IRB Education & Training

Required Training

The following describe training requirements that must be completed by researchers and research personnel involved in the conduct of human research prior to participation in any aspect of research. For detailed information about training requirements, see HRP-103: Investigator Manual (download), (“What training is required to conduct Human Research?” section) and HRP-066-SOP: Human Research Education and Training.

Researchers and research personnel may also be required to complete additional training as noted by their organization, department, and/or unit.

Required for social-behavioral researchers and study personnel: The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course, “Social/Behavioral or Humanist Research Investigators and Key Personnel—Basic Course”. See the CITI Training Instructions below. This training is required by the IRB.
Required for biomedical principal investigators, researchers, and study personnel: The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course, “Good Clinical Practice and Human Research Protections for Biomedical Study Teams—Basic Course”. See the CITI Training Instructions below. This training is required by the IRB.
Required for all personnel who participate in the assessment of capacity of adults with absent, diminished, or fluctuating capacity to consent who will be enrolled in research: The "Assessing Capacity to Consent to Research" online course available through Training Hub. This course is required by the IRB.
Depending on the type of research, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training may be required. The training is available for UMN faculty and staff, and UMP employees through Training Hub. This training is required by the Health Information Privacy and Compliance Office (HIPCO).

Citi Training Instructions & Resources

University of Minnesota Employees

CITI uses a single sign-in application, so UMN employees can use their UMN internet IDs when logging into CITI.

To enroll in a course for the first time:

Click “I don't have a CITI Program account and I need to create one.”
Expand the tab “University of Minnesota Courses.”
Click “Add a Course.”
Select the training required by or most appropriate to your research activities.
Click “Submit.”

Use your U of M email address ([username]@umn.edu) for the institutional email in the CITI Program Profile. You can verify this by going to "My Profiles" in CITI.

To merge your U of M internet ID with a previously created CITI account, email [email protected] with the following information:

Your first and last name
The name of your institution
The username or Member ID for the account to keep
The username or Member ID for the account to merge

Non-University of Minnesota Employees

Non-University of Minnesota personnel participating in UMN research can complete CITI training at no cost.

Go to the CITI program site and click “Register.”
Enter "University of Minnesota" in the “Select Your Organization Affiliation” search field.
Provide the requested information in steps 2–6. For required questions that do not apply to you (e.g. your employee number), enter "N/A."
In step 7, select the training that is required and/or is most appropriate to your research activities.
Click “Submit.”

Additional CITI Resources

If you have completed your CITI training but it does not appear in the ETHOS training tab of your study, you may need to update your CITI profile. Please find those instructions here: Updating your CITI Profile.

Educational Opportunities

Assessing Capacity to Consent to Research

As noted above, the Assessing Capacity to Consent to Research course is required for study personnel participating in the consent process for studies enrolling adults with absent, diminished, or fluctuating capacity. However, it is encouraged for everyone who participates in the consent process for studies enrolling adult participants, whether or not the participants have absent, diminished, or fluctuating capacity to consent.

The course is accredited by the University of Minnesota Office of Continuing Professional Development. Additional information regarding continuing education credits is described in the course. Access the course through the Training Hub.

IRB Lunch and Learns

IRB staff lead regularly scheduled lunch meetings covering topics related to IRB preparation, review, and post-approval requirements. Sign up to receive calendar invitations for the series.

This recording list provides recordings of past IRB Lunch and Learn sessions. The content covered in the recordings is subject to change over time due to procedural or policy changes. For the most current information, please review the guidance in the HRPP Toolkit [e.g. Investigator Manual (HRP-103)].

ETHOS Learning Labs

The IRB offers monthly ETHOS learning labs via Zoom. Intended for both new and experienced ETHOS users, each session will include an overview of ETHOS followed by opportunities to ask questions, learn navigation tips, and apply new skills.

Learning labs are held the first Thursday of every month from 12:00-12:45 p.m. Registration is not required, just click here to join.

Tools & Resources

Informed Consent Resources

The following resources are available to assist in the development of the informed consent document and enhancing the informed consent process.

Electronic Consent

Using REDCap for eConsent Job Aid: Instructions on how to design an eConsent form in REDCap and how to setup eConsent for studies requiring a signature.

IRB/HRPP Training Calendar

Check this calendar for upcoming training opportunities for the research community, including Lunch and Learns, ETHOS Learning Labs, and others.