Training for Personal Licence Applicants

Anyone who will use animals in research and conduct regulated procedures is required to obtain a Personal Licence (PIL) specific to the species they will be working with.  At Edinburgh, we offer courses for rodents, zebrafish and large animals on a regular basis.  

Modular Training

It is a requirement that all new Personal Licence applicants or those applying out with 5 years of revoking a Personal Licence must complete a course of accredited training to enable application to the Home Office for the PIL.

All applicants for Personal Licences are required to complete Ethics (E1) and National Legislation (L) and modules PILA, K and PILB of the relevant species. 

Additional Modules

If the research project will involve surgical procedures you will also be required to complete the PIL C module. 

If you are doing non-surgical procedures under long-term anaesthesia (>15mins) and no surgery procedures, you will require the PIL F module. 

Please note, you should only apply to complete the PIL F or the PIL C module.  If you do the PIL C module, this will also cover you for any non-surgical procedures under long-term anaesthesia (The PIL F module is EU21 which is also covered in the PIL C module).

Personal Licences can be amended to include these additional modules or other species at any time.

Practical Skills

All species specific modules require a practical skills assessment to be completed in your home facility.  If you are working at The University of Edinburgh, appointments will be arranged following completion of the theory course. 

If you are working at another Establishment, confirmation that the skills can be completed in your home Establishment is required from your NTCO at the time of registration (please email this confirmation to BVSPIL-training@ed.ac.uk)

The PIL C module requires a practical skill assessment in suturing.  This skills session can only be completed at The University of Edinburgh and you will need to attend the practical on the advertised day and time. 

Exam Dates 2026

• All courses are currently run online as self-paced learning except our PILABK Large Animal Module which is in-person.
• For e-learning modules, the exams will be online and invigilated via Microsoft Teams.  You will require a webcam to sit the exam.
• Exams are timetabled for a specific day and time.  Please ensure you check the exam before applying for the course.
• If required, resits will be offered 1 week after the initial exam.  Resit dates are also included in the timetable.

Prices for 2026

• If you are a member of a ScotPIL Establishment, each module is £150 (PIL F only will be £100).  If you work at any other Establishment, each module is £200. 
• Please note that we are unable to accept late registrations for courses.  Registration closes one week before course date.

Dates for 2026

Week of the 9th March 2026

(registration closes 2nd March)

• Ethics and Legislation (e-learning)
• PILABK rodents (e-learning)
• PILABFK Zebrafish (e-learning)
• PIL F (all species) (e-learning)
• **PIL C (all species) (e-learning) + in person skills session (26/03/2026)

Please note that a live Q&A session will be held on Thursday 12th March at 14:00 via MS Team's for all attendees of e-learning modules.

**The PIL C module requires attendance at a skills session.  It is expected that all applicants (both UoE and external candidates) will attend this session at Edinburgh.  The date for this session is Thursday 26th March at 10am.  Please add this date to your diaries when applying for the PIL C module.

Monday 16th March 2026 

• PILABK Large Animal (in person at Roslin Institute).  Pigs, Sheep and Cattle.

Week of the 8th June 2026

(registration closes 1st June)

• Ethics and Legislation (e-learning)
• PILABK rodents (e-learning)
• PILABFK Zebrafish (e-learning)
• PIL F (all species) (e-learning)
• PIL C* (all species) (e-learning) + in person skills session (18/06/2026)

Please note that a live Q&A session will be held on Thursday 11th June at 14:00 via MS Team's for all attendees of e-learning modules.

**The PIL C module requires attendance at a skills session.  It is expected that all applicants (both UoE and external candidates) will attend this session at Edinburgh.  The date for this session is Thursday 18th June at 10am.  Please add this date to your diaries when applying for the PIL C module.

Week of the 21st September 2026

(registration closes 14th September)

• Ethics and Legislation (e-learning)
• PILABK rodents (e-learning)
• PILABFK Zebrafish (e-learning)
• PIL F (all species) (e-learning)
• PIL C* (all species) (e-learning) + in person skills session (skills session TBC)

Please note that a live Q&A session will be held on Thursday 24th September at 14:00 via MS Team's for all attendees of e-learning modules.

**The PIL C module requires attendance at a skills session.  It is expected that all applicants (both UoE and external candidates will attend this session at Edinburgh.  The date for this session is to be confirmed in August once timetabling for the next academic year is completed and is currently subject to change.  

Monday 28th September 2026 

(registration closes 14th September)

• PILABK Large Animal (Pig, Sheep, Cattle) (in person training)

Week of the 16th November 2026

(registration closes 9th November)

• Ethics and Legislation (e-learning)
• PILABK rodents (e-learning)
• PILABFK Zebrafish (e-learning)
• PIL F (all species) (e-learning)
• PIL C (all species) (e-learning) + in person skills session (skills session TBC)

Please note that a live Q&A session will be held on Thursday 19th November at 11:00 via MS Team's for all attendees of e-learning modules.

**The PIL C module requires attendance at a skills session.  It is expected that all applicants (both UoE and external candidates will attend this session at Edinburgh.  The date for this session is to be confirmed in August once timetabling for the next academic year is completed and is currently subject to change.  

Further Information

Please get in touch with our ScotPIL administrator and NTCO at BVSPIL-training@ed.ac.uk if you need any further help or information at this stage.