Institutional Review Board
Training FAQ's
Questions
- Who must be trained?
- Will OSU accept certificates of training from other institutions for new OSU employees?
- Will the IRB review my IRB application, continuation request or modification if I have not completed the training at the time of submission?
- How long will it take to complete the training?
- What training modules do I take?
- Why do I have to take the modules in order?
- What is the minimum passing score required?
- What is the purpose of the “Optional Modules”?
- I previously completed the “Social/Behavioral Research Investigator/Faculty/Staff/Student (or Biomedical Researcher Investigator/Faculty/Staff/Student, if appropriate) learner group modules and now I am an IRB member. What do I do?
- I am both a Dean/Department Head and a researcher. Which learner group should I select?
- I forgot my CITI password. What do I do?
- I forgot my CITI username. What do I do?
- Should I send in a copy of my training completion report with my application?
- When will I have to re-train?
- If I have a problem or question, who do I contact?
Responses
Any OSU faculty member, staff member or student who is listed by name on an IRB application (e.g., principal investigator (PI), Co-PI, research assistant, etc.) because of their role in a research project that involves human subjects, or who is acting as advisor to a student conducting such research, must complete the required CITI training modules. PIs are responsible for ensuring adequate training of their personnel who are not listed by name on the IRB application.
IRB members, alternate members, and IRB staff are required to complete the required CITI training modules within one month of their appointment to the IRB.
The vice president for research and the assistant vice president for research compliance are required to complete the CITI training modules required for OSU institutional officials.
Deans and associate deans for research of colleges and department heads of departments active in human subject research are strongly encouraged to complete the CITI training modules that are required for OSU institutional officials so that they are familiar with the basic requirements designed to safeguard the rights and welfare of human subjects in research.
If you completed human research protection training through CITI while at another institution, contact the OSU IRB office for assistance in changing your affiliation to OSU on the CITI website. After doing so, OSU IRB staff members will be able to view the training modules that you previously completed and note the date of completion. This will allow OSU IRB staff members to determine if additional training is needed. OSU will not accept non-CITI training documentation.
Your application/continuation/modification form may not be submitted to the IRB, via the online IRBManager system, for review before you have completed your training.
The time necessary to complete the training depends on the learner group selected, which in turn dictates the number of modules you will need to complete. The time required to complete each of the basic modules varies between 10 minutes and 30 minutes. The total time required to complete the modules required for a social/behavioral research investigator is estimated to be between 2-3 hours. The CITI course does not have to be completed in one sitting, and personnel can enter the course at any time. Modules are designed to be taken sequentially. CITI will keep track of where you left off each time you log out.
You should choose a learner group (training module) based on your role and type of human subjects activity you conduct. You must choose one learner group and you must take the basic course for the chosen learner group. You will be required to complete the CITI refresher course two years after you completed the initial CITI training. Most investigators on the OSU-Stillwater campus will select “IRB Social, Behavioral, and Educational (SBE) Researchers.”
CITI is structured for the required modules to be taken in order, in many cases one module building upon the last. Once you complete the required modules, you may take any or all of the optional modules in any order you prefer.
A cumulative passing score of 80% is required.
You must complete the required modules listed in your grade book. The optional modules are presented for your information and additional training, if you desire. Additionally, the IRB may request that you complete one or more of the optional modules if you are working in an area not covered by the required modules. You can complete any optional modules that you feel pertain to areas in which you may conduct research.
Contact the IRB Manager for assistance in determining what additional training is needed.
If you serve in both administrative and research roles at OSU, you should select the “IRB Social, Behavioral, and Educational (SBE) Researchers (or IRB Biomedical Researchers, if appropriate) learner group. This group provides the more detailed training required for investigators who conduct research involving human subjects.
Contact the Office of University Research Compliance at 405.744.3377 or irb@okstate.edu. We can send a password reset email, which will allow you to establish a new password. However, if you used your O-Key credentials when creating your CITI account, we will provide you with a phone number so you may talk with personnel with OSU’s Information Technology Department.
Contact the Office of University Research Compliance at 405.744.3377 or irb@okstate.edu. We are able to determine your username. However, if you used your O-Key credentials when creating your CITI account, we will provide you with a phone number so you may talk with personnel with OSU’s Information Technology Department.
No. You do not need to submit a copy of your CITI training completion report to the IRB. Office of University Research Compliance personnel are able to verify your training completion via access to the CITI database.
You will be required to complete a refresher course three years after you completed the CITI basic course in human research protection. Training must be updated every three years.
If you have questions about the CITI training program or about any material presented in the program, contact the Office of University Research Compliance, 405.744.3377 or irb@okstate.edu.