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Animal Training
Learn to apply operant conditioning to train voluntary cooperation in husbandry and care procedures — reducing stress for animals and improving outcomes for the professionals who work with them.
Train for a Career in Laboratory Animal Behavior
Why Students Choose Us
All of our courses are 100% online
Complete your classes from anywhere through our interactive programs, designed to fit around work, school, or other commitments.
Small classes taught by professionals
Courses are limited to small class sizes so you can learn directly from instructors with real-world experience in animal welfare, behavioral management, and laboratory animal science.
Field experience with real animals
Apply what you learn by completing a hands-on field experience at a research facility, veterinary organization, or animal care institution in your area.
Request Additional Program Information
Tell us where to send your program brochure, and we’ll email you the full details including courses, career paths, and how to get started.
Is This Program Right for You?
This Program May Be a Good Fit If You:
- Work in laboratory animal science and want to advance your career with behavioral expertise
- Are passionate about improving the welfare of animals in research and education settings
- Want to specialize in enrichment, training, and behavioral management
- Want a credential that goes beyond regulatory compliance to genuine animal welfare
Many of our students are:
- Laboratory animal technicians
- Veterinary technicians and animal care staff
- Research and biomedical professionals
- Enrichment and behavioral management specialists
Inside the Laboratory Animal Behavior Program
Federal regulations require institutions to provide the psychological wellbeing of laboratory animals, but outstanding care goes beyond compliance. ABI's Laboratory Animal Behavior Program focuses on the behavior, care, training, and enrichment of animals used in research and education, giving you the behavioral expertise to raise welfare standards across your facility.
Animal Enrichment
Learn to design environments that promote good psychological and emotional health. Proper enrichment reduces stereotypies and other undesirable behaviors while increasing species-typical activity — an essential component of welfare for all animals in captivity.
Then Specialize: Choose Three Electives
Tailor your program to the species you work with:
- Behavior of Rabbits & Rodents — the most common species in laboratory settings
- Primate Behavior & Enrichment — behavioral management for nonhuman primates
- Canine Behavior & Enrichment — behavior and welfare for dogs in research settings
- Feline Behavior & Enrichment — behavior and welfare for cats
- Carnivore Training & Behavior — training and behavior across carnivore species
Hands-On Learning Through Field Experience
In addition to online coursework, students complete 40 hours of hands-on field experience as an employee, intern, or volunteer at an approved institution of their choice. Many students complete this requirement at their current workplace — one of the strengths of our program is that you choose the facility; it's never assigned.
Learn From Experienced Professionals
All courses are taught by instructors with professional experience in fields such as:
- Animal welfare and behavioral management training
- Laboratory animal science and research
- Behavioral and environmental enrichment
- Species-specific husbandry and care
- Animal welfare research and program evaluation
Their real-world insights help students understand both the science of animal behavior and the practical realities of raising welfare standards in research settings.
Flexible Online Learning Designed for Working Professionals
- Structured 10-week courses
- Fully online classroom environment
- Small class sizes (maximum of 12 students)
- Field experience completed at a facility of your choice — including your current workplace
Students from across the U.S. and internationally complete the program while balancing work and personal commitments — most finish their certificate in 6–12 months.
Laboratory Animal Technician
Lab animal technicians provide daily care for research animals across many species — from rodents and rabbits to primates. Their responsibilities may include feeding, husbandry, health monitoring, and implementing enrichment programs. Salaries in the laboratory animal field are significantly higher than the average for animal care workers.
Enrichment Specialist / Training & Enrichment Coordinator
Enrichment specialists design and implement programs that support the psychological wellbeing of laboratory animals. Their responsibilities may include developing species-appropriate enrichment, training animals for voluntary cooperation in procedures, evaluating program effectiveness, and reducing stress-related behaviors.
Animal Facility Manager
Facility managers oversee the care and welfare of all animals in a research institution. Their responsibilities may include managing animal care staff, ensuring regulatory compliance, maintaining housing and environmental standards, and building behavioral management programs that exceed federal requirements.
Behavioral Researcher
Behavioral researchers study animal behavior to improve welfare and support scientific programs. Their responsibilities may include designing studies, collecting and analyzing behavioral data, and translating findings into better housing, enrichment, and care practices.
Building Experience for Competitive Careers
The outlook for professionals in laboratory animal science is excellent. Employment in animal care and service is expected to grow 15% over the next decade — faster than the average for all occupations — and salaries in the laboratory animal field are significantly higher than the average for animal care workers.
ABI's program combines structured academic training with practical field experience, and our courses are accepted for CEU credit by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). Upon graduation, students may begin using the designation CLABP, Certified Laboratory Animal Behavior Professional.
Meet Erik Moreau
Programs:
Laboratory Animal Behavior
Animal Training & Enrichment
Erik completed ABI's Laboratory Animal Behavior and Animal Training & Enrichment certificates and is now Coordinator of Animal Behavior & Enrichment at a contract research organization in Montreal, Quebec. He chose ABI for its college-level coursework and accreditation by professional organizations — and credits his education with teaching him to objectively evaluate animal behaviors and create optimal enrichment conditions in laboratory settings.
Take the First Step Toward Advancing Your Career in Laboratory Animal Science!
Tell us about your goals and we'll help you determine if the Laboratory Animal Behavior Program at Animal Behavior Institute is the right fit for you.
