ANIMALS (SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES) ACT 1986
Personal Licence Application Form (Notes)
Use this form for new applications and/or amendments and/or reviews
Please read the notes below carefully before completing the application form. They explain what information is
needed in each section.
It is an offence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 knowingly or recklessly to provide false or
misleading information in support of this application.
YOU MAY NOT BEGIN A PROCEDURE COMING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ACT UNTIL YOU HAVE
OBTAINED APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY IN A PERSONAL LICENCE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
SUBMISSION OF THIS APPLICATION FORM IS ONLY THE START OF THE PROCESS. YOUR PERSONAL
LICENCE MAY ONLY BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A VALID PROJECT LICENCE.
Before completing the form you must refer to Home Office Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific
Procedures) Act 1986 which explains the provisions of the Act and the purpose of the controls imposed by the
Secretary of State. This guidance is still subject to revision; you should check the Home Office website regularly for
current information.
Only one copy of the application is required.
PART 1 - To be completed by the personal licence applicant
To become a personal licence holder you must:
 be at least 18 years old;
 have satisfactorily completed the appropriate accredited training modules (see Section 8))
To amend your personal licence you must:

have satisfactorily completed the appropriate accredited training modules if adding species or Categories. (see
Section 8)
Section 2
Information in this section is needed so that we can link this application with any previous personal licence records.
Section 3 – contact details
This is to identify the establishment that will be your main place of work and that will pay your personal licence fee
and maintain your personal training and competence file.
If you change your main place of work, you must apply to amend your licence accordingly.
a. Give both the title and administrative address of your primary availability establishment. This will be an
establishment authorised by the Home Office for the conduct of regulated procedures under the Act (a user
establishment). We will use this address to write to you. If this is not your professional address you will need
to make sure that the Home Office Liaison Contact (HOLC) and Named Training and Competency Officer
(NTCO) know your contact details so that they can forward information.
b. If you supply a professional e-mail address you will be added to the distribution list for electronic mailings
that are sent to users by the Home Office from time to time. These disseminate information on current issues
that may be of interest or relevance to licensees. This is an optional section.
c. Your professional telephone number will be used to contact you directly should there be any queries about
your personal licence application.
Working at other designated establishments
Your personal licence will allow you to work at any licensed establishment in the UK but you must have permission
from the Project Licence Holder and the Establishment Licence Holder to do so. You must contact the Named
Training and Competency Officer (NTCO) at any additional establishment before starting work there.
You may also work at places that are not included on an establishment licence (POLEs) but this must only be as part
of an authorised programme of work.
Which projects may I work under?
Category E or F licences may limit you to working under a specific project licence.
For categories A, B, C and D you can work on any project as long as the categories of techniques and species of
animals you are using are authorised by both your personal licence and the project licence (at a place authorised by
that project licence) and the project licence holder and establishment have consented to your work.
Section 4
No one under 18 may hold a licence. Please give day, month and year of birth in that order. We also use this
information to correctly identify you.
Section 6
Unless you are requesting an exemption from standard training requirements, you should enclose copies of the
certificates awarded on successful completion of formal training by one or more of the accredited training bodies
(module certificates). Please do not send us the original certificates. Certificates must be dated within 5 years of the
date of application. This applies if you are applying for a personal licence for the first time or if you are applying to
add species or Categories.
Anyone applying for a licence more than 5 years after revocation of the previous licence or applying to add species
or Categories that have not been authorised within the previous 5 years should expect to be required to undergo the
full formal training programme.
See notes at Section 8 for guidance on formal training requirements.
Exemptions from modular training
Exemption from all accredited modular training requirements will be considered only if you have acceptable
equivalent formal training; typically you have held a personal licence within the previous 5 years giving authority to
use animals of the same species and one or more techniques in the same Categories for which you are applying.
Completion of Module 1 only will be considered if you can provide evidence that you have acquired equivalent
knowledge and competence to that gained from successful modular training by other means, for example:




