CITI Course Instructions
Loyola University Chicago uses the online training course, provided by the University of Miami, called
the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course to provide convenient web based training
programs to the research community. Completion of the CITI course quizzes with an overall score of 80
percent is required for certification. Please use the instructions below to access the course site, which
is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later. Researchers at Loyola University
Chicago may be required to complete some or all of the online CITI modules described below.
For IRB Certification
All personnel engaged in research with human subjects must obtain IRB certification by completing an
on-line training course. IRB certification is valid for three years and is required for IRB approval of a
research project. The CITI on-line training course replaces the IRB workshops that were offered in the
past. If you received IRB certification at a workshop within the last three years, you do not need to
complete this CITI course until your certification expires.
For IACUC Certification
All personnel engaged in activities with live vertebrate animals must obtain IACUC certification by
completing an on-line training course. IACUC certification is valid for three years and is required for all
personnel included on the IACUC application before approval of a research project.
For RCRS Distance Learner Certification or LUROP RCR Certification
For most researchers at Loyola, the RCR training is done in person as part of the UNIV370 RCRS course.
Visiting students (defined as students that are not enrolled in a Loyola University Chicago degree or
certificate program) and students in programs that do not require them to be “on-campus” at any point
(“Online” degree or certificate programs) can satisfy the RCRS training requirement by completing the
online RCR CITI Program. Completion of this program should be done prior to the student’s involvement
in formal research activity and the RCRS CITI Program completion certificate should be on file with the
Loyola University Chicago Office of Research Services. Following completion, please forward copies of
CITI training records to Andrew Ellis at aellis5@luc.edu.
This RCR training program is also required by some LUROP programs. If the LUROP office instructed you
to complete the online RCR program, please complete this training.
For Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) Certification
All personnel engaged in activity supported by, or proposed to be supported by, a Public Health Services
(PHS) agency are required to complete this online training. Financial Conflict of Interest certification is
valid for four years. When you have successfully completed the FCOI program, the CITI program will
email you a certificate of completion. For FCOI certification, you need to forward this email to the ORS
Director at wsellers@luc.edu.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Begin Your On-line Training
1. Go to http://www.citiprogram.org/
2. Click on “Register Here”
3. To select your Institution, go to the first drop-box labeled “Participating Institutions” and select
Loyola University Chicago; you do not have to select any other options
4. Select a user name and password (you will need these to re-enter the site)
5. Enter your first and last names
6. Enter your preferred email address - Please use your Loyola University email address (if you
have one)
7. Provide responses to questions 6, 7, and 8; then click “Submit”
8. Provide the information requested on the next screen; then click “Submit”
9. You should be ready to complete the Course Enrollment Questions page; select “Continue to
Question 1 at this time”
10. For Question 1: Select the group appropriate for your research activities: Select Group 1 or
Group 2
11. For Question2: Skip this section of you are not working with live vertebrate animals; if you are
working with animals select The “Working with the IACUC Course” and any additional courses
that apply to your research plans/interests
12. For Question 3: Indicate if you are required to take the LUROP RCR course or to complete online
RCR training; click “Submit”
13. For Question 4: Indicate if you are required to take the Financial Conflict of Interest online
training by selecting “Yes”, if not select “No”
14. Next CITI asks if you need to take training for more than one institution, Select No
15. You are now at the Learner’s Menu page
16. Under “My Courses,” select the course you want to start
17. After all modules for a section are complete, the CITI program will email you a completion
report and a copy will automatically be sent to the Office of Research Services (ORS). It may
take 5-7 business days after you complete the course for ORS to have your training record show
up in the CAP system (if applicable).
About the Courses
Although you have to take the modules in sequence, you do not have to complete them at one time. It
is preferable to do several at one sitting and then return to complete the unfinished modules.* The
software will keep track of the quizzes you have completed so that when you re-enter the site you will
know where to begin. The passing score on each module is 80 percent; if you do not pass the first time,
you can retake it until you get a passing grade. For further information about the course or Loyola’s
requirements, call ORS at (773) 508-2471. If you experience problems with the program software, call
CITI Support at (305) 243-7970 for assistance.
*To complete unfinished modules return to the CITI website, enter your user name a password, and at
the Learner’s Menu select “CITI Basic Course”; click on the incomplete module to resume training.