Research Security Training: Requirements & Instruction

In accordance with National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 and federal agency instructions, the University is requiring senior/key personnel to have completed research security training within one year prior to proposal submission, effective as of the following dates.

• Department of Energy: for proposals submitted on or after May 1, 2025
• National Science Foundation: for proposals submitted on or after December 2, 2025 (originally scheduled for October 10, 2025, but later postponed because of the government shutdown)
• National Institutes of Health: for applications submitted on or after May 25, 2026
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: for proposals submitted on or after February 14, 2026, per a directive from the Secretary of Agriculture
• Other agencies: specific timing TBD
   

See our Research Security Training FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
 

Completing and Documenting Research Security Training

What training is required?

For University of Minnesota personnel, research security training is administered through the CITI Program. The CITI Program Research Security Training (Combined) course takes about an hour to complete.
Note: You will need to complete the session in one sitting. If you time or log out and return later, the module will automatically reset to the beginning.
 

How do I take this training?

Adding the course to your CITI account.

1. Log in to your CITI Program Account.
   1. Click “LOG IN THROUGH MY ORGANIZATION” (the middle option).
   2. Enter “University of Minnesota” and select it from the drop-down menu.
   3. Click “Continue to SSO Login/Instructions” and enter your University ID and password.
   4. Follow any additional prompts to finish logging in to your account.

   5. If you do not have or cannot set up an account, please contact your CITI Program Administrator or email [email protected] 

      
2. Once you’ve logged in, go to the “My Courses” tab.

3. At the bottom of the page, click “Add a Course.”

   

4. For Question 1, you will need to answer whether you need to complete the RCR Core Training. If you have already completed this, click the third checkbox that says “Not applicable or already completed.” For more information, visit UMN RCR Education.

   
5. Go to the Question for “Research Security Training (Combined)” (Question 2 in the example below; your view may be different).

6. Click “Research Security Training (Combined).” Note you will not need to complete any additional questions (unless you are interested in other courses).

   
7. At the bottom of the page, click “Submit.”
8. Follow any additional prompts as needed.
    
    

Taking the Course

1. “Research Security Training (Combined)” should now appear under your “My Courses” CITI page. This title might be far down the page, depending on other CITI courses to which you have access.
2. Click “Start Now.”
3. Review the Assurance Statement, select “I AGREE,” and click “Submit.”
4. Click “Start,” follow any prompts, and complete the training.
    

How do I document that I took this course?

1. Go to “My Records” at the top of your CITI page.
2. Scroll down to “Research Security Training (Combined).”

3. Download and save your Completion Certificate–not the Completion Report.

   
4. Upload a copy of your Completion Certificate (and the Completion Certificates of any relevant key/senior personnel) with your MN-GEMS proposal when submitting a proposal subject to an agency research security training requirement.
    

Where can I get help with questions about this process specifically, or federal agency research security training requirements more generally?

Please do not hesitate to contact the University’s Export Controls and Research Security team at [email protected].