3Rs Certificate Course

This fully virtual, self-paced training is designed to elevate understanding and application of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—across your organization. 

What to Expect

Although most animal research professionals have learned about the 3Rs briefly, they may lack a deep understanding of the concepts and how to apply them. This is likely caused by a lack of specific, standardized, and accessible training in the 3Rs (refine, reduce, replace) which causes difficulty in implementation. Therefore, the 3RsC created a 3Rs certificate course to accelerate understanding, recognition, and implementation of the 3Rs.


This fully virtual, self-paced training is designed to elevate understanding and application of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—across your organization. This course is hosted by CITI Program, the trusted standard in research ethics, compliance, and safety training. 


The course consists of 5 one-hour modules on:

  • Introduction & History of the 3Rs
  • Replacement
  • Reduction
  • Refinement
  • Applications & Related Topics.



The course is North American-centric and refers to US & Canadian guidelines. The target learner is anyone working with research animals, including students, scientists, technicians, IACUC members, veterinarians, or anyone interested in the 3Rs. Each module ends with a 10-15 question quiz to test learner knowledge.

  • What if I have a question directly for CITI Program (the host website)?

    You can reach out to sales@citiprogram.org if you have any questions about the course. Depending on the question, their sales team can then connect with others within CITI Program accordingly.

  • Who from my institution should I contact about purchasing the course?

    CITI Program administrators are typically the decision-makers at institutions regarding course additions. Administrators’ roles vary across institutions but they often include Animal Care and Use Program or IACUC administrators, IACUC chairs, administrators in research integrity offices, etc. If you are interested in the course but unsure who to speak to at their institution about getting the course added, you can reach out to sales@citiprogram.org.

  • How does the yearly subscription work? Can my institution cancel at any time?

    The annual subscription can be cancelled at any time.



  • What can I do if I have more questions about the course details or content?

    Stay tuned! We will be hosting a webinar in the summer of 2025 in partnership with CITI Program to preview more details about the content of the course, how the course subscription works, and we will answer any additional questions you may have!