Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) provide ethical training to ensure that researchers understand and adhere to ethical standards when conducting studies involving human participants.
Training Requirements
Who needs to complete the training?
The Liberty University Institutional Review Board (IRB) requires the following individuals to complete CITI training before conducting or overseeing research involving human subjects:
- Faculty Researchers
- Student Researchers
- Research Assistants who will work directly with participants or identifiable participant data
- Faculty Chairs/Supervisors
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 course do I take?
Researchers, applicable research assistants, and faculty overseeing student research must complete one of the following CITI courses:
- Biomedical & Health Science Researchers
- Social & Behavioral Researchers
The course listed above that aligns best with one’s academic discipline should be completed. Researchers may but ARE NOT REQUIRED by the IRB to take any additional courses.
How to Enroll
To begin taking your required CITI course, follow these simplified, LU-specific steps:
A link to CITI’s webpage is in the CITI Course Selection Instructions PDF provided above, or you can click the below button after reading the instructions document or watching the selection video.
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.
Additional CITI Courses
Are other courses available through CITI?
Additional courses are offered by CITI and may be taken, but they ARE NOT REQUIRED by the IRB. Additional courses include but are not limited to the following:
- Essentials of Statistical Analysis (EOSA)
- Essentials of Research Administration
- IRB Chair
- IACUC Researchers
- Initial Biosafety Training
Researchers WITH GRANT-FUNDED STUDIES may be required by the funding source to take the courses listed below:
- Biomedical & Health Science Researchers/Social & Behavioral Researchers Responsible Conduct of Research
- Biomedical & Health Science Researchers/Social & Behavioral Researchers Conflicts of Interest