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Q: What is CITI Training?
A: The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) was founded in March, 2000 as collaboration between the University of Miami and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to develop a web based training program in human subjects protections. Currently, the CITI program is used by over 830 participating institutions around the world; over 600,000 people have registered and completed a CITI course.
UCLA chose CITI training because the content is extensively reviewed, critiqued and updated. Participant satisfaction is high. In addition the training is targeted and complete. About 80% of the AAHRPP accredited institutions use CITI training
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Q: Who must be trained?
A: Beginning September 1, 2009 all Key Personnel must complete the online CITI Training program prior to submission of new applications or applications for continuing review that involve human research participants.
Key Personnel include investigators and research personnel who are directly involved in conducting research with study participants or who are directly involved with handling private information related to study participants during the course of a research project. The Principal Investigator is responsible for assuring that the key personnel on the study have completed the CITI Training requirements.
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Q: How often is the training required? Will I have to repeat the training or take refresher modules?
A: Key Research Personnel will be required to refresh their training every three years. This can easily be accomplished by taking any three modules of your choosing.
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Q: Is CITI Training required if I already completed CITI Training at another institution?
A: Credits are only transferable to UCLA if you are within the half point time frame of the expiration of the other institution’s course. For example, if the other institution requires that you repeat CITI training every two years, then credits are transferable to UCLA only within the first year after completion. Also, there may be additional modules (for example, the “UCLA training module”) that must be taken once you affiliate with UCLA.
To arrange for completed modules to be accepted at UCLA, log on to the CITI website at http://www.citiprogram.org/. Click on “Affiliate with another institution”, select UCLA and complete all “incomplete” modules as prompted by the CITI program.
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Q: How do I register?
A: Go to the CITI website at http://www.citiprogram.org/. Click on Register Here and follow the instructions to complete the registration form.
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Q: How is CITI training organized?
A: The CITI Training is organized into seven learner groups, each consisting of a number of modules on specific topics. The learner groups include:
- Biomedical Researchers & Staff: Investigators/staff submitting to the Medical IRBs
- Social & Behavioral Researchers & Staff: Investigators/staff submitting to the General Campus IRBs
- Basic Scientists/Investigators who work with coded or identifiable data and/or specimens but who do not have contact with research participants
- General Campus IRB Committee Members
- Medical IRB Committee Members
- OHRPP Staff: Staff employed by UCLA Office for Human Research Protection Program
- Highest Level UCLA Officials (e.g., Vice Chancellors, Associate Vice Chancellors, Assistant Vice Chancellors, Deans) and their staff, as necessary, if not conducting human subjects research
Once you complete the required modules in your learner group, you will have access to optional modules on specific topics such as International Research, Gene Therapy, and Internet Research. You are welcome to use these to supplement your coursework.
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Q: Which learner group should I choose if my work includes both biomedical and social/behavioral research?
A: Select “Biomedical Researchers & Staff” as your learner group.
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Q: How do I change my learner group?
A: Click on the link “Add a course or update your learner groups” from your CITI Main Menu page. This link will take you to the enrollment questions and allow you to select a new learner group
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Q: How long does it take to complete the training?
A: Most users complete the training in approximately four hours.
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Q: Do I have to complete the training all at once?
A: You can stop and start anytime. Just remember your user name and password.
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Q: What is the passing score?
A: passing score of at least 80% is required on each module. If you want to improve a score on a quiz, you may repeat any quiz in which you didn’t score 100% correct.
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Q: Do collaborators at other sites have to complete CITI Certification?
A: This training is only required for collaborators for whom UCLA has agreed to be the IRB of record. If outside collaborators have received their own IRB approval, they do not need to complete the UCLA training requirement and should follow their own IRB’s educational requirements.
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Q: Is CITI Training required prior to submission of new studies and continuing reviews to the IRB?
A: Yes, CITI Training certification is required prior to submission of a new application or an application for continuing review that involves human research participants. The Principal Investigator is responsible for assuring that all key personnel on the study have completed the CITI Training requirements.
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Q: Is CITI Training required for submission of Exempt studies and studies that are classified as “Not Human Subject Research?”
A: The CITI Training requirement applies to submission of studies that meet the criteria for Exempt Certification. The training requirement does not apply to studies that are classified as “Not Human Subject Research.”
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Q: What do I do if my research team doesn’t speak English and/or have computer access?
A: The UCLA IRBs are aware that in some situations, members of the research team may not be fluent in English and/or will not have readily available internet access and therefore will not be able to complete UCLA's online CITI certification.
In such situations, the UCLA IRBs will consider - on a study by study basis - approval of an alternate human research education mechanism. Upon approval of such an exception, principal investigators will be asked to ensure that these members of the research team receive or have received alternate human research training that includes discussion of: (1) research ethics; (2) the voluntary nature of research participation and the consent process; and (3) standards for maintaining the confidentiality of participants' data. Principal investigators may be asked to describe the alternate training.
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Q: Am I required to take the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) course and the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) course?
A: Both courses are optional. However, the GCP course is recommended if you are involved in clinical research.
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Q: What do I do if I forget my password?
A: The instructions for retrieving passwords are on the CITI website: http://www.citiprogram.org/
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Q: How do I obtain a certificate of completion?
A: After you finish the required modules, you will be issued a completion report. You can print the report from your learner menu by clicking on the “Print” link.
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Q: Can I print completion reports for optional modules?
A: Optional modules will not generate a completion report. If you need documentation that an optional module has been completed, you can print a listing of all completed modules by clicking on “Optional Modules” from your CITI Main Menu page and then following the “Previous Coursework” link. Use your web browser’s “Print” function to print the page.
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Q: Do I need to submit my certification of completion to the UCLA IRB?
A: Follow the link to a searchable listing of UCLA personnel who have completed the CITI training: CITI Training completion list.
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Q: How do I check if members of my research team have completed the CITI Training?
A: Follow the link to a searchable listing of UCLA personnel who have completed the CITI training: CITI Training completion list.
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Q: Whom do I contact if I have questions or problems?
A: Contact Jae Kwak of the UCLA Office of Human Research Protection Program at (310) 267-5229. You may also send e-mail inquiries to OHRPPEducation@research.ucla.edu.
Technical issues should be addressed to CITI Support Desk or to (305) 243-7970.
