Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

GCP consists of basic and refresher courses that provide essential good clinical practice training for research teams involved in clinical trials. Improve site activation time and reduce training time with mutually-recognized, effective, engaging training.


About these Courses

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) includes basic courses tailored to the different types of clinical research. Basic courses provide in-depth foundational training. We also offer completely fresh content in Refresher courses for retraining and advanced learners. Our courses include effective and innovative eLearning techniques such as in-module knowledge checks, case studies, and audio-visual delivery.

CITI Program GCP training is used by over 1,500 institutions - (including many leading hospitals, academic medical centers, universities, and healthcare companies) - to meet their GCP training needs. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)* requires completion of GCP training that demonstrates that individuals have attained the fundamental knowledge of clinical trial quality standards for designing, conducting, recording, and reporting trials that involve human research participants.

GCP courses cover applicable U.S. FDA regulations, ICH E6(R2) GCP principles and practices, and the ISO 14155:2020 standard.

The following GCP ICH E6 Investigator Site Training courses also meet the Minimum Criteria for ICH GCP Investigator Site Personnel Training identified by TransCelerate BioPharma as necessary to enable mutual recognition of GCP training among trial sponsors and have been updated to include ICH E6(R2):

Basic Courses - English with ICH E6(R2)

Refresher Courses - English with ICH E6(R2)

These courses were written and peer-reviewed by experts.


* NIH in fulfillment of their GCP training policy (Policy on Good Clinical Practice Training for NIH Awardees Involved in NIH-funded Clinical Trials; NOT-OD-16-148) states that NIH-funded investigators and staff should be trained in GCP. The NIH does not endorse any specific training programs. CITI Program offers several GCP courses that are considered acceptable by many leading organizations to meet their training needs per NIH policy released on 16 September 2016. Course completion certificates and reports are provided to learners at the completion of a course and are sharable via unique hyperlink or PDF making training documentation seamless for sponsors and sites.


Language Availability: Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, Finnish, French, German

Suggested Audiences: Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs), Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Investigators, IRB Members, Key Study Personnel, Principal Investigators, Research Nurses, Research Staff, Researchers, Sponsors, Study Coordinators


Basic Courses

GCP for Clinical Investigations of Drugs and Devices (FDA)

CME/CEU

Ideal for individuals proposing to conduct clinical trials of drugs, biologics, and devices primarily in the U.S.

nurse taking notes
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GCP for Clinical Investigations of Drugs and Biologics (ICH)

CME/CEU

Ideal for individuals proposing to conduct clinical trials of drugs and biologics in the U.S. or internationally.

Brain neurons firing
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GCP for Clinical Investigations of Devices

CME/CEUUpdated

This course provides training for research personnel involved in clinical investigations of devices.

contact lens
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GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research

CME/CEU

This course is suitable for social and behavioral investigators and staff who must be trained in GCP.

hand pointing at an active part of the brain that can affect behavior
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Refresher Courses

GCP FDA Refresher

CME/CEU

This refresher course provides retraining on GCP for clinical trials with investigational drugs and medical devices (U.S. FDA f...

pill packs and an inhaler for FDA-focused research
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GCP ICH Refresher

CME/CEU

This refresher course offers retraining on GCP for clinical trials with investigational drugs and biologics (ICH focus).

clinical vaccine and syringe research
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GCP Device Refresher

CME/CEUUpdated

This refresher course provides retraining on GCP for clinical investigations of devices.

futuristic medical device concept
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GCP SBR Advanced Refresher

CME/CEU

Provides retraining on GCP principles suitable for social and behavioral investigators and staff.

behavioral researchers
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FAQs

Is GCP training the same as human subjects protection training?

No. GCP training is a separate training and is not basic human subjects protection training. GCP principles are specific to clinical trials and include international ethical and scientific quality standards for designing, conducting, recording, and reporting clinical trials.

Does CITI Program offer GCP training that is compliant with the NIH policy?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fulfillment of their GCP training policy (Policy on Good Clinical Practice Training for NIH Awardees Involved in NIH-funded Clinical Trials; NOT-OD-16-148) states that NIH-funded investigators and staff should be trained in GCP.

