Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
Education
SECTION ONE: REQUIREMENTS
All Rutgers faculty, students, and other individuals involved in human subjects research* are
required to complete the Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) Basic Course and complete the
CITI Refresher Course every three (3) years thereafter. This requirement extends to all IRB
members and Human Subjects Protection program staff.
Campus IRBs will not issue final approval of any IRB submissions until it is verified that listed study
personnel have completed the current requirements for human subjects research education.
Detailed Requirements:
You must take Rutgers’ CITI educational program prior to engaging in human subjects research if:

a human subjects research project is going to be performed in whole or in part on
Rutgers premises. Those study personnel engaged in the research to be conducted on
Rutgers premises must take the CITI program. It doesn't matter whether these individuals
are affiliated with Rutgers or with another institution and it doesn't matter which IRB or
IRBs have reviewed and approved the study.

a Rutgers IRB is the sole IRB reviewing and approving a human subjects research
project. All study personnel engaged in research for that project must take the CITI
program. It doesn't matter where the research is being performed and it doesn't matter
whether the individuals engaged in the research are Rutgers-affiliated or affiliated with
another institution.

a Rutgers-affiliated individual is going to engage in human subjects research (faculty,
non-faculty staff, house staff officer, student, volunteer or other agent, acting in connection
with his or her Rutgers responsibilities or educational program). An individual must take the
CITI program, regardless of where the research is being performed, or which IRB or IRBs will
review and approve the research.

a research project will make use of Rutgers private, identifiable information about
human subjects or potential subjects. Study personnel using this information must take the
CITI program, regardless of where the research is being performed, which IRB or IRBs will
review the research, or whether the study personnel are affiliated with Rutgers.

Individuals not "engaged in research," as defined by federal Guidance on this topic,
need not take the CITI program under any circumstances. Consultation with Rutgers
IRB staff should be sought prior to determining whether certain activities for a human
subjects research project constitute "engagement in research." If you have any questions
regarding the requirements detailed above, you may contact Rutgers’ CITI Administrator @
(973) 972-9595 or your Campus IRB office for assistance.
Initial Registration for New Learners - Print View (PDF format)
1. Go to http://www.citiprogram.org and select 'New Users: Register Here'.
2. Select Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey (All Campuses) from the drop down
menu of participating institutions.
3. Enter a user name & password, name and other demographics as prompted. For Rutgers
faculty and staff, your user name must be your Rutgers NetID. For affiliates, you may
use your professional/personal email account.
4. To complete the CITI registration process, you must choose an answer to the enrollment
questions as follows:
Question 1: With very few exceptions, new learners must select the first option:
“CITI Human Subject Protections Basic Course”.
Question 2: Please choose from one of the first five options appropriate to your research activities.
Question 3: If you have not previously completed a CITI Basic Course, you must select
“I have not previously completed a Rutgers-approved CITI Basic Course”.
Any other answer here will take you to a “Refresher Course” for that curriculum. Please note that
new Rutgers learners must complete the Basic Course first.
Questions 4 thru 6 – SKIP However, you can select those optional modules if you choose to
complete them. If not, you can return to the website and add those modules at your
convenience. (See instructions below to “Add a Course or Update Your Learner Groups”)
Completing the course - Print View (PDF format)
Enter the course from “Main Menu” under “My Courses”. You will see the “Status” column, click
“Enter”. This will permit access to the required modules and associated quizzes.
Each module of the required Basic Course takes approximately 15 – 20 minutes to complete. You
may log in as many times as necessary; however, you may only print a ‘Completion Report’ after all
required modules / quizzes are completed.
The minimum passing aggregate score is 80%. A running tally is automatically compiled for you by
the CITI system.
To return to CITI at any time, log in as “Already Registered”. Click on the “Re-enter” link on the
“Main Menu” under ‘Status’ to access remaining modules and quizzes.
CITI Completed at other institution - Print View (PDF format)
Changing Affiliation to Rutgers or Adding an Affiliation - The State University of New
Jersey (All Campuses):
If you have taken the CITI education at another institution within the last three (3) years, you may
not need to repeat the Basic Course at this time. However, Rutgers needs to verify that the CITI
modules you have completed meet the Rutgers human subjects protection education requirement.
To do this, you must change your affiliation to “Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey
(All Campuses)”.

Return to the main learner menu and select 'Affiliate with another institution'. Work
through this screen. You will be prompted to answer six enrollment question

Question 1:

Question 2: To select a learner group, choose from one of the first five options only.

Question 3: You must select “I have not previously completed a Rutgers-approved CITI
Select “CITI Human Subject Protections Basic Course”.
Basic Course”. This allows the computer system to compare CITI modules already taken
with those required by Rutgers.

Questions 4 thru 6 - SKIP, However, you can select those optional modules if you choose
to complete them. If not, you can return to the website and add those modules at your
convenience.

At “Main Menu” under “My Courses”. You will see the “Status” column which will appear
as either “Complete” or “Incomplete”. Click on the “Re-enter” link to gain access to any
outstanding modules needed to complete Rutgers’ specific education requirement. If your
status appears as complete, this means there are no additional modules you need to take at
this time; simply click “Print” for the completion report.
Printing a completion report:
Print a “Completion Report” as evidence that you have met Rutgers educational requirement. You
can also return to the CITI site at any time to obtain a copy as needed.
Add a Course or Update Your Learner Groups
To add a course or update your learner groups for Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey (All
Campuses)

Go to http://www.citiprogram.org and select “Already Registered”.
Select “Add a course or update your learner groups for Rutgers - The State University of New
Jersey (All Campuses)”. You will be taken to the “Select Curriculum” page
Question 1, select “CITI Human Subject Protections Basic Course”.
Question 2, select the additional course you want to access.
Question 3, select the course you previously completed.
Skip Question 4, unless you are also adding Laboratory Animal Welfare research course.
Questions 5 and 6 – Select all courses which are of interest to you and click “Continue”.
Enter the course from “Main Menu” under “My Courses”. You will see the “Status” column,
click “Enter”. This will permit access to the required modules and associated quizzes.
Refresher requirements:
Rutgers requires that once you have completed a Basic Course in human subjects
protection, you must also complete the Rutgers CITI Refresher Course every three (3) years.
Your CITI profile will be electronically notified when you are required to take the Refresher
Course ninety (90) days prior to expiration. Please refer to your HSCP certification letter to
determine an expiration date of three years post initial certification.
Questions:
You may contact the Rutgers CITI Administrator @ (973) 972-9595 or your Campus IRB office
for assistance.