A framework for assessing practical competence in laboratory animal science (LAS): development of direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) by the ETPLAS Working Group

Assessment of practical skills is a key component in ensuring competence in laboratory animal science (LAS), particularly for practitioners performing functions A, C and D as defined in the Directive 2010/63/EU, namely those who carry out procedures on animals, care for them and perform humane killing, respectively. To address the need for a harmonised, objective and transparent approach to assessing practical competence, Working Group 4 (WG4) of the Education and Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science (ETPLAS) has developed a set of Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) tools. These tools are tailored specifically to evaluate the intended learning outcomes of Modules 3.2, 6.2, 8 and 20–22 of the European Union (EU) Education and Training Framework. This report outlines the rationale, structure and guidance for implementing the DOPS tools. Based on Miller’s pyramid and established educational principles, DOPS tools are suitable for formative and summative assessments in simulated or real environments. They can be used both formatively to monitor progress during training and summatively to support end-of-training decisions about competence. Their implementation is crucial to supporting harmonised training, facilitating mutual recognition of competence and ultimately advancing both animal welfare and the quality of scientific research in the EU and beyond. The DOPS forms are available as supplemental material to this article and from the ETPLAS website.