AALAS Laboratory Animal Technician
(LAT) Certification Exam: 100 Practice
Questions and Answer Explanations
Part One: AALAS Certification and
Regulatory Framework (1–20)
1. What are the three progressive levels of AALAS technician certification?
A. CMT, CMA, CMAR
B. LVT, CVT, RVT
C. ALAT, LAT, LATG
D. ACLAM, LAMA, DACLAM
Answer: C
Explanation: The AALAS certification program offers three progressive levels: Assistant
Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT, entry-level), Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT,
intermediate), and Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG, advanced) .
2. Which organization was established in 1950 and later became AALAS?
A. American College for Laboratory Animals
B. Animal Care Panel
C. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
D. American Veterinary Medical Association
Answer: B
Explanation: The Animal Care Panel was formed in 1950 and later renamed the American
Association for Laboratory Animal Science .
3. Which federal agency enforces the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)?
A. NIH
B. FDA
C. USDA
D. EPA
Answer: C
Explanation: The AWA is enforced by the USDA through its Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), which conducts inspections of regulated facilities .
4. Which animals are currently excluded from the AWA definition of "animal"?
A. Guinea pigs
B. Non-human primates
,C. Purpose-bred rats of genus Rattus and mice of genus Mus
D. Rabbits
Answer: C
Explanation: The AWA statutory definition excludes purpose-bred rats (Rattus) and mice
(Mus), as well as birds and cold-blooded species .
5. Which policy covers purpose-bred rats and mice that the AWA excludes?
A. The Animal Welfare Act
B. The PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
C. The FDA Good Laboratory Practice regulations
D. The EPA FIFRA regulations
Answer: B
Explanation: The PHS Policy, administered by OLAW within NIH, covers all live vertebrate
animals, including the rats, mice, and birds that the AWA excludes .
6. What is the minimum number of IACUC members required under the AWA regulations?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 2
Answer: A
Explanation: USDA AWA regulations require a minimum of 3 IACUC members, while PHS
Policy requires at least 5 .
7. What is the minimum number of IACUC members required under PHS Policy?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 10
Answer: B
Explanation: PHS Policy mandates at least 5 members: a Chairperson, a Veterinarian, a
practicing scientist, a non-scientist, and a non-affiliated member .
8. How often must the IACUC inspect animal facilities under both AWA and PHS
requirements?
A. Annually
B. Every 6 months
C. Every 3 years
D. Monthly
Answer: B
Explanation: Both the AWA regulations and PHS Policy require the IACUC to inspect facilities
at least once every six months .
, 9. What are the 3Rs articulated by Russell and Burch in 1959?
A. Regulation, Reduction, Reuse
B. Replacement, Reduction, Refinement
C. Review, Report, Revise
D. Restraint, Rest, Recovery
Answer: B
Explanation: The 3Rs are Replacement (using non-animal alternatives), Reduction
(minimizing animal numbers), and Refinement (minimizing pain/distress) .
10. A protocol replaces an in vivo rabbit pyrogen test with an in vitro LAL assay. Which R
does this represent?
A. Refinement
B. Reduction
C. Replacement
D. Reconstitution
Answer: C
Explanation: Replacement substitutes a sentient vertebrate model with a non-sentient or in
vitro alternative .
11. What does the "non-affiliated member" of an IACUC represent?
A. The research institution's financial interests
B. Community interests in proper animal care and welfare
C. The attending veterinarian's authority
D. The principal investigator's protocol
Answer: B
Explanation: The non-affiliated member represents community interests and must not be
associated with the institution .
12. Which document is the husbandry and care standard required by PHS Policy?
A. The AWA regulations
B. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
C. The FDA Redbook
D. The EPA FIFRA guidelines
Answer: B
Explanation: The PHS Policy requires institutions to follow the Guide for the Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals (8th edition, 2011) .