veterinary surgeons with demonstrable practical experience of the relevant species;
animal technicians highly experienced with the relevant species;
holders of qualifications of an appropriate level and quality in laboratory science from outside the UK;
experienced overseas researchers with acceptable evidence of appropriate training and competence.
In such cases you should be given on-site training in local procedures. You should undertake refresher training as
appropriate to ensure that your knowledge is current.
Some species-specific training may be accepted for additional, closely related species with appropriate supporting
evidence. In these cases you must then provide evidence that you have undertaken local training of equivalent
content and quality to that provided by an accredited training course in the biology, husbandry and handling of the
additional species, and that you can recognise the signs of wellbeing and pain, distress or suffering. This evidence
must be provided in writing, indicating the standing of the trainer and assessor and must be endorsed by the NTCO.
An acceptable trainer is likely to teach the subjects / species on formal accredited courses. You may wish to
approach your training provider / Accrediting Body to request formal certification to include the additional species if
appropriate.
For example:


If you have formal theoretical and practical skills training with both rats and mice then you may also apply to
use hamsters or gerbils;
If you have evidence of training with sheep you may also apply to use goats.
If you are applying for an exemption from formal training, in every case you should provide a clear justification in
Section 6b supported by additional evidence in Section 6c or by letter as appropriate. We cannot consider an
exemption request without such information.
Section 7 – Other relevant experience and training
Where you are applying to work under a training and education licence - Category E, for example if you are applying
for a licence to attend a microsurgery training course, you should use this section to explain briefly:
 your current position within your profession
 why it is necessary for you to undertake the training course
 how the skills you acquire will be used to maintain or improve vocational skills.
You should also use this section to provide supplementary information if you are applying for Category D, as
described in detail under Section 8.
Section 8 – Procedures for which authority is sought
a. Procedure
Qualification for the categories of procedures will normally be by virtue of training. The existing UK Modular Training
framework will be used until such time as Accrediting Bodies have revised modular training in line with EU
considerations.
The table below lays out the standard training requirements for new applicants for different categories of licence.
Category
Comments
A
Applicants for these two categories should
submit copies of certificates for:
Minor/minimally invasive procedures not
requiring sedation, analgesia or general
anaesthesia

module 1; and
B
Minor/minimally invasive procedures
involving sedation, analgesia or brief
general anaesthesia
Plus –
Surgical procedures conducted under brief
non-recovery general anaesthesia
Surgical procedures involving general
anaesthesia
C
Plus – administration and maintenance of
balanced or prolonged general anaesthesia

species-specific modules 2 and 3 as
appropriate.
It is expected that applicants will apply for
both Categories A and B
If you apply for Category C, you will also
request categories A and B. You should
submit a copy of a module 4 certificate in
addition. Module 4 is not species-specific.
D
Use of neuromuscular blocking agents
Applicants must provide evidence of training,
qualifications and experience as explained in
detail below and in Home Office Guidelines on
the use of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
(NMBAs).
E
Procedures conducted in accordance with
Project Licence (insert number)
Requirements are dependent upon training
incorporated as part of the course. Consult
your course provider for advice.
F
Other (a free text field)
You must always consult your local Inspector
for advice before requesting Category F.
Illustrative examples of the techniques that are encompassed by Categories A-D are at Annex 1. If you are unsure if
a procedure you intend to conduct is authorised by a Category, you should seek advice from your local Home Office
Inspector.

Completion of modules 1-3 will qualify for Categories A + B;

Completion of modules 1-4 will qualify for Categories A + B + C.

Applicants for Category D should have completed modules 1-4 and must supply supplementary information
in Section 7 to explain how they are suitable, through training, qualifications and experience to use
neuromuscular blocking agents (see Home Office guidance on use of NMBAs). Typically this will be
evidence that you are:
o competent to undertake current anaesthetic techniques in the animal species with which you
propose to work; and
o have read and can comply with the guidance on use of neuromuscular blocking agents as set out in
Home Office guidelines; and
o you have witnessed the use of neuromuscular blocking agents and are familiar with the procedures
for achieving and maintaining anaesthesia under such regimes.

Category E is for applicants who intend to attend an education and training course conducted under a single project
licence. You should consult your course provider for details of pre-course formal training requirements and which
species to request. Please see notes under Section 6 for other information that you may need to provide. If you intend
to conduct work under other project licence authorities, you will need to apply for the relevant Categories and species
and supply copies of the necessary formal training certificates.

