The Portuguese Register of Toxicologists 

Subtitle

Theoretical Training in Toxicology

Theoretical training in toxicology, with associated practical working to re‐enforce concepts, is essential. Such training can be provided on a modular basis. It should provide basic knowledge of the major areas of toxicology and embrace at least the topics defined below.

 


Topics

A candidate for registration will need to demonstrate basic knowledge in all of the following core topic areas (B1 – B14) that are considered as being essential for every toxicologist: 


B1 Principles of Toxicology 
B2 Laboratory Animal Science incl. 3R 
B3 Experimental Design and Statistics 
B4 Molecular and Cellular Toxicology 
B5 Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion 
B6 Organ Toxicology and Histopathology 
B7 Toxicology of Environmental Pollutants 
B8 Exposure Assessment 
B9 Epidemiology 
B10 Occupational Toxicology 
B11 Genotoxicity and Carcinogenicity 
B12 Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology 
B13 Risk Assessment of Chemicals 
B14 Clinical and Forensic Toxicology

In addition, it is expected that toxicologists will specialise in certain areas and obtain specific knowledge, skills and competences in a wider field. It is mandatory that candidates will demonstrate knowledge in two topics for specialization, e.g. from the list below. The list (B15 – B23) mentions a number of these specific areas. It should be emphasised, however, that this list is not exhaustive but rather provides a number of example topics for this purpose.

B15 Drug Safety Assessment 
B16 Regulatory Toxicology 
B17 Ecotoxicology 
B18 Nanomaterials 
B19 In vitro Testing Methods 
B20 In silico Toxicology 
B21 Immunotoxicology 
B22 Neurotoxicology 
B23 Analytical Methods in Toxicology

 

Topics B1 – B14 and some of the elective topics are essentially covered in the existing ERT courses in Europe.

Topics may be presented as modules consisting of lectures, site visits, demonstrations, and exercises. Case studies by individual participants are particularly encouraged to practise risk assessment and classification of chemicals. Distant teaching and learning will be used where feasible. At completion of each topic an examination has to be passed.

 


Course level, and time needed


Course levels will correspond at least to the Master level. Each topic will probably involve 3‐5 days, in some cases up to 10 days of contact time, except B0, which may require only a few hours. If studied from the beginning, with no credit given for content of previous degrees, then about 15‐26 weeks of 30 hr per week contact time should be allocated to undertake the theoretical basis needed for eventual registration.

Comprehensive topics: Some elective topics such as B15, B16, B17, B18 may be organized to offer comprehensive specialized training. They will usually consist of more than one module and will need more than 10 days of contact time.



Credits


Candidates for registration will be expected to present credits in all 13 core and the 2 elected topics. This syllabus can be certificated partly or entirely if the respective content has been covered in an appropriate previous degree (MSc, Ph.D.) or course. Credits may be obtained from modules based in more than one country.