo’s Safety Office has training available for all individuals involved in research.
It is the responsibility of each department and supervisor to ensure that employees, students and volunteers receive training that is appropriate to the hazards present in their area of work/study. Please consult the Safety Office training website for more information.
Field research training/tissue
For field research, an introductory ethics training course is required before being added to an Animal Utilization Protocol (AUP). This course is delivered online through Desire2Learn (D2L) and covers essential knowledge for working with animals in a research setting.
How to register
Registration is managed through GoSignMeUp, our user-friendly training platform. Before enrolling, please review our quick start guide for creating your account (a one-time setup).
Important: Be sure to include your supervisor’s name in your profile. Missing information may delay your enrollment.
After registration
- Once you register through GoSignMeUp, please allow up to two business days for access to the course in D2L.
- After completing the course, email the Office of Research Ethics at oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca, so your training record can be updated.
| Training and description | Pre-requisite | Date(s) offered |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic field and tissue course (theory) (AR0009) Mandatory online training course for persons doing field research. Animal users using Waterloo facilities must sign up for AR0001. Recommended online training course for persons using animal tissue. |
None | Ongoing |
WATER facility training
If you plan to work with animals at the WATER Facility, you’ll need to complete specific training courses. These are available to all animal users—students, staff and faculty—through our easy-to-use registration platform, GoSignMeUp.
Through this system, you can self enrol in a variety of courses, including:
- Online theory modules via Desire2Learn (D2L)
- Scheduled in-person classroom sessions
Before registering, please review the quick-start guide for creating your GoSignMeUp account (a one time setup) and enrolling in courses.
Important: Be sure to include your supervisor’s name in your profile. Missing information may delay your enrolment.
Course access and completion
- Please check for any prerequisites before enrolling.
- After registering in GoSignMeUp, allow up to two business days for access to D2L.
- Once you complete a course, email the Office of Research Ethics at oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca, so your training record can be updated.
Special Request Courses
Some courses listed in the table below are available by request only. If you are interested in one of these, please email oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca to inquire about availability and registration.
| Training and description | Pre-requisite | Date(s) offered |
|---|---|---|
|
Introductory animal research course (theory) (AR0001) Mandatory online training course for all animal research. |
None | Ongoing |
|
Waterloo Aquatic Threats and Environmental Research (WATER) facility orientation (theory) (AR0029) Gives future facility users an understanding of the operation of the facility and its rules and regulations. |
AR0001 | Ongoing |
|
WATER facility tour (AR0011) Involves a tour and provides an overview of the rooms and facilities available to researchers. |
AR0001 AR0029 |
June 18, July 16, September 17 and October 15, 2025 All tours begin at 1 p.m. |
|
Aquatic species (clinical skills) course (AR0017) This classroom training is mandatory for individuals who need to learn fish blood collection techniques. |
AR0001 AR0029 AR0011 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
|
WATER Pathogen facility orientation (AR0030) Mandatory tour for all people who wish to use the WATER Pathogen facility. Involves a tour and provides an overview of the rooms and facilities available to researchers, as well as the procedures for safe and responsible work within the facility. |
AR0011 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
Central animal facility training
If you plan to work with animals at the CAF, you’ll need to complete specific training courses. These are available to all animal users—students, staff and faculty—through our easy-to-use registration platform, GoSignMeUp.
Through this system, you can enrol in a variety of courses, including:
- Online theory modules via D2L.
- Scheduled in-person classroom sessions.
Before registering, please review the quick-start guide for creating your GoSignMeUp account (a one-time setup) and enrolling in courses.
Important: Be sure to include your supervisor’s name in your profile. Missing information may delay your enrolment.
Course access and completion
- Please check for any prerequisites before enrolling.
- After registering at GoSignMeUp, allow up to two business days for access to D2L.
- Once you complete a course, email the Office of Research Ethics at oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca so your training record can be updated.
Special request courses
Some courses listed in the table below are available by request only. If you are interested in one of these, please email oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca to inquire about availability and registration.
