CITI Frequently Asked Questions

CITI Instructional Presentation

Accessing CITI

About CITI

Who Needs to Complete Human Subjects Training?

Previously Completed/Expiring Human Subjects Certficates

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How do I access the CITI course?
NOTE: You will need to input your iStar username during the registration process so that CITI certification can be automatically uploaded into your iStar account. If you do not already have an iStar username, visit: Obtaining an iStar Account.

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To access the CITI course, follow these instructions…

  1. Go to the "CITI Login and Registration Page":
    http://www.citiprogram.org (opens in new window for easy toggle)
  2. If you already registered for CITI, enter your username and password (iStar username and password will NOT work unless you register). If you have not registered for CITI, proceed below.
  3. Click on the red hyperlink “Register Here”. It is located in the "New Users" section.
  4. Under the “Participating Institutions” drop down menu, locate University of Southern California and highlight. Click the “submit” button.
  5. Choose a unique username and password (username DOES NOT have to be your iStar username). Click the “submit” button.
  6. Enter your name and email address in the appropriate fields.
  7. Fill in the required fields in the "Member Information" page. (This is the section where you will input your iStar username). Only asterisked fields are required. Click the “submit information” button.
  8. Select a group appropriate to your research activities. If you are unsure of what user group applies to you, contact the CITI helpdesk.
  9. For the question, "Do you need to take training for more than one institution?", select "No" unless you are certain you need to take for another institution.
  10. You can begin the course from the "Learner's Menu" page. Click on the red hyperlink "Enter", located under the "Status" header.
  11. You can elect which modules to complete. Some users choose to complete modules related to their research, or modules that their department or advisor may require, or modules that are of interest. Yet it is mandatory that users obtain a cumulative score of at least 80% on the quizzes before a certificate is issued. You can retake any quiz as many time as you would like to improve your score.
  12. Log in as many times as necessary to complete the course. Once you have completed the course, a certificate will be issued and stored in your CITI account. Your certificate validity dates will be automatically uploaded into iStar.
  13. Contact the CITI help desk at (213) 821-5272 or citi@usc.edu if you have questions.


Which user-group should I select?
The user-group you select depends on:
A) which IRB you will submit to;
B) what your role is in human subjects research (PI, IRB member, student investigator, etc); and
C) the type of research you are doing: biomedical, social & behavioral, and
D) the level of IRB review (Exempt or Expedited/Full Board).

The different user-groups are listed below:

  • Health Sciences Investigators, Key Personnel, and HSIRB Members/Staff
  • Med Students Conducting Research; & HSC Investigators/Key Personnel Conducting Exempt Research**
  • University Park Student Investigators, Investigators/Key Personnel Conducting Exempt Research**, and Faculty Advisors on Student Research Projects
  • University Park Faculty/Staff Investigators, Key Personnel, and UPIRB Members/Staff
    •

    **Exempt research (e.g. de-identified data analysis, retrospective chart reviews, case reports, or key personnel listed for authorship purposes only). This course is NOT intended for studies involving vulnerable populations (e.g. children, pregnant women), or for Expedited or Full Board studies.


What do I do with my certificate/completion report after completing the course?
Nothing! The completion report/certificate will be uploaded into your iStar account. The completion report will also be stored in your CITI profile for you to access at a later date if needed.


How long will it take for my iStar account to be uploaded in iStar?
Typically, the turnaround time is 2 weeks. Please contact the CITI helpdesk if your iStar account does not show that you completed the course after two weeks of completion.


How do I print a copy of my certification?
To print a copy of the CITI certificate do the following:

  1. Log in into CITI (How do I access the CITI course?)
  2. From the "Learners Menu" page, click on the "Completion Reports" link
  3. The "Completion Reports" page will list all the CITI courses you have completed
  4. Click on the completion report you want to print


I Forgot My Username and/or Password?"
Automatically retrieve your username and/or password by clicking here: "Forgot login information". Or you can contact the USC CITI Helpdesk. Do not create a new account!


USC CITI Helpdesk
USC CITI Help Desk
(213) 821-5272
citi@usc.edu


What is CITI?
CITI (Collaborative IRB Training Initiative) is the premiere online human subjects education program. It is currently used at more than 800 institutions. It was created, developed, and is maintained by experts from the human subjects research community.


How does CITI work?
The CITI program provides key personnel the opportunity to complete education modules and quizzes relevant to their research and discipline. A pool of modules is offered from which key personnel elect which ones to complete. A cumulative score of at least 80% is required for a completion certificate to be issued. The certificate is automatically uploaded into iStar, so there are no additional steps needed once you complete the program.


