Named Animal Care & Welfare Officers
Promoting a professional understanding and responsible attitute towards the care and welfare of laboratory animals through training, qualification and experience.
A very high percentage of Named Animal Care and Welfare Officers (NACWO) are members of the IAT. The Institutes' Register or Animal Technologists is, in most instances, referred to when identifying individuals of suitable quality and status to fulfil posts of responsibility in laboratory animal facilities.
About NACWO's
It is our belief that persons named as NACWO within the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, should be appointed from the list of Registered Animal Technologists.
By adopting such a policy establishments using or breeding animals for biomedical research would demonstrate to all that they take matters of animal welfare seriously and that the interests of the animals are properly served.
The Home Office - Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) will continue to assure the IAT as an accrediting body and the proposed syllabus aligns to the Module Learning Outcomes stated in Annex A of the published:
NACWO Courses
From 1 December 2026, the Institute of Animal Technology no longer accredits non-regulated Introductory NACWO courses. The former accreditation scheme ends on 30th November 2026.
From 1st December 2026 NACWO training is available through the Ofqual-regulated unit Introduction to the Role of the Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO), Ofqual unit reference K/652/2060.
This is a Level 3, five-credit unit within the IAT Level 3 Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science and Technology, qualification number 610/7580/2.
The unit may only be delivered by an IAT-approved Centre approved to deliver the unit within its agreed scope.
For further information, please contact admin@iateducation.co.uk
Resources
Guidance for applications on ASPeL