Please note that facility orientation/tours will also be required to obtain access to the facilities.
| Training and description | Pre-requisite | Date(s) offered |
|---|---|---|
|
Introductory animal research (theory) (AR0001) Mandatory online training course for all animal research. |
None | Ongoing |
|
Basic animal handling (theory) (AR0002) Familiarization with handling and restraint techniques in common species. |
AR0001 | Ongoing |
|
Basic animal handling: mice (clinical skills) (AR0003A) |
AR0001 AR0002 |
July 9, September 10, and October 8, 2025 Classes begin at 10:30 a.m. |
|
Basic animal handling: rat (clinical skills) (AR0003B) Mandatory classroom training for all persons named on an application who will be handling animals (not necessary for field research). Hands-on familiarization with animal handling and restraint techniques in rats. |
AR0001 AR0002 |
July 10, September 11 and October 9, 2025 Classes begin at 10 a.m. |
|
Advanced animal research (theory) (AR0014) This online course is mandatory for all persons planning to conduct procedures with an invasive category greater than an invasive category of a B level. Note: Not required for field research. |
AR0001 | Ongoing |
|
Humane intervention points (theory) (AR0015) This course teaches approaches to setting effective endpoints. Please note that this course is offered twice a year and is strongly recommended for all students. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0014 |
October 7, 2025 at 10: 30 a.m. |
|
Inhalation anesthesia (theory) (AR0020) Mandatory online training for individuals who will be using an anesthetic machine as part of their approved protocol. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0003A/B AR0014 |
Ongoing |
|
Inhalation anesthesia (clinical) (AR0021) Mandatory hands-on training for individuals using an anesthetic machine. The class covers safety, use and all procedures related to using inhalation anesthesia on laboratory animals. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0003A/B AR0014 AR0020 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Survival surgery (theory) (AR0018) Mandatory online training for individuals who will be performing survival surgery on mice, rats, or rabbits. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0003A/B AR0014 |
Ongoing |
|
Survival surgery (clinical skills) (AR0019) Hands-on lab introducing the procedures for sterile surgery, tissue handling and suturing laboratory animals. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0003A/B AR0014 AR0018 AR0020 AR0021 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Breeding colony and genetically engineered animals (theory) (AR0022) Mandatory online training for individuals who will be working with breeding colonies or genetically engineered animals. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0003A/B AR0014 |
Ongoing |
|
SCID room orientation (AR0025) Mandatory training for individuals who will need to work with immunocompromised animals. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0003A/B AR0004 AR0014 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Rabbit handling (AR0026) Mandatory hands-on for individuals who will need to handle or perform procedures on rabbits. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0004 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Biosafety level 2 room (AR0027) Mandatory room and procedural training for any individuals working under an application where animals are housed in BSL 2 conditions. |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0004 AR0014 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
|
Protocol-specific clinical technical procedures (AR0028) Specific training on techniques unique to an application (e.g., gavage, Subcutaneous (SC) tumour cell injections, SC implants). |
AR0001 AR0002 AR0003A/B AR0004 AR0014 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
Facility orientations and tours
To receive access to the facilities at Waterloo, all individuals—students, staff and faculty—are required to complete an orientation and tour of the specific facility where their research will take place. Depending on your project, multiple orientations and tours may be necessary.
These sessions are essential for ensuring that all animal users are familiar with the facility layout, safety protocols and animal care procedures.
Please note: Some tours may be available by request only. If a tour is not listed in the registration system, please email the Office of Research Ethics at oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca to inquire about availability.
| Training and description | Pre-requisite | Date(s) offered |
|---|---|---|
| Central animal facility orientation (theory) (AR0004) | AR0001 | Ongoing |
| Central animal facility tour (AR0010) |
AR0001 AR0004 |
June 20, July 18, September 19, and October 17, 2025 All tours begin at 10 a.m. |
| BMH facility orientation (theory) (AR0006) | AR0001 | Ongoing |
| BMH facility tour (AR0012) |
AR0001 AR0006 |
Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |
| Pharmacy facility orientation (theory) (AR0008) | AR0001 | Ongoing |
| Pharmacy facility tour (AR0024) | AR0008 | Upon request. Contact oreaupp@uwaterloo.ca |