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AALAS' Certification and Registry Board (CRB) certifies three levels of technician competence:

• Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT)
• Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT)
• Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG)

The technician certification designations of ALAT, LAT, and LATG are well known and widely used throughout the varied fields of laboratory animal care. In fact, these certifications have come to be a common requirement for a lab animal care position.
For complete program information, download the Technician Certification Handbook. The handbook contains everything you need to know about application and testing procedures, qualification criteria, exam fees, and many other topics, and should be retained for use as a reference during the application process.

How to Apply

To apply for an AALAS Technician Certification Exam, you must complete an application form and submit all necessary documentation and fees. Once your application has been approved and processed, you will receive an Authorization to Test letter from the AALAS office. You must take this letter with you to your exam.

Check your eligibility

Study Materials
AALAS offers many resources which may aid you in your exam preparations, including training manuals, exam content outlines, reference lists, and both print and online study aids. The exam content outlines and reference lists can be downloaded from the menu at left. For online study tools, see the AALAS Learning Library. Visit our Bookstore for more information about our print resources.

Technician Certification Registry
By participating in the Technician Certification Registry, you will show that you have not only mastered the skills of your specific certification level but have also maintained a credible, current level of knowledge in the laboratory animal science field. Since the field is changing rapidly, with new knowledge, techniques, and concepts being introduced daily, it is essential that you, as an animal caregiver, remain on the cutting edge of your profession. The “R” (registered) in front of the certification acronym will be your entitlement of Registry participation. It will be a visible distinction on name tags, resumes, and business cards indicating your dedication to your professional development and to the well being of the animals in your care.

If you obtain AALAS certification at any level, you will automatically become “registered” for a two-year period. You will receive both Registry and Certification cards from the AALAS office shortly after your exam date. Once you are entered into the Registry, you must acquire the required number of CEUs for your certification level by the expiration date of your Registry period (ALAT: 10, LAT: 14, and LATG: 24). This expiration date can be found on your Registry card. CEUs can be earned by participating in example CE activities. The Certification & Registry Board (CRB) committee perform yearly audits of registered technicians. If a technician is selected they will be required to provide supporting documentation for all CEUs submitted. Therefore technicians should maintain all CEU supporting documents for at least 3 years.

Participants who are not AALAS members will also be assessed a $40 non-refundable administrative fee for each subsequent two-year period of Registry status; participation is free to AALAS members. Documentation of all CEUs must be submitted to the AALAS office using the AALAS Certification Registry CEU Submission Form; the administrative fee must be submitted along with your documentation.

If you do not fulfill all requirements for renewing your Registry status, the “R” portion of the “Registered” certification acronym will be forfeited. (Example: if you lost your status as an RLAT, your certification would then revert to an LAT.) Also, your name would be removed from the Registry list that is published in the AALAS Reference Directory.

More information about the Technician Certification Registry can be found in the Technician Certification Handbook. If you have questions about the technician certification program or the Registry, contact the Professional Development department.

Ordering Replacement Certificates
If you have lost your certificate, you may order a replacement. Replacements certificates cost $20. Send payment along with the following information:

• The name on the certificate
• The address where you would like us to send the certificate
• The level of certification, including date earned (month/day/year) if known.

You may submit your order by mail, phone, or fax. Mail requests (pay by check) to:
AALAS
Attention: Nancy Dorcy
9190 Crestwyn Hills Dr
Memphis, TN 38125-8538

Fax and phone requests are payable by credit card.

• Phone: Call Nancy Dorcy at 901-754-8620.
• Fax: Submit the information above along with your credit card number and expiration date to 901-334-5156, Attn: Nancy Dorcy