Category F is for the rare occasions where the regulated procedures you wish to conduct do not fall within
the scope of one of the preceding categories or formal training requirements. You must consult your local
Home Office Inspector for advice before making such an application.
b. Animal(s)
The description of animals for which you seek authority will generally be the same as that on the certificates for
species-specific modules you have undertaken, or very similar.
Below are examples of acceptable descriptions:
Mice
Rats
Guinea pigs
Hamsters
Gerbils
Rabbits
Dogs
Cats
Non-human primates – old world
or macaques
Fish - may be categorised eg
1. Zebra fish
2. Freshwater fish
3. Single species of fish (please
specify)



Ferrets
Horses
Pigs
or minipigs
Mini
Goats, sheep
Cattle
Amphibians
Cephalopods
Reptiles
Non-human primates – new world
or marmosets
Birds (may be categorised eg poultry,
waterfowl, small birds (caged and wild),
large birds
Avian eggs
For animals taken from the wild, describe the species by their common name, e.g. fox, badger
For other species use the common name or grouping, for example deer, camelids, seals
You should list the species or common name for each species of rodent rather than use the common
grouping ‘rodents’.
Section 9
Any application that is unsigned or undated will be returned without further assessment.
PART 2 – Named Training and Competency Officer details and endorsements (for new applications only; use
PART 3 for amendment requests or reviews)
Section 12 – Address for correspondence
This will normally be the same as the address for the primary availability establishment.
Section 13
In order to make the endorsement, you will normally have met the applicant or been supplied with appropriate
evidence for you to be confident in signing. The named TCO is responsible for ensuring that all people dealing with
animals are adequately educated and trained and are provided with supervision until they have demonstrated the
requisite competence.
You must endorse the application to confirm that the applicant’s qualifications and character are satisfactory for the
work for which a licence is sought, and that you support any exemptions requested from the general training
requirements.
Applicants should have attained a minimum standard of education; typically this will be at least five GCSEs or
Standard Grade passes (including a biological science), or equivalent vocational qualifications or experience.
Where an applicant does not have English as a first language, the named TCO is expected to confirm that the
applicant understands the provisions of the Act.
To prevent delays in processing applications, you should check that applicants have successfully and recently
completed the necessary formal training. See notes in Sections 6 and 8 for details of the requirements and potential
exemptions.
PART 3 – Named Training and Competency Officer details and declarations (for amendment
requests/reviews)
Section 17
In order to make the endorsement, you will normally have met the applicant or been supplied with appropriate
evidence for you to be confident in signing. The named TCO is responsible for ensuring that people dealing with
animals are adequately educated and trained and are provided with supervision until they have demonstrated the
requisite competence.
In order to minimise delays in processing applications, you should check that:



