As part of the approval process, all personnel listed on the protocol must have completed a certification course on the basic principles underlying the humane care and use of laboratory animals.
Most agencies allow a grace period for obtaining approval.
PHS allows a grace period of 60 days from the time of submission for new or renewal proposals. No grace period is allowed for non-competing continuations. An approved protocol can be used for more than one proposal if the aims and methodology are the same. Failure to have current approval may lead to a project account number being suspended or not issued until approval is obtained. All animals are ordered by the Institute of Comparative Medicine and must be housed in facilities that are approved by or are part of the Institute.