CITIProgram Certification
Emerson College faculty, staff, and students conducting human subjects research are required to complete either the Social & Behavioral Basic/Refresher course or the GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research course hosted by CITI Program.
- Go to CITIProgram.org.
- Register to create an account. Be sure to affiliate with Emerson College during registration.
- When asked to select your curriculum, choose "Social & Behavioral Research" under Question 2, or GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research under Question 4.
- Complete either the Social and Behavioral Basic/Refresher course or the GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research course.
- Researchers conducting research with certain populations (e.g., children), or in specific areas (international) should complete the appropriate supplemental modules tied to each course.
Following completion of courses, completion reports for Emerson College community members will be e-mailed to Emerson College's IRB. This certification is good for three years. After three years, individuals wishing to conduct human subjects research must retake either course listed above as a refresher.
External collaborators on studies should submit their CITI certifications or equivalent training through the Emerson community member submitting an application for review. These certifications should meet the requirements of their institutions.
Note: This change reflects the updates to the Research Integrity Training policy published in November 2025. Because these changes were implemented after the 2025-2026 Academic Year, the IRB will accept any new Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research certifications until August 31, 2026. After this point, the IRB will only accept the two courses outlined above. The IRB will also continue accepting Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research certifications completed prior to August 31, 2026 until these certifications expire, at which point the IRB must receive one of the two certifications listed above.
Additional Resources
The Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) has a number of great resources that complement and expand the training in CITIProgram. While not required for submissions to the IRB, they can help expand the understanding of the importance of human subjects research. We encourage members of the Emerson College community to utilize these resources:
- Mini-Tutorials: Series of short tutorials that focus on specific aspects of Health and Human Services (HHS) human subjects regulations and policy.
- Webinars on 45 CFR 46: Focuses on the federal regulations surrounding human subjects research.
- Decision Charts: Helpful decision trees that review topics such as whether activities are human subjects research, if research is eligible for exemption, and topics related to informed consent.