Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

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Research training requires successful completion of online training modules from the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) website. All individuals, including principal investigators, co-investigators, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, undergraduate and graduate students, and all other personnel engaged in research, must complete the CITI training modules. Depending on the number and complexity of trainings your research area requires, the time to complete your training modules may range from four to eight hours. You may exit and resume the training at any time. Once completed, a refresher course is required every three years. You will receive a reminder notification before your training’s expiration date. At any time, you may return to the training modules and print a certificate.

Step 1: Register for Your CITI Account

The steps to register for a CITI account are the same across IACUC, IBC and IRB. Once you have registered for an account, follow the instructions in Step 2 below to find the training modules required for your specific program.

  • Access the CITI website.
  • Create an account by clicking Register in the top right-hand corner of the webpage.
  • Do not create a new username and password if you have registered before.

For Students

  • Search and choose the affiliation (East Texas A&M University)
  • Check both of these options:
    • “I AGREE to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy“
    • “I affirm that I am an affiliate of ETAMU.”
  • Then there will be two buttons to choose from – Log in with East Texas A&M University or Create a CITI Program Account.
  • Choose Create a CITI Program Account
  • You will be provided with a series of enrollment questions.
  • Use your school email address as a primary email and your personal email as a secondary email.
  • Complete the remaining registration form and questions.

If the question does not have a red asterisk “(*)” on it and you are unsure, then you may leave the question blank.

For Faculty

  • Search and choose the affiliation (East Texas A&M University – SSO)
  • Check both – Terms of Service, then affirmation that the student is affiliated with ETAMU.
  • Then there will be two buttons to choose from: Log in with East Texas A&M University or Create a CITI Program Account. Choose Log in with East Texas A&M University.
  • Sign-in using your SSO Credentials

Students and Faculty: If you already have an account, please log in, scroll down to the Courses section, select Add Courses, and then complete the questions as outlined below.

Step 2: Find Your Modules

Now that you have registered for a CITI account, it’s time to locate and complete your training modules. Navigate to the section below that relates to your research to see specific training requirements.

Note: You do not need to complete training in ALL areas listed below. You only need to complete training in the field that relates to your particular research (animals vs. biosafety vs. humans).

Researching Animals: Complete Animal Care and Use Training

East Texas A&M requires all individuals conducting or participating in research projects involving animal care and use (including faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, and students) to complete training on proper animal care and use.

  • Responsible Conduct of Research – On Question 1: Responsible Conduct of Research, select either Biomedical or Physical Science, depending on your research area.
  • Laboratory Animal Welfare – On Question 3: Laboratory Animal Welfare, click on Working with the IACUC Course.
  • Species Specific Modules – Also on Question 3, you will need to complete the appropriate Species-Specific Module depending upon your research area.
  • Minimizing Pain and Distress – Complete this module if you plan to conduct studies that have the potential to cause “more than momentary pain and distress” in mice or rats.
  • Aseptic Surgery – Complete this module if you intend to conduct major survival surgery or non-survival surgeries in non-rodent species.

Once you have made your selections, click Submit at the bottom of the page. This will take you to the courses that you need to complete.

Researching Chemical or Biological Samples: Complete Biosafety Training

  • Responsible Conduct of Research – On Question 1: Responsible Conduct of Research, select either Biomedical or Physical Science, depending on your research area.
  • Questions 2 and 3: Select “No thank you.”
  • Introduction to Biosafety Groups – Select this option from Question 4.
  • Basic Biosafety Training Groups Training for Investigators, Staff and Students Handling Biohazards – Select this option from Question 4.

Once you have made your selections, click Submit at the bottom of the page. This will take you to the courses that you need to complete.

Researching Human Beings: Complete Human Participants Training

East Texas A&M University is committed to the protection of human subjects involved in research and other scholarly activities conducted by our faculty, staff or students. On the CITI website, you must complete:

  • Responsible Conduct of Research – On Question 1: Responsible Conduct of Research, select Social & Behavioral.
  • Human Subjects Research – On Question 2, select Social & Behavioral Research Investigators.

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