Why do I need to take CITI?
Mandatory CITI education fulfills USC's commitment to promote ethical conduct towards human subjects in all research projects, funded or unfunded. An IRB application, with key personnel listed who do not receive CITI certification, WILL NOT BE APPROVED BY THE IRB.


How often do I need to take human subjects education?
Key personnel listed on IRB applications are required to complete the CITI program or equivalent every three (3) years. Human subjects education certificates for Exempt projects do not expire. Confirmation of educational certification will be required prior to the approval of research projects submitted to the IRB.


How long will it take to complete the course?
Each CITI module has text to read and a quiz to complete. The average learner spends approximately 4.5 hrs in the Basic Course site and uses approximately 5 logins to complete the course.


Do I need CITI certification to have my IRB application approved?
YES!! And so do all key personnel listed on the IRB application. However, if you completed a human subjects education program at another institution, please send documentation of this to the CITI helpdesk or upload in your iStar account.


Who needs to take CITI?
All “key personnel” listed on the IRB application will be required to complete human subjects education before a study is approved by the IRB.


Who are “key personnel”?
“Key Personnel” are any individuals responsible for the protocol development or design, conduct, or reporting of research. These include but are not limited to: Principal Investigators (PIs), Co-PIs, faculty advisors, study coordinators, recruitment staff, and anyone else performing study procedures or interventions. If you are unsure whether or not you or someone on your study team needs to take CITI, please contact the USC CITI Helpdesk.


Who are NOT considered "key personnel"?
Individuals who are not considered “key personnel” are technical staff such as: coders, statisticians, data entry personnel, IT support, and others. Administrative staff including secretarial support, and logistics coordinators, and others types of administrative staff are also not considered “key personnel”. Although, these folks are not considered “key personnel” for the purpose of human subjects education they may be required to complete the HIPAA education program. Please see the Office of Compliance website: http://ooc.usc.edu/PrivacySecurity/HippaPrivacy/EduProgram.cfm


Do I need to take CITI if a project is "exempt"?
Yes, even if a project is exempt all key personnel are still required to CITI. A special user group is available for key personnel listed on "exempt" applications. Human subjects training certificates for Exempt research projects do not expire so there is no need to renew. The certificates do expire every three years for Expedited and Full Board studies.


Do I need to take CITI if a project was determined to be "not human subjects research"?
No. If a project was determined to be "not human subjects research" (e.g., this applies whether coded specimen/data or not meeting the federal definition) key personnel do not need to take the CITI course.


Do I need to take CITI if I already completed HIPAA and Contracts Management training?
Yes, you must complete CITI training even if you completed both HIPAA and the Contracts Management training. CITI is human subjects education while HIPAA and Contract Management training are not.


Do I need to take CITI for amendments to a previously approved IRB application?
Amendments for adding "key personnel" on a study require that the added individual(s) complete CITI before the amendment is approved.


I already have certification from an outside institution?
Valid human subjects education certification accepted by other institutions such as NIH (National Institute of Health), Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) or Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center will be accepted in lieu of CITI certification. Please email a copy of this certification to citi@usc.edu


How do I upload my certificate from an outside institution into iStar?
Please email a copy of this certification to citi@usc.edu


How do I check my certification expiration date?
To check the expiration date of your human subjects education certificate do the following:

  1. Log into iStar https://istar.usc.edu
  2. Click on your name in the upper right-hand corner to bring up your profile.
  3. Scroll down the profile page to the “certifications” section.
  4. Your certification expiration date will be listed there.


I received a notice from iStar indicating my certificate is about to expire, what do I do?
If you received a notice from iStar indicating your certificate is about to expire, you must re-certify. The human subjects education policy is that investigators/key personnel must complete training every 3 years (except for those conducting only Exempt research). CITI has a refresher course available to those individuals who have previously completed human subjects training and offers an overview of the more salient aspects of human subjects research.


What is the human subjects "refresher course"? Can I take it?
The human subjects "refresher course" is offered to investigators/key personnel who have previously completed a human subjects training course. The "refresher course" is not intended for those completing human subjects training for the first time (the basic course is designed for them). To complete the "refresher course" login into CITI, click on the "Add a course or update your learner groups" link, follow the prompts, and elect "refresher course" when prompted.


I need to complete GCP training and the human subjects "refresher" course, must I take both?
No. Investigators/key personnel that complete GCP training DON’T need to complete the human subjects "refresher course" (course offered in CITI after initial three year certificate expires). The GCP course will fulfill the "refresher" human subjects training requirement for three years from the date it is completed. However, the human subjects “refresher course” does not fulfill the GCP training requirement. GCP training is a one time requirement while human subjects education is required every three years.