Training

MSU licenses training from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) for many subjects, including human research protection. After training is completed in the CITI system, records are transferred to MSU’s training compliance system (Ability LMS) for compliance tracking.

Log in to CITI

Help weekdays: ORRS.train@msu.edu 

• How to Get Access and Set-up a CITI Account

  Follow the instructions provided by the MSU Office of Research Regulatory Support for getting access and account set up. 

• How to Sign Up for CITI Human Research Protection Courses for MSU
  1. Log into CITI.
     1. If you haven’t used CITI before, follow the Office of Research Regulatory Support instructions for getting access and account set-up
     2. If you have used CITI before, log in using MSU’s single-sign-on process
        
        
  2. Select a curriculum.
     1. If you are a new CITI user and haven’t selected the human subjects research curriculum:
        1. When selecting a curriculum, for Question 4, Human Subjects Research, select either “Biomedical Researchers” or “Social-Behavioral Educational Researchers.”
     2. If you have used CITI at MSU before but haven’t selected the new human subjects research course:
        1. Within the “My Courses” tab, select View Courses for Michigan State University.
        2. Scroll down and select “Add a course” within Learner Tools for Michigan State University.
        3. This will take you to select a curriculum. For Question 4, Human Subjects Research, select either “Biomedical Researchers” or “Social-Behavioral Educational Researchers.”
     3. If you have used CITI at another organization, you may need to affiliate with MSU if you have not done so before.
        1. Within My Courses, select “Add Affiliation.”
        2. MSU is using single sign on, so be sure to select the hyperlink to select Michigan State University.
        3. As part of MSU’s select curriculum, for Question 4, Human Subjects Research, select either “Biomedical Researchers” or “Social-Behavioral Educational Researchers.”
           
           
           
  3. Find and complete the course.
     1. Within “My Courses,” the course you selected (Biomedical Researchers or Social-Behavioral Educational Researchers) will display as an active course.
     2. Select Continue Course to complete the required modules.
     3. A cumulative score of 80% is required to complete the course.
     4. Supplemental modules are available to complete as relevant to your research.
• CITI Transition

  The MSU HRPP is updating its training requirements for researchers, transitioning to the use of CITI Program courses for human research protection training.

  Advantages of using CITI include:

  • Many academic and other institutions use CITI for human research protection training

  • CITI modules completed at another institution will transfer when a researcher adds MSU affiliation in CITI

  • MSU uses CITI for other training such as Responsible Conduct of Research

  • CITI provides options for either biomedical or social science / behavioral / education focused human research protection training modules

  With the transition to CITI, refresher courses offered by CITI will also be required every four years for researchers with active human research projects.

  The MSU HRPP will still accept alternative human research protection training for non-MSU individuals.

  Phase 1 – Researchers who have Not Completed MSU Human Research Protection Courses

  The first phase of the CITI transition will begin with new researchers who have not completed MSU’s previous human research protection program training.

  Beginning January 5, 2026, researchers who have not completed MSU’s previous human research protection training will be required to complete the CITI human research protection training courses. Researchers will be able to select from either biomedical focused CITI human research protection modules or social science / behavioral / education focused CITI human research protection modules.

  Phase 2 – Researchers who have Completed MSU Human Research Protection Courses

  The second phase will transition all MSU researchers to the CITI courses.

  Researchers who completed MSU’s human research protection training (MSU Legacy HRPP Training) and are still conducting human research will be required to complete the CITI human research protection training courses by January 4, 2027.  Researchers will be able to select from either biomedical focused CITI modules or social science / behavioral / education focused CITI modules.

  Questions

  The HRPP website will be updated with additional information about CITI and human research protection training.

  To learn more, please visit MSU HRPP Manual 11-1-A, Education: Investigators and Research Staff.

  If you have any questions, please contact: irb@msu.edu

• Ability and Historical Training Records
  If you completed your human research protection training in Ability prior to January 5, 2026, you may still access your completion information and certificate if needed. Log into Ability to obtain previous human research protection training information and certificates.

Required Training

Human Research Protection (HRPP/IRB)

Anyone engaged in human research overseen by MSU must complete the human research protection training.

Beginning January 5, 2026, new researchers who have not yet completed MSU’s previous human research protection training will be required to complete the CITI human research protection training courses.

Researchers who completed MSU’s human research protection training (MSU Legacy HRPP Training) prior to January 5, 2026 and are still conducting human research will be required to complete the CITI human research protection training courses by January 4, 2027.  

Researchers may choose to complete either the CITI training for Biomedical Researchers or Social/Behavioral/Educational Researchers.

• CITI Courses for Biomedical Researchers

  The CITI online training modules for Biomedical Researchers include:

  • History of Ethics of Human Subjects Research
  • Basic Institutional Review Board (IRB) Regulations and Review Process
  • Informed Consent
  • Social and Behavioral Research (SBR) for Biomedical Researchers
  • Populations in Research Requiring Additional Considerations and/or Protections
  • Avoiding Group Harms - U.S. Research Perspectives
  • Recognizing and Reporting Unanticipated Problems Involving Risks to Subjects or Others in Biomedical Research
  • Conflicts of Interest in Human Subjects Research
• CITI Courses for Social / Behavioral / Education Researchers

  The CITI online training modules for Social / Behavioral / Education Researchers include:

  • History and Ethical Principles
  • Defining Research with Human Subjects
  • The Federal Regulations
  • Assessing Risk
  • Informed Consent
  • Privacy and Confidentiality
  • Unanticipated Problems and Reporting Requirements in Social and Behavioral Research
  • Conflicts of Interest in Human Subjects Research

Alternate training to CITI can be accepted for several reasons.

• Alternate Training - Non-MSU Individuals

  Non-MSU individuals (individuals affiliated with another institution), excluding Henry Ford Health employees, may submit a request to accept a completion record for another institution’s human subject protection course as an alternate to the MSU required CITI training modules.

• Alternate Training - Henry Ford Health (HFH) Employed Individuals

  Human research protection training requirements for HFH employed individuals are deemed equivalent and do not need to be submitted for alternate training acceptance.

• Alternate Training - Unable to Complete Online Modules
  An individual may submit a request for alternate arrangements when unable to complete the online modules (e.g. no access to internet). Alternate arrangements for training can be made when an individual is unable to complete the online modules.

Human Research Protection Refresher Training

Principal Investigators (PI) are responsible for ensuring that individuals engaged in their research project maintain relevant and appropriate training, including the protection of human subjects in research. The PI are expected to evaluate the training needs of individuals engaged in their human research project and to provide continuing training as appropriate to the individual’s role and responsibilities.

Individuals will be required to complete a refresher CITI course that includes conflict of interest every four years.

Good Clinical Practice Training (GCP Certification)

All NIH-funded investigators and clinical trial staff who are involved in the conduct, oversight, or management of clinical trials should be trained in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), including principal investigators and clinical staff.

Visit the GCP page for more information, including requirements.