Continuing Research Education Credit (CREC) | Office of Research and Technology Management

CITI Program Instructions

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

CREC Program Requirements

All study team members conducting research with human subjects must earn their CREC certificate by completing the initial core training in the protection of human subjects through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) prior to beginning research activities. The CITI Program is a subscription-based provider of research educational content.

Initial Core Training for CREC Certification

The initial core training to enroll in the CWRU CREC Program is only through the successful completion of one CITI Program course in the protection of human subjects. Please select from one of the following applicable courses. Credit will not be given for multiple core training courses in the same 3-year cycle.

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 earn 12 credits every 3 years. Failure to earn 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 the CITI Program to recertify.

Transferring and Affiliating CITI Training

You can add the Case Western Reserve University CREC Program as your institution to link prior training by affiliating through the CITI Program. You can also send a copy of your most recent CITI completion report to crec@case.edu. The CITI Program is a subscription-based provider of research educational content. You may be required to complete additional training based on local criteria and funding sources due to the nature of the research.

CREC Approved Training

CITI Program 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): 6 credits
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
Revised Common Rule: 6 credits

The following CITI courses do not meet the requirement for CREC.

Conflicts of Interest (COI)
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
- Biomedical, Social and Behavioral, Physical Science and Humanities
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

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

This option allows CREC Program members to view some of our past CREC 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 Administrator receives a copy of all completed quizzes. Your CREC account will be updated within one business day.

Free GCP Courses (6 credits)

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

CREC Seminars

The CWRU Office of Research Administration offers a variety of seminars each semester that have been pre-evaluated for CREC. The seminars that qualify for CREC will have the number of credits listed. Our online education calendar allows individuals to see a listing of upcoming seminar descriptions and register to attend the events.

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
Sign-in attendance sheet (if applicable)

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 will be accepted as sufficient training for the new policy.

CREC Contact

Yovonda D. Rease
216.368.5963
crec@case.edu