Continuing Research Education Credit (CREC)

Continuing Research Education Credit (CREC) is a collaborative program where Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), MetroHealth, and University Hospitals provide free documented training in the protection of human subjects in compliance with NIH research educational requirements. 

To acquire CREC certification, all study team members conducting research with human subjects must complete the initial core training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program prior to beginning research activities. CITI is a subscription-based provider of research educational content. 

Initial Core Training for CREC Certification   

The initial core training for the CREC certificate is one of the following courses. Credit will not be provided for both courses, choose one course relevant to your research or discipline.

• Group 1 Biomedical Research Faculty, Staff, and Students
• Group 2 Social and Behavioral Research Faculty, Staff and Students

Maintaining CREC Certification

To maintain CREC certification, program members must acquire 12 credits every 3 years. Failure to acquire credits will result in removal from the program. Once a member is removed from the program, they are required to complete the initial core training through CITI to recertify.

Transferring Prior CITI Training and Affiliating

You can add the Case Western Reserve University CREC program as your institution to link prior training by affiliating through CITI. Once this is completed, email crec@case.edu to have your training modules assessed. CITI is a subscription-based provider of research educational content. You may be required to complete additional training based on local criteria and funding sources.

CREC Approved Training

CITI Courses 

• Advanced Topics in Data: 4 credits
• Advanced Topics in Informed Consent: 6 credits
• Advanced Topics in Vulnerable Populations: 6 credits
• Community-Engaged Research: 4 credits
• Essentials of Public Health Research: 4 credits
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) courses: 6 credits
  • GCP for Clinical Investigation of Devices (FDA and ISO 14155:2020)
  • GCP for Clinical Trials with Investigational Drugs and Devices (FDA Focus)
  • GCP for Clinical Trials with Investigational Drugs and Biologics (IHC Focus)
  • GCP - Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research
• Group 1 Biomedical Research Faculty, Staff, and Students: 8 credits
• Group 2 Social and Behavioral Research Faculty, Staff and Students: 8 credits
• Health Information Privacy and Security (HIPS): 4 credits
• IRB Essentials: 4 credits
• Revised Common Rule: 6 credits
• Single IRB (sIRB) Use and Administration: 4 credits

CREC Recorded Seminars and Quizzes (1-4 credits per seminar)

This option allows CREC program members to view some of our past seminars and take an online quiz for credit. CREC program members that have completed the initial core training can use this option once per 3-year cycle. The CREC team receives a copy of all completed quizzes. Your CREC account will be updated within one business day.

CREC Seminars and Webinars                                                                       

The CWRU Office of Research and Technology Management and the UH Office of Research Integration & Education work together to offer a variety of seminars and webinars throughout the year that has been pre-evaluated for CREC. The events that qualify for CREC will have the number of credits listed. To see a listing of upcoming events click the links below. 

CWRU and UH Upcoming Research Education Events 

• CWRU Office of Research and Technology Management
• ​UH Office of Research Integration & Education​

Additional Free GCP Courses (6 credits)

• National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (NDAT CTN)
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): GCP Learning Center
• National Center for Advancing Translational Science - Society of Behavioral Medicine

Please send a copy of the certificate to crec@case.edu to receive credit. This option may be completed once per 3-year cycle.

CREC Credit Application

Appropriate education and training activities that are not listed on this site (such as departmental or external seminars and conferences) may also qualify for CREC. Credits are awarded based on the amount of time dedicated specifically to a discussion of the ethical conduct of human subjects research. You can apply for credit individually or for a group. The Office of Research Administration will accept applications, with appropriate supporting documentation, prior to the event or upon its completion.

Complete the CREC Credit Application‌ and attach: 

• Program agenda
• Seminar handouts
• List of attendees

Submit the application to crec@case.edu.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Requirements

In October 2000, NIH instituted the requirement that grantee institutions provide documented training for all key personnel listed on NIH grants. For more information about this requirement, please go to the following NIH information site, NIH Requirements for Education.

Investigators who need documentation of training for NIH grant submissions should submit a letter to the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration for approval and signature.

NIH Training Certification Letter template

Effective January 1, 2017, NIH established the expectation that all NIH-funded investigators and staff who are involved in the conduct, oversight, or management of clinical trials should be trained in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), consistent with the principles of the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) E6. 

This policy expects investigators and clinical trial staff to maintain their GCP training every three years. Free GCP training offered through the CITI Program and the additional options listed above will be accepted as sufficient training for the new policy. 

CREC Contact

Yovonda D. Rease - Research Integrity and Education Manager
216.368.5963
crec@case.edu