Training Requirements
Training Requirements
Training in human subjects protections.
Who has to be trained?
- The Principal Investigator (PI)
- The Faculty Advisor, if the PI is a student
- The PI Proxy, if appointed
- Any individual who will be interacting or intervening with human subjects in a research context (this includes administering online surveys)
- Any individual who will have access to identifiable private information in a research context
How is this requirement met?
WWU has partnered with The CITI Program (citiprogram.org) to provide a free online regulatory training course in human subjects protections.
The course we accept is called the "Social & Behavioral Researcher Basic/Refresher" Course. There are both required and optional modules within the course. On average, the required modules take ~4 – 5 hours to complete. Some modules are labeled as optional because they do not apply to every study. Please complete any optional modules that are applicable based on your intended research. For example, if you intend to conduct research with children, please take the optional “Research with Children” module.
See our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions .
If you already have a certificate issued through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Online Course, that certificate is valid until expiration (5 years after completion). This certificate cannot be renewed, as the NIH no longer offers this course.
Alternative training programs must be approved by RSP.
When does the training need to happen?
Personnel should be trained before any interaction or intervention with human subjects or access to identifiable private information.
How often is training required?
Training is required every 5 years. PIs are responsible for ensuring that they and their research staff have up-to-date training.
How should training certifications be stored?
PIs must maintain documentation of trainings according to the WWU Records Retention Schedule (6 years after completion of the study). A list of past and present research personnel should be maintained. For certifications completed through CITI, documentation is automatically stored online. For paper-based records, like with NIH certificates, the PI will need to store these certificates and track their expiration dates to ensure that personnel have up-to-date training.
Training Requirements
- Financial Conflict of Interest Training
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training
- Time and Effort Reporting Training
- If the research is conducted with humans, review the "for research with humans" section
- If the research is conducted wtih animals, review the "for research with animals" section
1. Financial Conflict of Interest Training
How is this requirement met?
- Face to face training needs to be scheduled with Janai Symons. Please contact our office to set up a training session. AND
- This form must be signed and submitted: Financial Conflict of Interest Form
Who has to be trained?
All Public Health Services sponsored investigators
When does the training need to happen?
- Prior to submission of a proposal for funds OR
- Prior to the disbursement of funds
How often is training & verfication form required?
- Every 4 years
- Following a finding of noncompliance
- Following a revision of the University financial conflict of interest policy
How should training certifications be stored?
PIs must maintain documentation of trainings according to the WWU Records Retention Schedule (6 years after completion of the study).
Policy reference
2. Responsible Conduct of Research Training
How is this requirement met?
Part 1. Online Training
WWU has partnered with The CITI Program (citiprogram.org) to provide a free online regulatory training course in the responsible conduct of research. The course we accept is called the "RCR Basic" Course. See our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions.
Part 2. Face-to-Face Training
NIH requires 8 hours of face to face training annually. Please contact the Research Compliance Officer Janai Symons to set up a training session.
Who has to be trained?
- All of the following individuals on training grants, career development awards (individual or institutional), research education grants, or dissertation research grants:
- Investigators
- Trainees
- Fellows
- Participants
- Scholars
When does the training need to happen?
- Part 1. Online Training: prior to the disbursement of grant funds
- Part 2. Face-to-face Training: annually; prior to the disbursement of grant funds
How often is training required?
- Part 1. Online Training: every 4 years
- Part 2. Face-to-face Training: annually
How should training certifications be stored?
PIs must maintain documentation of trainings according to the WWU Records Retention Schedule (6 years after completion of the study).
Policy reference
- POL-U4520.07 Training for Research/Scholarly Activities on National Institute of Health (NIH) or National Science Foundation (NSF)-Sponsored Agreements
- H. R. 2272, section 7009 of the “Update on the Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research”
3. Time and Effort Reporting Training
Please talk to your pre-award or post-award contact about Time and Effort Reporting.
Policy Reference
- POL—U4520.05 Certifying Effort for Federally-Funded Agreements
- PRO—U4520.05 Certifying Effort for Federally-Funded Agreements
Training Requirements
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training
- Time and Effort Reporting Training
- If the research is conducted with humans, review the "for research with humans" section
- If the research is conducted with animals, review the "for research with animals" section
1. Responsible Conduct of Research Training
How is this requirement met?
