Education in laboratory animal science
Education in laboratory animal science is compulsory for those who work and conduct research with laboratory animals at Karolinska Institutet.

Comparative Medicine offers courses in laboratory animal science to students, doctoral students, researchers, and animal technicians at Karolinska Institutet and from other scientific institutions.
Our vision is to provide the best possible training in laboratory animal science. We are continuously looking to develop our existing course portfolio in addition to creating new courses in the area of laboratory animal science.
Educational requirements
Everyone must be adequately educated, trained and competent before working with animals at Karolinska Institutet. The requisite competence must be obtained, maintained and demonstrated (upon request). Educational requirements for animal experimentation.

Calendar Continuing professional development (CPD)
Continuous courses provided throughout the year - "Function A" and "Swedish law and ethics"
Function A
COURSE 3160: Function A - to carry out minor procedures on laboratory animals (3 cr.)
This is a compulsory course in laboratory animal science for all persons who will work on animals in research. It covers EU modules 1-7 where Swedish law and ethics is included (web-based theory) as well as EU modules 3.2, 6.2 and 8 (practical skills for minor procedures) on rodents, rabbits, pigs/minipigs, non-human primates, aquatic amphibians and fish (for zebrafish see separate Function A course). For a competence assessment of your current level of education and training contact ntco@km.ki.se
Register here (select your species in the application form)
Course fee
Free for doctoral students and postdocs registered at Karolinska Institutet. For the rest of KI participants is 5900 SEK (including INDI), and for externals is 9900 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
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Function A - Zebrafish
COURSE 5530: Function A Zebrafish – to carry out minor procedures on zebrafish (1 cr.)
This is a compulsory course in laboratory animal science for all persons who will work on zebrafish in research. It covers EU modules 3-7 (web-based theory) as well as EU modules 3.2, 6.2 and 8 (practical skills for minor procedures). Swedish law and ethics (EU modules 1-2) is NOT included in this course. For a competence assessment of your current level of education and training contact ntco@km.ki.se
Register here
Remember to also register for the Swedish law and ethics if you have not passed this course before.
Course fee
Free for doctoral students and postdocs registered at Karolinska Institutet. Other KI affiliated participants pay 2900 SEK (including INDI), and external participants pay 5700 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
Note: All prices are excluding the Swedish law and ethics modules.
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Swedish law and ethics
COURSE 3237: Swedish law and ethics on the protection of laboratory animals (0.5 cr.)
This is a compulsory course for all persons who will work on animals in research or is active in any way in projects involving research animals. For a competence assessment of your current level of education and training contact ntco@km.ki.se
Course fee - Theory only
The course is free of charge for KI PhD-students and KI postdocs. Other KI participants pay a fee of 2000 SEK (including INDI). External participants pay a fee of 4000 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
Register here
Course fee - Theory and assessment of practical skills
KI PhD-students and KI postdocs pay a fee of 2000 SEK (including INDI), and other KI participants pay a fee of 4000 SEK (including INDI). External participants pay a fee of 8000 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
Register here
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Refine your procedure skills
COURSE 5515/COURSE 5516: Refinement of minor procedures on mice/rats (0.5 cr.)
Register for your desired date and species at the course webpage.
This practical course is aimed at persons holding a Function A qualification, or at
those who have completed the theoretical contents of the Function A course in rodents, who:
- have had some previous training in carrying out minor procedures on mice, but need an update or an upgrade in their skills (refinement) or in specific techniques; or
- will be resuming practical work on laboratory mice after a prolonged break; or
- are seeking added training in selected minor techniqu es such as e.g. intravenous injections or oral gavage
Course fee
The course is free of charge for KI PhD-students, KI postdocs and KM staff. Others affiliated to KI participants pay a fee of 2900 SEK (including INDI). External participants pay a fee of 5700 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
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Courses Spring 2023
January
Laboratory Animal Science in Theory and Practice (4.5 cr)
COURSE 4BI103: Laboratory Animal Science in Theory and Practice
COURSE 4TX015: Laboratory Animal Science in Theory and Practice
For students enrolled in the Master's programme in Biomedicine and the Master's programme in Toxicology.
Date: January 16-February 16, 2023.
