SpartaLearn/HRP FAQs

The Human Research Protections (HRP) program at Case Western Reserve University was developed to provide documented training to protect human subjects in research conducted at CWRU, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and The MetroHealth System. In some instances, researchers from the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic may also participate in the CREC program.

The HRP program was created to provide documented training for all responsible investigators, regardless of sponsorship, as well as those key personnel listed on grants sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Investigators must meet the initial core HRP certification requirements before the IRB will grant approval and must complete four competencies in the HRP Recertification learning plan in SpartaLearn over a specified time (3 years) to retain HRP certification.

The CWRU Institutional Review Board (IRB) Advisory Committee determines the guidelines and criteria for the HRP program. The HRP program is in compliance with NIH human subjects research educational requirements. 

You are required to be HRP certified if any of the following apply to you:

• You are involved in human subjects research and are listed as Key Personnel on an NIH grant
• You are listed as the Responsible Investigator, Co-Investigator, or Key Personnel (including graduate and undergraduate student researchers) on a CWRU IRB protocol
• You are obtaining consent under a University Hospitals of Cleveland or a MetroHealth IRB protocol.
• Researchers who wish to participate in the HRP program, but are not officially required to do so may use the program at no charge.

Cleveland Clinic researchers listed as Key Personnel on NIH grants administered by CWRU may meet their educational requirements through Cleveland Clinic's educational program. VA researchers do not have to participate in HRP if they do not meet any of the above criteria. They are, however, required to meet VA educational requirements.

Cleveland Clinic and VA researchers can use valid, up-to-date certifications from their respective institutions to obtain a certificate in the CWRU HRP program. This option is only available to researchers at these two institutions.

A Responsible Investigator ("RI") is usually a CWRU faculty member who is currently in his/her certification for training in the protection of human subjects. If an individual is not a faculty member but is certified as someone "with whom the university has or intends to have an ongoing contractual relationship," then he/she must have an RI Certification Form ‌on file with the CWRU Social, Behavioral, and Education Research (SBER) Institutional Review Board (IRB).

According to the University Policy on the Involvement of Human Participants in Research, "A faculty member assigning research projects involving human subjects must take an active role in assuring that the subjects of student research are adequately protected. The university expects that advisors will take an active part in preparing students for the role of researcher, instructing them in the ethical conduct of research and assisting in the preparation of IRB applications. 

After protocol approval the advisor should meet regularly with the student in order to review their work and progress. While a student serves as the primary researcher protocol, the faculty advisor is ultimately responsible for the protection of human subjects. A faculty member's signature on the application indicates their willingness to comply with all administrative and federal regulations."

To comply with this policy, the faculty member who is acting as the Responsible Investigator is required to educate and mentor the research team, but is also responsible for maintaining research records as required by University Policy and Federal Regulations.

New faculty members who have documented training in the protection of human subjects in research from their former institutions have one year from their hire dates in order to obtain initial core HRP certification. New faculty members without such documentation will need to complete HRP certification before their IRB privileges are granted.

We recognize that many researchers come to CWRU with training in the protection of human subjects in research from another institution. Refer to the credit transfer guidance on the Human Research Protections webpage. 

Data migration is an ongoing process and our team is monitoring this regularly. 

Data was migrated using the information provided under the CREC program. Therefore if you have not updated your information you may have a duplicate account in SpartaLearn when your first SSO into the system. Please contact spartalearn@case.edu if you believe your records are not accurate and we can help you merge your account. 

No, if they have current documentation from their institution that they have been properly trained. However, if external NIH Key Personnel have not received training from another institution they must participate in the HRP program.

You can access the HRP training in SpartaLearn using your CWRU, University Hospitals, or MetroHealth credentials. If you do not have credentials and need to obtain the HRP certification please reach out to your department or institution for assistance obtaining institutional credentials. 

All information is available under your profile in SpartaLearn. You have access to your transcript, completed courses, certifications, renewal dates, and progress towards your renewal certification. 

SpartaLearn also uses many notifications to help keep you up to date on soon to expire certifications. All communications will come from spartalearn@case.edu.

There are two phases to the HRP certification. 

1. The HRP Initial Certification is obtained after completing one of the initial courses listed on the HRP webpage. This certification is valid for three years and your must complete and submit the HRP Recertification before your initial expiration date to keep your certificate active.

2. The HRP Recertification will track your ongoing three year certification cycles. You are required to complete four competencies and submit the renewal on or before your expiration date. Click Here to check your progress towards renewal. Note: you can submit at anytime and this will update your certification date for three years from the submission to renew. 

Members have three years to complete the four HRP competencies and submit their certification renewal. After expiration, members are removed from the program and will have to complete the initial core training again for re-entry.

Please email spartalearn@case.edu if you have any questions. 

You can purchase continuing medical education (CME) or continuing education units) (CEU), through CITI but this is not a requirement for the HRP program.

1. Log in to CITI
2. Select the triangle drop-down menu at the top right of the page next to your name
3. Select “Profiles”
4. Select “Edit Profile”
5. Select “Update”