Research Security

These courses explore key topics related to research security and international engagement.

Organizations

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About these Courses

The Research Security courses provide the knowledge and tools necessary to protect against risks to the global research ecosystem and undue foreign influence.

CITI Program offers a range of training options to meet these requirements:

NSF SECURE Center Courses
Course Title	Duration	Content Highlights	Best For
Research Security Training (Combined)	1 hr (1 module)	Condensed version of NSF training Note: Contains the current SECURE Center Consolidated Training Module (CTM). Recognized by federal agencies as compliant with their respective Research Security Training requirements.	NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, and USDA all recognize completion of condensed module as compliant with their respective RST requirements.
Research Security Training	4 hrs (4 modules)	Covers disclosure, collaboration, risk mitigation	Original 4 module research security training funded by the NSF
RCR Research Security Training	10-30 min	High-level overview	An option to add to RCR training

CITI Program Courses
Course Title	Duration	Content Highlights	Best For
Research Security: A Basic Course	20-30 min	High-level overview	An option to add to RCR training
Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher)	15-20 minutes	Refresher version of Research Security: A Basic Course	An option to add to RCR refresher training
Research Security Advanced Refresher	20–30 minutes per module (8 modules)	In-depth modules on all core topics	Annual refreshers, in-depth modules

Note: Research Security: A Basic Course, Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher), and Research Security Advanced Refresher address the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) other support disclosure training requirement. Institutions can also add custom modules to provide institution-specific training on the topic.Organizational Subscription Price: Available as part of an organizational subscription package or for $675 per year/per site as a subscription add-on for government and non-profit organizations; $750 per year/per site as a subscription add-on for for-profit organizations.

Language Availability: English

Suggested Audiences: Faculty, Institutional/Signatory Officials, Research Administrators, Research Compliance Officials, Research Personnel, Researchers, Students

NSF SECURE Center Courses

Research Security Training (Combined)

A condensed and combined single-module course based on the NSF Research Security Training.

shield with checkmark around research icons

Research Security Training

Featured

Provides information on risks and threats to the global research ecosystem — and the knowledge and tools necessary to protect against these risks.

circular security icon with lock in the middle

RCR Research Security Training

New

Serves as research security training designed to augment RECR/RCR training.

CITI Program Courses

Research Security: A Basic Course

CME/CEU

Provides an overview of research security requirements and researcher responsibilities and best practices.

Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher)

Provides refresher training on research security requirements and researcher responsibilities and best practices.

Research Security Advanced Refresher

CME/CEU

Provides foundational information on research security and explores advanced research security topics.

FAQs

Who should take a Research Security course?

All Research Security courses are intended for key personnel/covered individuals, research administrators, and others who may be subject to federal research security training requirements. In addition, individuals within organizations, including compliance officers, who may work in areas where there may be concerns related to foreign collaboration, interference, or funding of activities, may find these courses helpful.

Research Security: A Basic Course, Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher), and Research Security Advanced Refresher also address the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) other support disclosure training requirement. Institutions can also add custom modules to provide institution-specific training on the topic.

Visit our Research Security Training Guidance for Institutions and Researchers support article to help you decide which course from our range of training options suits your organization.

What are the benefits of the Research Security courses?

Learners who take these courses will gain a deeper understanding of how to protect against risks to the global research ecosystem and undue foreign influence. The courses are online, asynchronous, and on-demand, so learners may revisit topics as needed.

How long will each course take to complete?

The Research Security Training course consists of four modules. Each module is designed to take about 60 minutes to complete.
The Research Security Training (Combined) course consists of one module and takes approximately one hour to complete.
Research Security: A Basic Course consists of one module and takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher) consists of one module and takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete.
RCR Research Security Training consists of one module and takes approximately 10 to 30 minutes to complete.
The Research Security Advanced Refresher course consists of eight modules. Each module is designed to take about 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

Can the selection of modules be customized?

As with most CITI Program courses, subscribing organizations may select the modules that are presented to their learners.

Can the modules from the Research Security courses be used with other courses?

Yes, organizations that subscribe to the Research Security courses may include the modules within other courses. In particular, organizations may want to include the Research Security Training (Combined), Research Security: A Basic Course, Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher), or RCR Research Security Training with the Responsible Conduct of Research courses. Additionally, organizations may also subscribe to CITI Program’s Export Compliance series and include applicable modules in other courses.

Are these courses eligible for continuing medical education credits?

Research Security: A Basic Course and Research Security Advanced Refresher currently have CE/CME credits available.

Is the Research Security Training course (NSF modules) available standalone?

Yes, the NSF provides the modules to organizations to add to their learning management systems.

The NSF modules are provided in three different courses. The original four NSF modules are part of the Research Security Training course, the SECURE Center’s Consolidated Training Module (CTM) module is the Research Security Training (Combined) course, and the RCR Research Security Training module is from the SECURE Center. Please note that CITI Program updates the CTM and RCR Research Security Training modules as soon as we are aware of the SECURE Center’s next release, but provides learners taking the current modules an opportunity to finish before the update so they do not lose existing work.

Organizations should be aware that with the Research Security series, they can provide the Research Security Training, Research Security Training (Combined), and RCR Research Security Training courses to their learners within CITI Program. Administrators can also track the completion of these courses within CITI Program’s learning management system.

What should our organization do if it wants to provide training on the NIH other support disclosure requirement?

Organizations that want to provide training in keeping with the NIH's other support disclosure requirement can utilize Research Security: A Basic Course, Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher), or the “Disclosures and Transparency” module within the Research Security Advanced Refresher.

Research Security: A Basic Course, Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher), or the “Disclosures and Transparency” module can be presented with the Research Security Training, Research Security Training (Combined), or other courses. In addition, organizations can deliver custom modules to provide training on institution-specific requirements.

Can my organization create custom content to provide institution-specific information?

As with all CITI Program courses, your organization can deliver custom content via CITI Program. For Research Security, we recommend providing content in MS Word that can be quickly adapted to HTML by our Support team. For content developed using Articulate, including adaptations of the SECURE Center’s Consolidated Training Module (CTM) or RCR Research Security Training, we recommend organizations speak to our Support team before starting the process of creating this content. CITI Program does not provide Articulate design support.

Additionally, no custom content may be added to modules created or managed by CITI Program. Your organization’s custom content is your responsibility, including its functionality and maintenance.