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Education and Training
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must be trained?
Anyone:
- listed as an Investigator or "key personnel" on the authorized personnel list on the IRB submission.
- listed as a person obtaining informed consent,
- listed as a contact person in the informed consent document,
- listed as a contact person on recruitment materials for research,
- listed as a person obtaining individually identifiable health information under a NU Business Associate Agreement.
Why is IRB training required?
The NIH requires training in the protection of human research participants for all investigators receiving awards
for research involving human subjects.
Northwestern University has extended the training requirement to all research that involves human subjects, regardless of the funding source for the research.
Northwestern University has extended the training requirement to all research that involves human subjects, regardless of the funding source for the research.
Will the IRB review an initial application if authorized personnel are not trained and certified?
The IRB will review the submission but will not approve it until each person provides evidence of
their training.
Will the IRB accept certificates of training from other institutions when the authorized personnel
list includes external investigators or subcontract recipients who have been trained somewhere else?
Yes. Evidence of training (e.g. certificate of completion) in human research subject protection should
be submitted with the IRB submission.
Will the IRB accept evidence of training from another institution when a NU employee (or NU
affiliates) completed training in human subjects research protection at his/her previous institution?
Yes. Evidence of training (e.g. certificate of completion) should be submitted for review to
Eileen Yates at OPRS, via e-mail (eyates@northwestern.edu)
or fax (312-503-0555). Persons submitting certification of a training course other than the NU training options
should also submit a description of the course.
Is there a minimum passing score required in order to be certified?
There is no passing score associated with the in person session.
The passing score for the CITI course is 70%
The passing score for the CITI course is 70%
Is there a way to check completion of training for a NU or NU-affiliates employee?
Yes. The list of persons having completed the training in human research subjects is available on the
IRB website at (link). The list is updated periodically. If a name is not on the list, you can contact Edwina
Palacios at 312-503-6012 or e-palacios @northwestern.edu.
Who should I contact to obtain a copy of my certificate or completion report?
You should contact Edwina Palacios at 312-503-6012 or e-palacios @northwestern.edu.
Is there an expiration date on the training certificate?
No. Northwestern University does not require any "refresher" course at this time.
If I encounter a problem or have a question, who do I contact?
For general questions:
Contact Eileen Yates- IRB Manager, Training and Quality Assurance
312-503-6011 eyates@northwestern.edu