Regulatory & Research Compliance Training

If you’ve never had a CITI Program account before, you must register for a new account:  

1. Go to the CITI Program website.
2. Click “Select Your Organization Affiliation.”
3. Search for “SUNY - University at Albany.”  
4. Follow the registration instructions and enter your email address in the required field. UAlbany faculty, staff and students must use their University-issued email address when signing up.  
5. Upon completing registration, you’ll be directed to the Main Menu / My Courses page.  

If you already have a CITI Program account that’s affiliated with another organization:  

1. Go to the CITI Program website.
2. Click “Login.”  
3. After logging in, you'll be brought to the My Courses page. At the bottom of the Institutional Courses section, click “Add Affiliation.”  
4. Search for “SUNY - University at Albany.”  
5. Follow the registration instructions and enter your UAlbany email address in the required field. Upon completing registration, you’ll be directed to the Main Menu / My Courses page.  

To add courses to your curriculum:  

1. Go to the CITI Program website.
2. Click “Login.”  
3. On the Main Menu / My Courses page, click “View Courses” next to SUNY - University at Albany.
4. Under the heading My Learner Tools, click “Add a Course.”  
5. Answer the setup questionnaire to select courses.  
6. Once you click “Submit,” the courses you selected will appear on the Main Menu / My Courses page.  
7. Click on the course name to begin your course. 

Anyone applying for or receiving external funding must complete the Managing Conflict of Interest in Research training using the CITI Program before submitting the annual Disclosure Certification. This training must be renewed every three years.

Depending on your award’s specific requirements, you may also be required to complete the training related to export controls. Please review the Research requiring Export Controls accordion below for more information. 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), in NOT-OD-10-019, defines responsible conduct of research as "the practice of scientific investigation with integrity — it involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research."

The University at Albany is committed to a culture of integrity and ensures compliance with appropriate formal training requirements for the responsible conduct of research and scholarship as part of this commitment.

All investigators with federal funding are required to complete:  

• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training every three years
• Basic Research Security training annually 

These trainings are completed using the CITI Program.

Additional in-person training is required for any NIH training/K awards and NSF awards supporting post-doctoral trainees and graduate students. Individual plans are available with the award documents.

Contact [email protected] with any questions. 

Export controls are a set of U.S. laws and regulations governing the transfer of certain goods, materials, technologies, services and information outside the country or to non-U.S. persons. Visit the Export Controls page for detailed information.

Depending on your award’s specific requirements, you may be required to complete the Foreign Influence and Export Controls training or other courses. These trainings are available online using the CITI Program.

Our colleagues at the Project on International Security, Commerce, and Economic Statecraft (PISCES) have also created an Introduction to Export Controls video for the University community. (Note: A UAlbany NetID and password are required for access.)

You may also reach out to [email protected] to request an information session. 

Anyone conducting research with human subjects at UAlbany must complete the IRB: Human Subject Research (Investigators, Advisors) training before receiving Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and starting their work. Training must be renewed every three years.

All researchers conducting externally sponsored clinical trials must also complete one of the offered Good Clinical Practice trainings.

These trainings, available in English and French, are completed using the CITI Program.

Note: These rules apply to all PIs, key personnel and faculty advisors. Key personnel means anyone who interacts with human subjects or accesses their research data.

PACS users who have taken CITI courses will have their CITI data pulled into PACS as long as their CITI ID has been added to their PACS record. Review instructions for changing UAlbany key personnel.

Principal Investigators (PIs) are required to ensure that all personnel in their labs are trained in the basic principles of laboratory animal science and care to maintain high quality science and animal well-being.  

PIs are also responsible for ensuring their lab personnel are trained in the lab’s IACUC-approved animal use protocol(s).  

PIs may use the Training Documentation Form to track their staff members’ training.

Please visit the Care & Use of Animals page for more information. Animal users are also encouraged to refer to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals for more information.
 

Animal Use Training

Anyone working with live vertebrate animals at UAlbany must complete basic animal use training before obtaining IACUC approval and starting their work. Training must be renewed every three years. 

Principal Investigators (PIs) and key personnel must complete the IACUC: Animal Care and Use (Investigators) training.

