EDUCATION
The education committee is involved in brainstorming ideas for SNEAALAS meetings. If you have some ideas as to what meeting topics you would like to see, than join the education committee. Contact the Education Committee chairperson.
KNOWLEDGE FORUM
Your guide to seminars, meetings, and continuing education.
BECOMING REGISTERED
The AALAS Technician Certification program is a highly regarded and respected program. By participating in the Technician Certification Registry, you will show that you have not only mastered the skills of your specific certification level, but have also maintained a credible, current level of knowledge in the laboratory animal science field. Since the filed is changing rapidly, with new knowledge, techniques, and concepts being introduced daily, it is essential that you, as an animal caregiver, remain on the cutting edge of your profession.
The “R” (registered) in front of the certification acronym will be your entitlement of Registry participation. It will be a visible distinction on name tags, resumes, and business cards indicating your dedication to your professional development and to the well being of the animals in your care.
AALAS Certification: If you are an AALAS National member and obtain AALAS certification at any level, you will automatically become “registered” for a two-year period. You will receive both Registry and Certification certificates from the AALAS office shortly after your exam date.
Once you are entered into the Registry, you must acquire the required number of CEUs for your certification level by the expiration date of your Registry Period. This expiration date can be found on your Registry Certificate.
If you do not fulfill all requirements for renewing your Registry status, the “R” portion of the “Registered” certification acronym will be forfeited. (Example: if you lost your status as an RLAT, your certification would then revert to an LAT.) Also, your name would be removed from the Registry list that is published in the AALAS Reference Directory and in Contemporary Topics.
NOTE: Technicians who choose not to participate in the new Registry will still remain AALAS certified technicians (ALAT, LAT, and LATG). They, however, will not be allowed to use the “R” in front of their certification acronym.
To become Registered:
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Make sure that you are a current AALAS National member for the two years of your Registry period. You must pay your annual membership dues (at any membership level).
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Pay your two-year Registry dues ($20).
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Submit your CEUs for the last two-year Registry period using the AALAS Certification Registry CEU submission form.
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Send your completed form to the National AALAS Office by your Registry expiration date. Note – You may earn CEUs by participating in a variety of educational activities; list of pre-approved CE activities is available at http://www.aalas.org
New Mouse Course on the AALAS Learning Library
AALAS has released a new online course aimed at researchers and technicians, "Working with the Laboratory Mouse" on the AALAS Learning Library. Supported by a federal grant, this large course (3.5 CEU) is available for free. It offers streaming video on 20 basic procedures. Other topics in this course are regulartory requirements, occupational health & safety, determining gender and age (pups), housing & routine car, anesthetics & analgesics, anesthesia- induction and monitoring, intraoperative care & monitoring, post-operative care & monitoring, minimizing pain & distress, monoclonal antibody production, humane endpoints, and euthanasia.
To access this course, go to www.aalaslearninglibrary.org click on LIBRARIES. Click on ANIMAL CARE AND USE LIBRARY. Click on MOUSE BIOMETHODOLOGY. Click on COURSE for "Working with the Laboratory Mouse"
For other interesting websites, check out the links on the Publications page.
New AALAS Member Passwords
You'll need to request a new password to use the members' only section of this web site. AALAS is in the process of building a new web site that will integrate with its new membership database. Soon you'll be able to customize your own password as well as take advantage of a host of new web capabilities. In the interim, we have to assign updated password information until the systems are fully integrated. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience. Please go to www.aalas.org to find the link to request a new password.
AALAS recommends that you have the latest version of these to review the program information and to submit the most current application form, since these documents are updated throughout the year as the program changes or as clarifications are needed.
Summary of 2005 Changes:
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible work experience
includes quality assurance related to animal research or testing, and IACUC
functions related to laboratory animal science.
LATG
REFERENCE LIST
The Clinical Textbook
for Veterinary Technicians and the Merck Veterinary Manual were
removed from the LATG reference list, effective August 1.
EXAM
APPOINTMENT CONFIRMATION
Instructions were added to
the Handbook (and the Authorization to Test letter) for obtaining a
confirmation statement for an exam appointment at a testing center.
APPLICATION FORM
The AALAS Core Values
Statement and the Code of Ethics were added to the assurance statement
signed by the candidate in the application form.