13. What is AAALAC International's role?
A. A federal regulatory enforcement agency
B. A voluntary accreditation body
C. A certifying body for technicians
D. A funding agency for research
Answer: B
(LAT) Certification Exam: 100 Practice
Questions and Answer Explanations
Part One: AALAS Certification and
Regulatory Framework (1–20)
1. What are the three progressive levels of AALAS technician certification?
A. CMT, CMA, CMAR
B. LVT, CVT, RVT
C. ALAT, LAT, LATG
D. ACLAM, LAMA, DACLAM
Answer: C
Explanation: The AALAS certification program offers three progressive levels: Assistant
Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT, entry-level), Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT,
intermediate), and Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG, advanced) .
2. Which organization was established in 1950 and later became AALAS?
A. American College for Laboratory Animals
B. Animal Care Panel
C. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research
D. American Veterinary Medical Association
Answer: B
Explanation: The Animal Care Panel was formed in 1950 and later renamed the American
Association for Laboratory Animal Science .
3. Which federal agency enforces the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)?
A. NIH
B. FDA
C. USDA
D. EPA
Answer: C
Explanation: The AWA is enforced by the USDA through its Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), which conducts inspections of regulated facilities .
4. Which animals are currently excluded from the AWA definition of "animal"?
A. Guinea pigs
B. Non-human primates
,C. Purpose-bred rats of genus Rattus and mice of genus Mus
D. Rabbits
Answer: C
Explanation: The AWA statutory definition excludes purpose-bred rats (Rattus) and mice
(Mus), as well as birds and cold-blooded species .
5. Which policy covers purpose-bred rats and mice that the AWA excludes?
A. The Animal Welfare Act
B. The PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
C. The FDA Good Laboratory Practice regulations
D. The EPA FIFRA regulations
Answer: B
Explanation: The PHS Policy, administered by OLAW within NIH, covers all live vertebrate
animals, including the rats, mice, and birds that the AWA excludes .
6. What is the minimum number of IACUC members required under the AWA regulations?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 2
Answer: A
Explanation: USDA AWA regulations require a minimum of 3 IACUC members, while PHS
Policy requires at least 5 .
7. What is the minimum number of IACUC members required under PHS Policy?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 10
Answer: B
Explanation: PHS Policy mandates at least 5 members: a Chairperson, a Veterinarian, a
practicing scientist, a non-scientist, and a non-affiliated member .
8. How often must the IACUC inspect animal facilities under both AWA and PHS
requirements?
A. Annually
B. Every 6 months
C. Every 3 years
D. Monthly
Answer: B
Explanation: Both the AWA regulations and PHS Policy require the IACUC to inspect facilities
at least once every six months .
, 9. What are the 3Rs articulated by Russell and Burch in 1959?
A. Regulation, Reduction, Reuse
B. Replacement, Reduction, Refinement
C. Review, Report, Revise
D. Restraint, Rest, Recovery
Answer: B
Explanation: The 3Rs are Replacement (using non-animal alternatives), Reduction
(minimizing animal numbers), and Refinement (minimizing pain/distress) .
10. A protocol replaces an in vivo rabbit pyrogen test with an in vitro LAL assay. Which R
does this represent?
A. Refinement
B. Reduction
C. Replacement
D. Reconstitution
Answer: C
Explanation: Replacement substitutes a sentient vertebrate model with a non-sentient or in
vitro alternative .
11. What does the "non-affiliated member" of an IACUC represent?
A. The research institution's financial interests
B. Community interests in proper animal care and welfare
C. The attending veterinarian's authority
D. The principal investigator's protocol
Answer: B
Explanation: The non-affiliated member represents community interests and must not be
associated with the institution .
12. Which document is the husbandry and care standard required by PHS Policy?
A. The AWA regulations
B. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
C. The FDA Redbook
D. The EPA FIFRA guidelines
Answer: B
Explanation: The PHS Policy requires institutions to follow the Guide for the Care and Use of
Laboratory Animals (8th edition, 2011) .
13. What is AAALAC International's role?
A. A federal regulatory enforcement agency
B. A voluntary accreditation body
C. A certifying body for technicians
D. A funding agency for research
Answer: B