WWU has partnered with The CITI Program (citiprogram.org) to provide a free online regulatory training course in the responsible conduct of research. The course we accept is called the "RCR Basic" Course. See our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions .
Who has to be trained?
- All of the following individuals on training grants, career development awards (individual or institutional), research education grants, or dissertation research grants:
- Investigators
- Trainees
- Fellows
- Participants
- Scholars
When does the training need to happen?
- Prior to submission of a proposal for funds OR
- Prior to the disbursement of funds
How often is training required?
Every 4 years
How should training certifications be stored?
PIs must maintain documentation of trainings according to the WWU Records Retention Schedule (6 years after completion of the study).
Policy reference
- POL-U4520.07 Training for Research/Scholarly Activities on National Institute of Health (NIH) or National Science Foundation (NSF)-Sponsored Agreements
- H. R. 2272, section 7009 of the “America COMPETES Act”
- the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (Grant Proposal Guide and Award and Administration Guide)
- 2 CFR Part 422 for Research Institutions Conducting USDA-Funded Extramural Research
2. Time and Effort Reporting Training
Please talk to your pre-award or post-award contact about Time and Effort Reporting.
Policy Reference
- POL—U4520.05 Certifying Effort for Federally-Funded Agreements
- PRO—U4520.05 Certifying Effort for Federally-Funded Agreements
Training Requirements
- Financial Conflict of Interest Training
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training
- Time and Effort Reporting Training
- If the research is conducted with humans, review the "for research with humans" section
- If the research is conducted wtih animals, review the "for research with animals" section
1. Financial Conflict of Interest Training
How is this requirement met?
Face to face training
Who has to be trained?
All Public Health Services sponsored investigators
When does the training need to happen?
- Prior to submission of a proposal for funds OR
- Prior to the disbursement of funds
How often is training required?
- Every 4 years
- Following a finding of noncompliance
- Following a revision of the University financial conflict of interest policy
How should training certifications be stored?
PIs must maintain documentation of trainings according to the WWU Records Retention Schedule (6 years after completion of the study).
2. Responsible Conduct of Research Training
How is this requirement met?
WWU has partnered with The CITI Program (citiprogram.org) to provide a free online regulatory training course in the responsible conduct of research. The course we accept is called the "RCR Basic" Course. See our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions .
Who has to be trained?
- All of the following individuals on training grants, career development awards (individual or institutional), research education grants, or dissertation research grants:
- Investigators
- Trainees
- Fellows
- Participants
- Scholars
When does the training need to happen?
- Prior to submission of a proposal for funds OR
- Prior to the disbursement of funds
How often is training required?
Every 4 years
How should training certifications be stored?
PIs must maintain documentation of trainings according to the WWU Records Retention Schedule (6 years after completion of the study).
Policy reference
- H. R. 2272, section 7009 of the “America COMPETES Act”
- 2 CFR Part 422 for Research Institutions Conducting USDA-Funded Extramural Research
3. Time and Effort Reporting Training
Please talk to your pre-award or post-award contact about Time and Effort Reporting.
There are no specific compliance training requirements known for WWU funded research.
Training Required
- You must have a certificate of training in animal welfare and protections.
- Lab specific trainings may also be required. Please consult with your lab.
Who has to be trained?
- Principal Investigators (PIs)
- Any individual named on the Animal Care and Use Protocol
- Any person working in the vivariam or labs containing animals
How is this requirement met?
WWU has partnered with The CITI Program (citiprogram.org) to provide a free online regulatory training course in animal protections.
When registering for the course, please select the checkbox next to the instructions “The ‘Working with the IACUC Course’ is required if you plan to use laboratory animals in your work or plan to supervise such work.” Please also select any of the optional modules that are applicable to your research.
See our How to Register for CITI Trainings Instructions .
When does the training need to happen?
Before submitting an application to conduct research with animals. In the case of open or ongoing applications, before any contact with the animals
How often is training required?
Every 5 years. PIs are responsible for ensuring that they and their research staff have up to date training.
How should training certifications be stored?
Principal Investigators must maintain documentation of trainings according to the WWU Records Retention Schedule (6 years after completion of the study).