CITI IRB Training

CITI Training - www.citiprogram.org

** Instructions on Completing the CITI Training

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) instituted a policy which requires all proposals for contracts and grants for research involving human subjects submitted after October 1, 2000 certify that all key personnel have received education on the protection of human research subjects. This requirement applies to all applications for grants or proposals for contracts submitted to NIH after October 1st and to all new and all non-competing grants for which an award is issued after October 1st. However, researchers need to be aware that in order for CUNY to be in compliance with its legal assurance to DHHS, CUNY is requiring that all researchers and key personnel, regardless of the research project sponsor and whether it is funded or unfunded, satisfy this new requirement.

All key personnel involved in a research study are required to complete a training program.  Key personnel are defined as any individual who will be involved in the design and conduct of human subjects research project.

As of July 1, 2005 CUNY will use the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program.  The CITI program is a web-based training program designed and updated by a number of IRB professionals and is housed at the University of Miami.  It is used by many institutions to satisfy the training requirement.  

The CITI program provides a comprehensive training curriculum.  It is designed around specified education modules.  These modules are based on the Learner Group. CUNY’s CITI program has 5 Learner Groups (Social Behavioral, Biomedical, Graduate Student, Student and IRB Member or Staff).  You select your Learner Group.  These Learner Groups are designations which will direct you to the appropriate set of modules.

The number of modules is based on the Learner Group.  Each module is followed by a few short questions based on the material covered in the module.  It should take 2-5 hours to complete the CITI training program and you do not have to complete the module or training program in one sitting.  CITI keeps track of your progress in a Grade Book.  You can complete the training at your leisure. You must score

You must score 80% or better in each module to receive your certificate.  You can return to any module which you did not score at least 80%, review the module and retake the test.  Once you have completed the CITI training, recertification is required within three (3) years of the completion date. It is your responsibility to keep a copy of your certificate.  You can always log back on to CITI and reprint a copy.  Click here to view a sample CITI certificate completion report.

Important Information

1. The CITI homepage to complete the training is www.citiprogram.org .

2.  Unfortunately, we cannot accept other certification programs.

3. Please be sure to print a copy of the certificate and send a copy with your protocol.

4.  If you have key personnel completing the CITI training from another institution and their institution is not a CITI participant,  please have them select CUNY as their institution.