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March
Anaesthesia, analgesia and surgery (mice and rats)
COURSE 2996: Anaesthesia, analgesia and surgery (mice and rats) (1.5 cr.)
This is a compulsory course for all persons who will work on animals in research involving anaesthesia and surgery. For a competence assessment of your current level of education and training contact ntco@km.ki.se
Instructors: Emeritus Professor Paul A Flecknell, MA, VetMB, PhD, DECLAM, DLAS, DECVA, (Hon) DACLAM, FRSB, (Hon) FIAT, (Hon) FRCVS Newcastle University, U.K; and Assoc. Prof. Rafael Frias, DVM, MSc, PhD, Unit for Education and Training in Laboratory Animal Science, Comparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.
Date: March 7-9 and 15-16, 2023
LAS CPD credits: 1,5 credits
Register here
Course fee
Free for doctoral students and postdocs registered at Karolinska Institutet. For the rest of KI participants is 7200 SEK (including INDI), and for externals is 9500 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
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COURSE 3221: Assessment and alleviation of pain and distress in laboratory animals”. (1 cr.)
This is a course for all persons who wish to develop their competence on animal welfare in research.
Instructors: Emeritus Professor Paul A Flecknell, MA, VetMB, PhD, DECLAM, DLAS, DECVA, (Hon) DACLAM, FRSB, (Hon) FIAT, (Hon) FRCVS Newcastle University, U.K; and Matthew Leach, Ph.D., Lecturer, Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, U.K.
Date: March 28-30, 2023
LAS CPD credits: 1 credit.
Register here
Course fee
Free for doctoral students and postdocs registered at Karolinska Institutet. For the rest of KI participants is 3 900 SEK (including INDI), and for externals is 5 900 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
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April-June
Function B
COURSE 3214: Function B – to design procedures and projects involving research animals (3 cr.)
This is a compulsory course for all persons who will design procedures and projects involving research animals. For a competence assessment of your current level of education and training contact ntco@km.ki.se
Instructors: various international experts and local speakers.
Date: April 18-June 1, 2023 (8 days: 18/4, 20/4, 9/5, 11/5, 23/5, 25/5, 30/5, 1/6).
LAS CPD credits: 3 credits
Register here
Course fee
Free for doctoral students and postdocs registered at Karolinska Institutet. For the rest of KI participants is 7820 SEK (including INDI), and for externals is 9900 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
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Courses Autumn 2023
October-November
Anaesthesia, analgesia and surgery (mice and rats)
COURSE 2996: Anaesthesia, analgesia and surgery (mice and rats) (1.5 cr.)
This is a compulsory course for all persons who will work on animals in research involving anaesthesia and surgery. For a competence assessment of your current level of education and training contact ntco@km.ki.se
Instructors: Emeritus Professor Paul A Flecknell, MA, VetMB, PhD, DECLAM, DLAS, DECVA, (Hon) DACLAM, FRSB, (Hon) FIAT, (Hon) FRCVS Newcastle University, U.K; and Assoc. Prof. Rafael Frias, DVM, MSc, PhD, Unit for Education and Training in Laboratory Animal Science, Comparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.
Date: Oct 24-26, and Nov 1-2, 2023
LAS CPD credits: 1,5 credits
Register here
Course fee
Free for doctoral students and postdocs registered at Karolinska Institutet. For the rest of KI participants is 7200 SEK (including INDI), and for externals is 9500 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
November-December
Function B
COURSE 3214: Function B – to design procedures and projects involving research animals (3 cr.)
This is a compulsory course for all persons who will design procedures and projects involving research animals. For a competence assessment of your current level of education and training contact ntco@km.ki.se
Instructors: various international experts and local speakers.
Date: Nov 7-Dec 12, 2023 (8 days: 7/11, 9/11, 16/11, 23/11, 30/11, 7/12, 12/12, 14/12).
LAS CPD credits: 3 credits
Register here
Course fee
Free for doctoral students and postdocs registered at Karolinska Institutet. For the rest of KI participants is 7820 SEK (including INDI), and for externals is 9900 SEK (excluding VAT). Company employees please contact las-edu@km.ki.se
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Contact us
The Education & Training Unit at Comparative Medicine
E-mail: las-edu@km.ki.se