The NIH requires completion of GCP training that demonstrates that individuals have attained the fundamental knowledge of clinical trial quality standards for designing, conducting, recording, and reporting trials that involve human research participants.

The NIH does not endorse any specific training programs.

CITI Program offers several GCP courses that are considered acceptable by many leading organizations to meet their training needs per NIH.

See the course descriptions above for more information on individual courses. These articles identify courses that comply with the NIH GCP Policy and answer FAQs for NIH Policy on GCP training.

Who should take GCP training?

GCP content is suitable for research teams involved in clinical trials of drugs, biologics, and devices, as well as those involved in behavioral intervention and social science research studies.

How do I know which GCP course I should take?

Learners should take the GCP course that best meets the type of research they conduct:

  • GCP for Clinical Trials with Investigational Drugs and Medical Devices (U.S. FDA Focus) and GCP FDA Refresher are suitable for individuals proposing to conduct clinical trials of drugs and devices primarily in the U.S. and/or who would prefer a more U.S. FDA-centric curriculum.
  • GCP for Clinical Trials with Investigational Drugs and Biologics (ICH Focus) and GCP ICH Refresher are suitable for individuals involved in clinical trials of drugs and biologics when the research may be international or where the individuals would prefer a more ICH-focused curriculum.
  • GCP for Clinical Investigations of Devices and GCP Device Refresher are most appropriate for organizations or individuals who desire a more international-focused GCP curriculum and a more device-focused program. These device courses cover FDA regulation as well as International Organization for Standardization Guidelines ISO 14155:2011.
  • GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research and GCP SBR Advanced Refresher are suitable for social and behavioral investigators and staff who must be trained in GCP.

How long does it take to complete a GCP course?

GCP courses vary on the number of modules they contain. Modules consist of detailed content, images, supplemental materials (such as case studies), and a quiz. Learners may complete the modules at their own pace. As a rule of thumb, modules can take about 30 to 45 minutes to complete, which means it could take around three to six hours to complete a GCP course.

How frequently should learners take GCP training?

There is no uniform standard regarding how frequently GCP training should occur. However, most organizations select a three-year period of retraining. The organization could request that the designated refresher course or the same basic course be presented to learners again within a given period.

Are GCP courses mutually recognized by TransCelerate BioPharma as meeting the minimum GCP ICH criteria?

Yes, five of CITI Program's GCP courses are mutually recognized. See the individual course pages for more information on TransCelerate mutual recognition, including requirements (such as module requirements) for organizations and learners to utilize the mutually recognized courses. The Support article List of TransCelerate Mutually Recognized GCP Training includes each mutually recognized course and the required modules.

Please also note that organizations and learners that wish to utilize these mutually recognized GCP courses in keeping with the minimum criteria must designate all available modules as “Required.”

How do I know if my GCP course will be mutually recognized by TransCelerate BioPharma and study monitors?

Learners who fulfill a GCP course’s requirements (complete all the required modules after the effective date) will see a statement in the Description field on their Completion Report’s “Transcript Report” (part 2 of a Completion Report) or on their Certificate. The statement identifies the GCP course’s name and information regarding mutual recognition.

  • Version 1 refers to the ICH E6(R1) minimum criteria that was used to attest the course for mutual recognition to TransCelerate BioPharma.
  • Version 2 refers to the ICH E6(R2) revisions to the TransCelerate BioPharma’s minimum criteria for mutual recognition. CITI Program has updated all TransCelerate attested GCP courses to meet the version 2 minimum criteria. If you complete your GCP course after the effective date for version 2, your Completion Report will indicate that on the Transcript Report (it will include the course name and which version you completed).

If you completed your GCP course before version 2 was available (or before the effective date for version 2), you can return to the course and re-take the modules. After you complete all the required modules, your Completion Report and Certificate will indicate that you completed version 2.

The following Support articles provide additional information:

Do I need to submit or self-attest my CITI Program GCP course to TransCelerate BioPharma to receive mutual recognition?

