Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

All study team members MUST complete CITI training before any research initiatives can be conducted at Hackensack Meridian Health. The training assigned will be determined based on your answers to a short series of questions that will be posed when you register initially. These questions will be about the types of research that you will be conducting. To register, go to: https://www.citiprogram.org and click on “Register.” Select your Organization Affiliation by entering Hackensack Meridian Health.

If you have already completed the CITI training at another institution outside of Hackensack Meridian Health, you will need to go into your CITI account and select the option to “Affiliate with Another Institution” and select Hackensack Meridian Health, in order for your completed training courses to be shared with this institution. Once you do that, it will be determined whether the courses taken are sufficient or whether additional coursework is needed to meet the requirements at this institution.

Here are guidelines for CITI training requirements at Hackensack Meridian Health.

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about CITI:

Are all these modules necessary?

Research is highly regulated, and conducting it properly requires knowledge of the regulations and guidelines that govern the field. We have consulted with individuals from other organizations and with CITI and have been assured that our requirements are consistent with those of comparable institutions. Our suggestion is to start the training in advance, so that you are not overwhelmed by trying to complete it all in one day. We are continually reviewing our program to ensure that we are offering the most appropriate training.

What if I don’t fit into any of the categories mentioned on the enrollment questions?

If you don’t fit into any of the categories mentioned, choose the training that most closely represents your interests/work.

What if I have been assigned modules that are unrelated to my line of work?

It is possible that not every module will relate to you directly. It would be difficult to individualize the training much more than we have. However, if you believe that you may have selected the wrong options on the enrollment questions or have another type of specific concern, please reach out to us.

Have I been assigned modules that are redundant?

Some of the assigned modules may be similar in content. However, you should not be assigned modules identical to those that you have already completed (and are unexpired). If you believe that to be the case, please reach out to us or CITI (888-529-5929), and you can discuss your case individually. If you have completed CITI training at another institution, affiliate with Hackensack Meridian Health, so that the courses can go towards our institution’s requirements. There have been some cases where the courses haven’t been transferred even after affiliating. If you suspect that that is the case, call CITI to have them transfer the courses manually.