These specialists add depth to the site visit team, and understand the intricacies of combining research, testing and educational missions with animal well-being. They then receive an application to complete and return. Once a year, a committee of the Board and Council reviews all applications and recommends nominees based on established selection guidelines. Consultants must have a minimum of four years training or experience in the care or use of laboratory animals. Their experience must show that they have acquired knowledge of performance standards and regulations regarding laboratory animal care and use, and have demonstrated an interest in, and commitment to, laboratory animal science.
Consultants serve a three-year term.
These programs include academic institutions, commercial organizations, government agencies, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The standards used to evaluate programs are universal, and can be implemented in programs of any size. Likewise, programs using nontraditional research animals, such as fish or birds, are also encouraged to seek accreditation. Programs that use agricultural animals in biomedical, behavioral or agricultural research, for educational purposes or for testing, are eligible for accreditation. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals is used to provide general parameters for the use of agricultural animals in biomedical research.