either the applicant has the required module training (see notes under Sections 6 and 8); and/or
the personal licence authority currently authorised allows regulated procedures and use of the animals equivalent to
those described in Section 8 of the application form; and/or
the licensee qualifies for a training exemption.
The applicant must enclose copies of any certificates to support adding species or categories.
Annex 1 – Illustrative examples of techniques in each category
Category A
Number
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
A11
Technique
Variation in the composition,
constituents, quantity and/or
availability of the diet and/or
drinking water which may cause
pain, suffering, distress or
lasting harm
Administration of substances by
intravenous, subcutaneous,
intradermal, intramuscular or
intraperitoneal injection; by the
oral route (including by
gavage); by inhalation; by
immersion; in the aqueous
medium or topically to the skin,
conjunctiva or surface of eye
Administration of substances or
withdrawal of fluids via
previously implanted cannula,
catheter, or delivery or access
system
Withdrawal of blood from
superficial blood vessels by
non-surgical methods
Collection of cells or secretions
from the oral or nasal cavities,
the vagina or rectum, or the
external structures of the eye.
Breeding and maintenance of
genetically altered animals
Anaesthesia code
AA
Non-surgical implantation of a
microchip or telemetry device
Restraint by physical means, or
by confinement within a
restricted area, of a nature or
duration that may cause pain
suffering distress or lasting
harm
Cannulation of blood vessels,
ducts or cavities by non-surgical
means
Killing by dislocation of the neck
other than as specified in a
method of killing on Schedule 1
Decapitation other than as
specified in a method of killing
on Schedule 1
AA
Comments
Includes withholding of food and/or
water, and administration of
substances by addition to food or the
drinking water
AA
AA
This does not include the surgery or
anaesthesia required for placement.
Includes use of stomas or similar
AA
Does not include venesection or tail tip
removal
AA
AA
This regulated procedure involves
pairing to produce a new individual
and keeping alive an individual with
potential for harm
AA
This includes restraint using fixation
devices previously implanted under
separate authority and confinement in
a metabowl, primate chair or sling
AA
Includes genitourinary tracts
AA
AA
A12
A13
A14
A15
A16
A17
A18
A19
A20
A21
A22
A23
A24
Manipulation of germ cells,
gametes, fertilized ova or preimplantation embryos with the
intention of producing
genetically altered animals
Exposure to ionising and/or
non-ionising radiation
Exposure to infectious or toxic
agents in the environment
AA
Non-surgical placement or
removal of electrodes, probes
or other devices that may cause
pain, suffering, distress or
lasting harm
Stimulation via electrodes
previously placed under
separate authority
Locomotor or maze testing that
may cause pain suffering
distress or lasting harm
Forced learning procedures that
may cause pain suffering
distress or lasting harm
Exposure to other animals
(including con-specifics) with
the intention of producing
aggression, abnormal
behaviour or fear/anxiety
Exposure to environmental
conditions that may cause pain
suffering distress or lasting
harm.
AA
Application of, or exposure to,
physical stimuli that may cause
pain suffering distress or lasting
harm
Administration of substances or
withdrawal of fluids/tissues from
tracts or cavities or body
structures by non-surgical
means
Physical damage to superficial
tissues
Maintaining an animal in an
environment which may restrict
the animal’s ability to satisfy its
physiological and ethological
needs
AA
Includes microinjections and
electroporation
AA
AA
This includes situations where the
agents may be transmitted by contact,
inhalation, or in feed or on grazing
AA
This does not include the surgery
required for placement
AA
Includes rotorod tests, elevated and
plus mazes and open field test in
potentially compromised animals.
For example the use of water baths,
electric shocks and exposure to
noxious substances
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
AA
This includes social deprivation,
housing in conditions outside of the
Code of Practice Guidelines that may
cause pain suffering distress or lasting
harm, housing in a barren environment
and housing in permanent darkness,
changes in the gaseous environment
such as hypoxia or warming/cooling to
a stressing extent
Includes auditory, thermal or pressure
exposure, inflation of gastrointestinal
balloon that has been placed under
separate authority
Includes the respiratory system
peritoneal cavity, gastrointestinal,
urogenital tracts, subcutaneous
pouches.
Includes abrasion of skin or mucus
membrane
A25
Non-surgical embryo transfer
AA
Category B
Number
Technique
B1
Induction of general/local anaesthesia by use of
agents and by routes suitable for the species,
nature and duration of the procedure
B2
Withdrawal of blood from superficial blood vessels
by direct puncture or by removal of a tail tip or scab
Administration of substances by intravenous,
subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular or
intraperitoneal injection; by the oral route (including
by gavage); by inhalation; by immersion; in the
aqueous medium; or topically to the skin,
