Biosafety Training

What is the biosafety training requirement?

Portland State's Biosafety Program requires faculty, staff, and students conducting regulated biosafety research to complete the IBC research training available via the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). PSU uses the online Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training to meet this basic training requirement. CITI is a web-based training program designed by and updated and maintained by nationally known IRB professionals.

Who is required to have human biosafety training?

All research personnel working with participants and/or identifiable participant data, including those unaffiliated with PSU, must be listed on the protocol and maintain current Biosafety training. Faculty members who are advising students who are doing biosafety research must have a current CITI training certification.

How do I satisfy the biosafety training requirement?

• PSU students, faculty, and staff work in settings where they have exposure to microorganisms, microbial toxins, or other biological agents that can infect and/or cause disease in humans, animals, or plants. This learner group can be found on the CITI website under the Biosafety Researcher training curriculum.
• The minimum passing score is 80%. This is based on the entire course, not on individual modules within the course. You can improve your score by repeating a module and quiz. When your Grade Book gives you an option to print a "Completion Report," it means you passed the course.
• All listed personnel must submit a valid IBC CITI training certificate to ibc@pdx.edu before protocol approval.
• Researchers not affiliated with PSU must also have CITI training. Anyone can create an account with CITI and affiliate with PSU. PSU may accept documentation of biosafety training completion in accordance with the researchers' home institutions' policy.
• The principal investigator's responsibility is to ensure every person on their research team is listed on the protocol and has current biosafety training certification.

Access the training via the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative:

1. Click on Register in the top right of the page.
2. If you have a PSU ODIN ID:
   1. Navigate to the Log In Through My Institution option in the top middle of the page
   2. Select Portland State University
   3. Login to CITI using your ODIN ID and password
3. If you do NOT have an ODIN ID (e.g., are external to PSU, etc.):
   1. Navigate to Register in the top right of the page
   2. Select PSU from the Participating Institutions drop-down menu
   3. Create a username and password
4. After you are registered, ONLY ANSWER QUESTION #3.
   1. Select BioSafety Researcher. [~1.5 hours to complete]
5. Scroll down and click submit.