Overview on education in laboratory animal science - LAS
Our courses are designed to ensure that individuals working with laboratory animals receive the education, training, and competence required by Swedish regulation and local rules.
The course portfolio includes compulsory training, complementary courses, practical skills workshops, and continuing professional development (CPD) activities covering animal welfare, ethics, legislation, experimental procedures, and best practices in laboratory animal science.
Legal requirements
Swedish legislation regulates the care and use of laboratory animals in research and is based on the requirements set out in Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. The regulatory framework includes, among other provisions, the Animal Welfare Act and the Swedish board of agriculture's regulations and general advice on laboratory animals (SJVFS 2025:28 saknr L151), and the Swedish board of agriculture's regulations and general advice on ethical review of animal experimentation (SJVFS 2025:29 saknr L152).
According to Swedish legislation and EU requirements, all persons working with animals for scientific purposes must be appropriately educated, trained, and competent before performing their duties.
Training requirements are divided into the following functions:
- Function A - carrying out minor non-surgical procedures
- Function B - designing projects and experiments
- Function C/D - taking care of and humanely euthanise animals
Everyone involved in animal experimentation must obtain and maintain the competence relevant to their role and responsibilities and be able to demonstrate this competence when required. It is the responsibility of the holder of the ethical permit to ensure competency of his/hers personnel working under the ethical permit.
Accepted qualification from an EU member state, or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and the United Kingdom
If you are coming from another country and hold a mutually recognised qualification in laboratory animal science from an EU member state, or Switzerland, Norway, Island and the United Kingdom, you may be eligible for a competence assessment rather than completing the full course. For further information and assessment of your qualifications, please contact the Named Training and Competency Officer (NTCO).