conjunctiva or surface of eye
Administration of substances or withdrawal of fluids
via previously implanted cannula, catheter, or
delivery or access system
AB/AC
Biopsy of superficial tissues or tail tip removal.
Collection of cells or secretions from the oral or
nasal cavities, the vagina or rectum, or the external
structures of the eye
Non-surgical implantation of a microchip or
telemetry device
Restraint by physical means, or by confinement
within a restricted area, of a nature or duration that
may cause pain suffering distress or lasting harm
AB/AC
Cannulation of blood vessels, ducts or cavities by
non-surgical means
Killing under terminal anaesthesia by
exsanguination and/or perfusion with fixative
Decapitation other than as specified in a method of
killing on Schedule 1
Withdrawal of blood by cardiac puncture under
terminal anaesthesia
Cannulation of the heart and /or major blood
vessels, ducts, tracts or cavities under terminal
anaesthesia
AB/AC
B3
B4
B5
B6
B7
B8
B9
B10
B11
B12
Anaesthesia
code – for
reference only
AA/AB/AC
Comments
General anaesthesia for
non-surgical or minor
procedures only or for
procedures under brief
general terminal
anaesthesia. Does not
include maintenance of
balanced anaesthesia
AB/AC
AB/AC
This does not include the
surgery or anaesthesia
required for placement.
Includes use of stomas or
similar
AB
AB/AC
This includes restraint
using fixation devices
previously implanted
under separate authority
and restraint in a
stereotaxic frame,
primate chair or sling
Includes genitourinary
tracts, bladder, trachea
AC
AC
AC
AC
This includes hollow
organs such as the gall
bladder and urinary
bladder. If complex
and/or prolonged surgery
B13
Exposure and removal of organs and tissues,
including withdrawal of blood from heart or vessels
or of body fluids, under terminal anaesthesia
AC
B14
B15
Exposure to ionising and/or non-ionising radiation
Non-surgical placement or removal of electrodes,
probes, tags or other devices that may cause pain,
suffering, distress or lasting harm
Stimulation via electrodes previously placed under
separate authority
AB/AC
AB/AC
B17
Application of, or exposure to, physical stimuli that
may cause pain suffering distress or lasting harm
AB/AC
B18
Administration of substances or withdrawal of
fluids/tissues from tracts or cavities or body
structures by non-surgical means
AB/AC
B19
Physical damage to superficial tissues
AB/AC
B20
B21
Endoscopy with or without biopsy
Destruction of the brain and spinal cord by
mechanical means
AB/AC
AC
B16
AB/AC
is needed a Category C
licence is required
If complex and/or
prolonged surgery is
needed a Category C
licence is required
This does not include any
surgery required for
placement
Includes eg auditory,
thermal or pressure
exposure, inflation of
gastrointestinal balloon
placed under separate
authority
Includes the respiratory
system (intranasal,
intratracheal), thoracic or
peritoneal cavities,
gastrointestinal,
urogenital tracts,
subcutaneous pouches,
intraarticular, into bones
(non-surgically) or
intraocular space,
cerebrospinal fluid
Includes abrasion or
incision of skin or mucus
membrane
Category C
Number
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10
C11
C12
Technique
Induction and maintenance of
general/regional anaesthesia by
use of agents and by routes
suitable for the species, nature
and duration of the procedure
Biopsy or removal of internal
organs or tissues
Surgical cannulation of blood
vessels, ducts, tracts or hollow
organs
Subcutaneous, intramuscular or
intraperitoneal implantation or
removal of any device, tissue,
substance or delivery system
Exposure, section, partial
removal, crush, ligation,
occlusion or de-occlusion of
vessels, peripheral nerves or
ducts
Surgical administration of
substances or implantation of
tissue into or onto organs,
cavities, ducts, tracts including
into or onto the central nervous
system
Surgical exposure of tissues,
organs, vessels, ducts, tracts or
cavities including the central
nervous system
Surgical biopsy or removal of
organs or tissues
Implantation of ova, and/ or
embryos into the reproductive
tract
Surgical implantation with or
without exteriorisation, and/or
removal of cannula, electrodes,
microdialysis probes or other
devices into discrete areas of
the central and peripheral
nervous system or other
internal tissues or organs
Lesioning of discrete areas of
the central nervous system,
tissues or organs by chemical,
thermal or physical means
Implantation of fixation devices
and/or recording or observation
chambers
Anaesthesia code
AA/AB/AC
Comments
For balanced and/or prolonged
general anaesthesia
AB/AC
AB/AC
AB/AC
Includes minipumps and radiotracking
devices
AB/AC
Includes vasectomy, and lesioning by
ligation or compression of peripheral
nerves
AB/AC
AB/AC
AB/AC
AB
AB/AC
This includes implantation or insertion
into muscles or joints
AB/AC
Includes lesioning using ultrasound or
local irradiation
AB/AC
C13
C14
Transplantation of organs,
vessels, ducts, tracts, tissues or
nervous tissue
Surgical manipulation of the
circulatory system
AB/AC
AB/AC
Includes formation of arterio-venous
shunts, carotid loops.
Technique
Induction and maintenance of
neuromuscular blockade by the
use of neuromuscular blocking
agents
Anaesthesia code
AB/AC/AD
Comments
Neuromuscular blocking agents may
not be used in place of anaesthetic
agents
Category D
Number
D1
22/02/2013