Office of Research Compliance Training Requirements

CITI Training Overview

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) is a web-based training program hosted by the University of Miami that offers training in human subjects’ research protections, animal care and use, biosafety, the responsible conduct of research, and export controls. Depending on the study that you are conducting, investigators, researchers and personnel all must participate in CITI training. CITI training is of no cost to you as the learner.

Stony Brook University uses the CITI Program as the main online training for its research compliance programs.

What training do I need?

This may depend on the type of research being conducted and also the type of funding the research study may have.

My research study is funded:

If your study is externally funded, conflict of interest (COI) training is required.

The only exceptions to the COI requirement are study personnel who are listed as high school students, undergraduate students, or administrators.

This training must be taken at least once every 4 years

There are two types of COI training that can be completed, one training that supports PHS (Public Health Service) funding and a Non-PHS training that supports non-federally funded awards such as private organizations.

Please see instructions on how to add the SBU CITI COI course here.

For more information on Conflict of Interest at Stony Brook, please click here.
You must complete the CITI COI course listed above.

The PI and ALL members of their study team (Faculty, Post-doctoral Fellows, Research Staff, Graduate Students, Undergraduate students) must also complete the CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course.

This training is taken 1 time.

This follows the new mandates issued 7/2023 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) which expands the existing Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) training requirements. More information about these requirements can be found here.

Please see instructions on how to add the SBU CITI RCR course here.

*This course does NOT satisfy SBU CITI Human Subjects training requirements.

For more information regarding SBU Responsible Conduct of Research at Stony Brook, click here.
You and your study team must complete the above CITI COI training. Additionally, you must also complete the CITI Good Clinical Trial Practices Course.

This training must be taken at least once every 3 years.

Please see instructions on how to add the SBU CITI Good Clinical Trial Practices course here.

My research study involves:

- The PI and ALL study team members must complete CITI Human Subjects training. This consists of either Group 1 SBS training or Group 2 Biomedical training.
The CITI training is valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the learner will need to complete a “refresher course.”

Please see instructions on how to add the SBU CITI Human Subjects Protection Course here.

*Do NOT select any “IRB Members ONLY” courses as these courses are much longer and are intended only for IRB committee members who are reviewing research.
- Those "on file" as a Research Coordinator through the SOM's Office of Clinical Trials must also take the CITI Clinical Research Coordinator Course.
This is a 1 time course.

Please see instructions on how to add the SBU CITI Clinical Research Coordinator Course here

For more information on conducting Human Subjects Research at Stony Brook, please click here.
- Additionally, you must review your Department Complementary Policies as well the SBU Institutional Policies to review what Responsible Conduct of Research trainings are required (in-person and/or online).
Please see instructions on how to add the SBU CITI RCR course here.

Please contact the Office of Research Compliance (ORC_OVPR@stonybrook.edu) to set up any RCR in-person training.

*This course does NOT satisfy SBU CITI Human Subjects training requirements.

For more information regarding SBU Responsible Conduct of Research at Stony Brook, click here.
You must complete the CITI Human Stem Cells Course.

This is a 1 time course.

Please see instructions on how to add the SBU CITI Human Stem Cell Research here.

Please also see the Human Subject Research section for training requirements if applicable.

For more information on conducting Human Stem Cells Research at Stony Brook, please click here.

I am conducting research involving Recombinant and/or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecule

You are required to read and understand the following documents:

NIH Guidelines (updated 4/2024)

SBU Biosafety Standard Operating Procedures

You must also complete the following Environmental Health and Safety trainings below:

ELS 002: Lab Safety - Chemical Hazards
ELS 003: Lab Safety - Biological Hazards
ELS 003: Lab Safety - Biological Hazards
ENV 005: Regulated Waste Management
EOS 004: Bloodborne Pathogens

Please reach out to Christopher Kuhlow (Christopher.Kuhlow@stonybrook.edu 631-632-3717) at Environmental Health and Safety to complete the required EH&S Trainings.

Please also see the Human Subject Research section for training requirements if applicable.

For more information on conducting research involving Recombinant and/or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecule at Stony Brook, please click here.

I am conducting Research Involving Animals

You must complete the CITI Laboratory Animal Welfare Course. Contact the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) for the required CITI Modules that pertain to your research.

This is a one time course unless the species being studied changes.

*Investigators and Key Personnel do not select the “IACUC Members ONLY” option.

Please see instructions on how to add the SBU CITI Laboratory Animal Welfare Course here.

In addition to the CITI course, you must also satisfy the following 5 requirements:

OLAW instructions for DLAR Access

Completion of Division of Occupational, Environmental and Clinical Preventive Medicine Compliance for all individuals listed on applications and registration forms. (i.e. Occupational Health Clearance).

Complete the Mandatory DLAR Introduction to the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources.

Review all Standard Operating Procedures that pertain to the research you are doing before you begin your research activities.

Familiarize yourself with SBU, DLAR, and federal policies on animal research.

For more information on conducting research involving animals at Stony Brook, please click here.

You must reach out to Rebecca Dahl (Rebecca.Dahl@stonybrook.edu , 631-632-6541) for 1:1 training.

Review the controlled substances powerpoint training found here.

Please also see the Human Subject Research section for training requirements if applicable.

For more information on controlled substances research at Stony Brook, please click here.
No additional training is required for RDRC studies.

Please also see the Human Subject Research section for training requirements if applicable.

For more information on radioactive drug metabolism research at Stony Brook, please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have accidentally created multiple CITI accounts at SBU:

Contact CITI to transfer modules in common. Please contact CITI at support@citiprogram.org and include in your email:
- Your name
- Your Institution's name
- Member ID #, Last name, First name, and Username of the learner whose account you wish to keep
- Member ID #, Last name, First name, and Username of the learner whose account you wish to merge
The learner will need to complete the appropriate Stony Brook University courses by completing any outstanding modules applicable after merging the 2 profiles.