Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

Who needs to complete the training?

The Liberty University Institutional Review Board (IRB) requires the following individuals to complete CITI training prior to conducting or overseeing research involving human subjects:

• Faculty Researchers
• Student Researchers
• Research Assistants*
• Faculty Chairs/Supervisors

*Whether research assistants must complete CITI training depends on their role. With some exceptions, if they will consent participants, collect study data containing participant identifiers, or analyze identifiable participant data, they must complete CITI. Please contact the IRB if you are unsure about whether your research assistant must complete CITI.

Please note: Researchers may submit an IRB application, and the IRB will accept and review it even if the researcher or, for student research, the faculty member overseeing the study has not completed CITI, but the IRB will not approve an application before the CITI completion requirement has been met.

What courses do I take?

To avoid taking the wrong course(s) and having your IRB approval delayed while you complete the correct course(s), please read the below information carefully.

Researchers and faculty overseeing student research must complete one of the following Human Subjects Research (HSR) courses:

• Biomedical & Health Science Researchers
• Social & Behavioral Researchers

Either course will be accepted. However, the IRB recommends that researchers and faculty supervisors select and complete the course that aligns best with their academic discipline. The courses are listed under Question 1 when registering for CITI. See the instructions provided below under How to Enroll.

Researchers may but ARE NOT REQUIRED to take the courses listed below unless their research is funded and the courses are required by the funding source. Examples of courses that may be required by a funding source include the following:

• Biomedical & Health Science Researchers/Social & Behavioral Researchers Responsible Conduct of Research
• Biomedical & Health Science Researchers/Social & Behavioral Researchers Conflicts of Interest

To begin taking CITI courses, follow these steps:

1. Go to the CITI Program website.
2. In the upper right corner, select “Register” or “Login.”
3. Select “Log in through my institution.”
4. Select “Liberty University.”
5. Sign in with your Liberty username and password.
6. Select the required course(s) based on your discipline.
7. Skip or select “no/not at this time” for questions associated with courses that are not required. For information on courses that are not required, please see What courses do I take above.

Need help with enrollment?

Text Instructions

Video Instructions

Format

• Each course contains a set of core modules and a set of electives.
• Each module consists of written material, followed by a short quiz.
• Training is self-directed, but typically can be finished in less than one day.

Cost

• Liberty University has partnered with CITI to provide courses free to affiliated individuals.
• There are fees for participants wishing to obtain continuing education credits.

• Essentials of Statistical Analysis (EOSA)
• Essentials of Research Administration
• IRB Chair

• IACUC Researchers
• Initial Biosafety Training