ALAT Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the ALAT exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

ALAT exam key facts

The AALAS ALAT exam has 120 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer and three distractors. Source
Candidates get 2 hours to complete the AALAS ALAT certification exam. Source
AALAS does not publish the ALAT passing score, because the passing score is different for each exam version. Source
The AALAS ALAT certification exam costs $175 for AALAS members and $250 for non-members, who also pay a $75 processing fee. Source
Candidates who fail the ALAT exam can reapply as soon as they receive their official score report, and if they reapply within one year they do not need to resend education and work-experience documents. Source

Start the Timed ALAT Mock Exam →

📋 ALAT Exam Format at a Glance

120

Questions

120 min

Time Limit

70.00%

Passing Score

Take a Full ALAT Exam Simulation →

📚 ALAT Topics to Study (86)

Ethics in Animal Research · 11 cards Role and Responsibilities · 11 cards ALAT Research Procedures and Techniques Questions and Answers · 7 cards ALAT Research Procedures and Techniques Questions and Answers · 7 cards ALAT Species-Specific Care and Experimental Models Questions and Answers · 7 cards ALAT Species-Specific Care and Experimental Models Questions and Answers · 7 cards Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals · 7 cards Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals · 7 cards Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals · 7 cards Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals · 7 cards Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals · 7 cards Animal Health and Biology · 7 cards Animal Health and Biology · 7 cards Animal Health and Welfare · 7 cards Animal Health and Welfare · 7 cards Animal Health and Welfare · 7 cards Animal Health and Welfare · 7 cards Animal Husbandry and Care · 7 cards Animal Husbandry and Care · 7 cards Animal Husbandry and Care · 7 cards Animal Husbandry and Care · 7 cards Animal Husbandry and Environment · 7 cards Animal Husbandry and Environment · 7 cards Breeding and Reproduction · 7 cards Breeding and Reproduction · 7 cards Ethics in Animal Research · 7 cards Ethics in Animal Research · 7 cards Facility Environment and Management · 7 cards Facility Environment and Management · 7 cards Facility Environment and Management · 7 cards

See all 86 topics as flashcards →

✍️ Sample ALAT Questions & Answers

1. An ALAT is working with a species covered under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). According to the AWA, how long must individual animal records be maintained after the final disposition of the animal?

✓ Three years

The Animal Welfare Act Regulations require that all records, including those for acquisition and disposition, must be maintained for a minimum of three years after the animal's final disposition (e.g., sale, euthanasia, or transfer).

2. Which of the following correctly describes why guinea pigs require dietary vitamin C supplementation?

✓ Guinea pigs lack the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase needed to synthesize vitamin C

Guinea pigs, like humans and some primates, lack L-gulonolactone oxidase and therefore cannot synthesize vitamin C endogenously, requiring dietary supplementation.

3. A technician notices a rabbit repeatedly pressing its abdomen against the cage floor. This behavior most likely indicates:

✓ Abdominal discomfort or pain

Pressing the abdomen against a surface (belly pressing) is a recognized sign of gastrointestinal pain or abdominal discomfort in rabbits.

4. What is 'ringtail' in laboratory rats, and what environmental factor primarily causes it?

✓ Annular constriction of the tail caused by low humidity

Ringtail is annular constriction and necrosis of the tail caused by low relative humidity, most commonly seen in neonatal rats.

5. How often should HEPA filters in IVC racks be changed?

✓ Per manufacturer recommendations, typically every 6-12 months, or when pressure indicates reduced airflow

HEPA filters should be changed per manufacturer specifications or when differential pressure monitoring indicates reduced airflow.

6. What is the typical estrous cycle length for a mouse?

✓ 4-5 days

The mouse estrous cycle is approximately 4-5 days with four stages: proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus.

🎯 Free ALAT Practice Tests

Ethics in Animal Research · 11 questions Role and Responsibilities · 11 questions Facility Environment and Management · 7 questions Animal Health and Welfare · 7 questions Animal Health and Welfare · 7 questions Animal Health and Welfare · 7 questions Animal Husbandry and Care · 7 questions Animal Husbandry and Care · 7 questions Animal Husbandry and Care · 7 questions Facility Environment and Management · 7 questions

📖 ALAT Guides & Articles

Your ALAT Study Path

1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation

🃏 ALAT Flashcards (562)🏆 ALAT Exam Simulation

What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for ALAT

An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:

A timed, full-length ALAT mock exam — 120 questions in 120 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
A fixed ALAT question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
A printable ALAT cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
ALAT flashcards built from the same question bank.
Free ALAT practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.

Start the Timed ALAT Mock Exam →

Was this helpful?

How this page was made: written with AI tools. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

aalascraftcms.blob.core.windows.net — Test delivery, eligibility, exam format, registration deadline, retake policy, test dates, time limit · verified Oct 2026
aalas.org — Fees, passing score, score release · verified Oct 2026