CITI Training Instructions

For detailed instructions, including screenshots, on registering for and completing the training required by the IRB, click here.

The following are basic learner instructions to log on to the Illinois State University CITI training site:

Initial Registration:

Go to www.citiprogram.org to register for CITI online training.
Click on "New Users Register Here".
Select "Illinois State University" in the "Participating Institutions" drop down box.
Create your own username and password.
Complete the course selection questionnaire, which is just a general questionnaire. Specific course selection is made on the next page.

Course Selection:

The course selection page is divided into five questions. Questions 1, 2, and 3 pertain to Human Subjects Research (basic courses, refresher courses, and Good Clinical Practice courses). Questions 4 and 5 pertains to Vertebrate Animal Research. Question 6 covers the Responsible Conduct of Research, including academic integrity topics such as plagiarism and falsification of data. Although you may be required to complete only some of the available courses to satisfy a university requirement, you may choose to complete additional training as well. If you do not want to select additional coursework, be sure to either leave all options blank under a question or to select the "none of the above" option under the other questions. If you have any questions as to whether you have enrolled in the appropriate course, please contact the Research Ethics and Compliance Office at 438-2529 prior to beginning the course.

A. Human subjects courses under Question1 (Basic courses) and Question 2 (Refresher courses):

Biomedical Research with human subjects

Educational, Social and Behavioral Research with Human Subjects (Basic) course. To be completed by all PIs and all non-student co-PIs. Additionally, this course is required for all students on new protocols that are designated as Full Review. Students listed on new protocols that are designated as Exempt or Expedited Review will be required to have completed either this course or the “Students conducting no more than minimal risk research” course shown below.

If you will be on an IRB protocol, this course will fulfill the training requirement. Please note that the "Social/Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course" listed under Question 5, although similarly titled, does not cover human subjects research and therefore does not fulfill the IRB training requirements. If you have any questions about your enrollment, please contact REC prior to beginning your course.

Data or specimens-only research (no interaction with human subjects)

Students conducting no more than minimal risk research. Either this course or the Educational Social and Behavioral Research with Human subjects must be completed by students on protocols designated as Exempt or Expedited Review. This course is not available as a refresher course. The basic course should just be repeated once the original expires.

If you are student who will be on an IRB protocol designated Exempt or Expedited Review, this course will fulfill the training requirement.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) members. Required for all IRB Executive Committee members and Departmental Representatives.

B. Human subjects additional coursework is listed under Question 3. These courses are optional.

Good Clinical Practice

CITI Health Information Privacy and Security (HIPS) Course - Information for Clinicians

Health Information Privacy and Security (HIPS) Course - Information for Investigators

Health Information Privacy and Security (HIPS) Course - Information for Students or Instructors

Information Privacy and Security (HIPS) Course - Information for Fundraisers

Health Information Privacy and Security (HIPS) Course - Information for Marketers

C. Vertebrate Animal courses are under Question 4 and 5:

Working with the IACUC. The full course is required for laboratory animal users, including PIs, students and staff. Agricultural animal users are required to complete the first three modules in addition to the non-CITI ISU Agricultural Animal Use course.

Essentials for IACUC members. Required for IACUC members.

Optional modules for specific species and laboratory techniques.

D. Responsible Conduct of Research courses under Question 6 are listed below. Please note that these cover academic integrity topics and do not fulfill the requirements for human subjects research training. These courses are only required under certain external grants, although all researchers are encouraged to complete the course related to their area.

Biomedical Responsible Conduct of Research Course

Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Course

Physical Science Responsible Conduct of Research Course

Humanities Responsible Conduct of Research Course

Course Completion

Once you have selected your courses, follow the instructions to complete the curriculum and associated tests you have selected. Please note that once enrolled, the names of the courses may change. The "Educational, Social and Behavioral Research with human subjects" becomes "Social/Behavioral Research Course," and the "Students conducting no more than minimal risk research" course becomes "Student - Class Projects." "Working with the IACUC" becomes "Investigators, Staff and Students."

You can exit and re-enter the CITI site as often as needed to complete the selected curriculum. Each time you exit your progress will be recorded so that you can continue where you left off once you log in again.

Once you complete a course, you will be able to print out a Completion Report from your learner's menu, and in some cases will have access to additional optional training modules. The Completion Report will have a unique number (also called the Reference Number) and an expiration date.

The Research Ethics and Compliance Office does not provide copies of completion reports to those who request them. Learners are responsible for all necessary documentation of their training, and may print copies of completion reports from within their learner's menu on the CITI web site at any time.The Research Ethics and Compliance Office is able to verify the authenticity of CITI Training completion reports. Contact the office at 438-2529 if you need to verify a report's authenticity.

Please note that falsification of CITI training completion reports is a violation of Illinois State University's Research Integrity Policy, and if discovered, will be responded to accordingly.

Any university unit, office, or committee wishing to require completion of any of the various research ethics training courses by unit/committee members, staff or students should contact the Office of Research Ethics and Compliance at 438-2529 to discuss available options.