Based on the activities described in their animal use protocol, PIs and key personnel must also complete all specialized courses relevant to their work, which include: 

• Mice-related Trainings
  • IACUC: Working with Mice
  • IACUC: Reducing Pain and Distress in Mice and Rats
  • IACUC: Post-Procedure Care of Mice and Rats
• Rat-related Trainings
  • IACUC: Working with Rats
  • IACUC: Reducing Pain and Distress in Mice and Rats
  • IACUC: Post-Procedure Care of Mice and Rats
• Amphibian-related Training: IACUC: Working with Amphibians
• Hamster-related Training: IACUC: Working with Hamsters
• Field Studies & Wildlife Research-related Training: IACUC: Wildlife Research

These trainings are completed using the CITI Program.
 

Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP) for Animal Users

All animal care staff members and all personnel listed on an active animal use protocol must complete the OHSP for Animals Users. 

Required personnel must complete the Animal Biosafety training, which is listed in the Biosafety/Biosecurity Course series and completed using the CITI Program.

Required personnel must also submit a Health History Form and then resubmit the form annually while working with animals.
 

Laboratory Animal Resource (LAR) Training

LAR administers mandatory and optional hands-on training to any employees who use animals in their research. 

Mandatory Training 

Anyone working in a laboratory with rodents must complete facility-specific training before getting swipe card access to the facility. 

Once IACUC approves an animal use protocol, the PI must contact [email protected] to request facility-specific training for all key personnel, which will include:

• An orientation on the animal facility’s policies and procedures
• A tour of the vivarium
• CO₂ euthanasia training, if applicable
• Orientation booklet

Optional Training 

LAR staff members also offer optional trainings for animal research personnel, including: 

• Rodent handling
• Rodent breeding
• Basic research techniques, such as injections, blood sampling and gavage
• Aseptic surgical procedures 

To request optional training, please email [email protected]. 

To promote a safe research environment and ensure compliance with institutional, federal and state regulations, all individuals working in laboratory settings must complete biosafety training that is specifically tailored to the nature of the work being performed. 

Please visit the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) page for more information.

The type and scope of required training depend on the materials, agents and procedures used in the lab, such as recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids, human-derived materials, high-risk biological agents, chemicals, or animals.

Completion of the appropriate training programs is a prerequisite for IBC approval and for beginning laboratory work. All Principal Investigators (PIs) and personnel listed on a biosafety protocol must provide proof of completed training, which will be verified during IBC review and laboratory inspections. 

The following trainings are required based on the type of research conducted:

• Biosafety Complete Training Series: Required for all laboratory personnel before starting work in Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1), Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) and teaching laboratories. PIs are not required to renew the training annually; however, all other lab members must complete the annual refresher course titled "Training for Investigators, Staff, and Students Handling Biohazards." This training is completed using the CITI Program.
• BSL-2 Training or Laboratory Biosafety Training: Required for all personnel working with BSL-2 agents, including those in biology laboratories where BSL-2 agents are handled or in shared spaces where BSL-2 work is conducted. Covers topics such as bloodborne pathogens, biosafety cabinet usage, and the safe transportation of infectious substances, including the import/export of infectious materials and biowaste management. The training must be completed before beginning lab work and renewed annually, fulfilling both the one-year refresher requirement and onboarding for new trainees.
• Bloodborne Pathogen Standard Training: Required for personnel handling human materials, cells or cell lines, non-human primates, or any bloodborne pathogens. This training must be completed before beginning work and renewed annually. This training is completed using the CITI Program.
• Bloodborne Pathogens Training for Custodial Staff: Custodial staff must complete in-person training annually.
• IBC Policy & Recombinant DNA Training: Required for all PIs and personnel involved in protocols containing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids. This training must be completed before engaging in any protocol activities and renewed annually at the time of protocol renewal. This training is completed using the CITI Program.
• Select Agent and Agent-Specific Trainings: Laboratories working with high-risk biological agents may require additional training on handling select agents and toxins. This training must be renewed annually.
• Chemical Safety and Radiation Safety Training: All personnel working with hazardous chemicals or radioactive materials are required to complete annual chemical and radiation safety training. For more information on this training, contact the Chemical Safety Officer at 518-591-8542 or the Radiation Safety Officer at 518-442-3497.

All researchers receiving or using regulated or controlled data, and all researchers receiving or using third-party data under an agreement (such as a Data Use Agreement) must complete the Information Privacy and Security (IPS) training every three years.