No, you should not submit or self-attest a course to TransCelerate BioPharma. CITI Program submits and self-attests on behalf of our GCP courses.

We ensure that our mutually recognized GCP courses satisfy the requirements for mutual recognition and that completion documentation reflect the course name, version number, and all required elements (including TransCelerate information) if a learner completes a mutually recognized course.

Do the CITI Program GCP courses reflect the changes from ICH E6(R2)?

Yes, after the ICH Integrated Addendum to ICH E6(R1): Guideline for Good Clinical Practice E6(R2) was adopted on 15 December 2016, the CITI Program modules were revised to reflect the current guideline. The GCP courses that reference ICH E6 specifically refer to the current guideline.

CITI Program also offers some additional resources on ICH E6(R2).

  • An additional module of interest titled “Overview of ICH GCP E6(R2) Revisions” can be added to GCP courses. This module reviews the additions that led to the publication of the ICH E6(R2) guideline and discusses the new approaches for the management of clinical trials – including quality management, risk-based monitoring, and data integrity.
  • A free resource that provides an overview of the ICH E6(R2) integrated addendum is available on CITI Program’s Resources page. This resource covers the revisions to the International Council for Harmonistion (ICH) “Integrated Addendum to ICH E6(R1): Guideline for Good Clinical Practice E6(R2),” including a breakdown by section with summaries and analysis. The revised ICH E6(R2) guideline includes changes that affect sponsors, researchers, and IRBs.

Do the CITI Program GCP courses reflect the ISO 14155:2020 updated standard for GCP?

Yes, the CITI Program modules were updated in December 2020 and reflect ISO 14155:2020.

Additionally, the GCP for Clinical Trials with Investigational Drugs and Medical Devices (U.S. FDA Focus) course and the GCP Device Refresher course both include specific content on ISO 14155.

What is the value of a refresher course and what is its role in training?

A refresher course provides retraining. Using CITI Program refresher course options to provide retraining means that the learner will not be completing the same course every time.

When should I take a GCP refresher course?

GCP refresher courses are meant to reinforce the importance of concepts covered in the basic level GCP course. The CITI Program recommends that learners complete the basic level GCP course first, and then take a refresher GCP course at the interval designated by their organization.

As an administrator setting up my organization, how should I select GCP courses for my learner groups?

CITI Program allows organizations to customize their learner groups, which means they can choose the modules their learners need to complete. We will work with your CITI Program designated admin to determine the learner groups that best fit your organizational needs.

For basic GCP courses, it is highly recommended that organizations present all modules in a given course as required for a learner to earn a completion report. Some organizations will make several modules supplemental, particularly when they provide organization-specific training on the topic.

Is this GCP course eligible for continuing medical education credits?

Yes, the following courses are eligible for CME credits:

Click on the course name above for details. For more information on how to ensure CME credit availability for learners at your organization, contact support@citiprogram.org or 888.529.5929.

What are the advantages of CITI Program's GCP training?

GCP provides research-specific, peer-reviewed training written by GCP experts. Along with CITI Program's advantages, including our experience, customization options, cost effectiveness, and focus on organizational and learner needs, this makes it an excellent choice for GCP training.

Do social and behavioral researchers need to take GCP?

All NIH-funded investigators and staff who are involved in the conduct, oversight, or management of research that meets the definition of a clinical trial should be trained in GCP.  A clinical trial is defined by NIH as a research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes.

Will I be notified if this course is significantly revised or updated?

Yes, CITI Program will notify administrators via email and post news articles on our website when courses are significantly revised or updated.

Who developed the GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research course?

The development of the GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research course was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program, grant number 3UL1TR000433.

Can I change the passing score for the GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research course?

The creators of this course have set the passing score at 100 percent and organizations are not able to change or customize the passing score for this course.

How does the GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research course differ from other GCP courses?

The GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research course applies GCP principles to behavioral intervention and social science research studies. Other GCP courses cover drug, device, and biologic-related studies.

Can I combine the GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research course with other courses?

It is recommend that the course not be combined with other courses.