Penn Medicine Clinical Research

Penn Clinical Research (CR) Onboarding Program

Penn Clinical Research (CR) Onboarding Process (Steps for Completing)

Note: When submitting external training from another institution you will need to provide the original completion certificate and a detailed description of content covered in the course.  Certificates must have date of completion listed in order to be used to satisfy training.  Click here to submit.

Penn Clinical Research (CR) Certification Program must be completed two years of completion of the Penn Clinical Research (CR) Onboarding Program or the passing of the Penn CR: Onboarding - Opt Out Exam Program.

Who should take the Penn CR: Full Onboarding Program?
All Clinical Research (CR) staff are required to complete the Penn Clinical Research Onboarding Program in two weeks of hire or being assigned via Workday Learning in "Career".

How long does it take to complete the program?
The program takes approximately 12 hours to complete. The program is required to be completed within a two week period from hire date. There are no printed materials, and the course is entirely online via Workday Learning and ACRP. 

Do I have to complete the Penn CR Onboarding Program?
If you are engaged in human subjects research (patient and/or PHI), you must complete all of the listed onboarding e-learning modules in the program. To now whether your human subjects research study meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial? Click here to find out

 What are the benefits of taking the eLearning modules OCR provides?

  • Quick access to relevant education and training material
  • Personalized training schemes tailored to the learner’s objectives 
  • eLearning modules will assist  you in becoming more proficient in your research role

Why did the program change from the Penn CR Foundation?

  • Capacity and Consistency – Using eLearning allows educators to achieve a great degree of coverage for their target audience, and it ensures that the message is communicated in a consistent fashion. This results in all learners receiving the same training.
  • High Learning Retention – Blended learning approaches result in a higher knowledge retention rate. It also helps that coursework can be refreshed and updated whenever needed.
  • Reporting  and  Tracking – We use a Learning Management System (LMS) which is Workday Learning to deliver your eLearning, so tracking a learner’s progress is essential and reporting on this activity is available
  • Flexible – Using eLearning, we give employees the freedom to learn at their own convenience, and at a pace that is right for them.

Can you use external research-related credit hours toward your certification?
Yes. You are required to submit verification of any external research related course and/or seminar to the Office of Clinical Research for approval.
Please click this link: External Course Credit Form 

Is this the same as the certifications offered by SOCRA and ACRP?
No, this certification is not recognized nationally - only at Penn. The purpose of this certification is to provide the coordinators at Penn with a centralized training program in an effort to improve the quality of research, efficiency of conducting research, and the safety of human subjects at Penn.

Is Penn Clinical Research Certification Program required by Penn?
The Penn CR Certification is not required. However, the Penn CR Onboarding Program is required for all research staff. Dr. Emma A. Meagher, Vice Dean for Clinical Research & Chief Clinical Research Officer of Clinical Research has mandated the Penn CR Onboarding Program hosted by the Office of Clinical Research per the attached SOP titled “Clinical Research Training for PSOM Faculty and Staff.pdf”.

Participants can continue to partake in taking Human Subjects training after completing the Penn CR Certification Program.

The requirements for maintaining your re Certification status are:

  • 10 hours of online and attendance at research related educational offerings (these workshops can be either offered by Penn or by an external vendor).
  • Applications for renewal status can be found in the CR Continued Training Submission Form.

The Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT) offers educational programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, organizes an annual international symposium, seminar series, and various workshops focusing on emerging topics in translational research.

The ITMAT/CTSA Educational Programs are directed by Emma Meagher, MD and are designed to recruit, train, and nurture a new cadre of professionals with defined expertise in clinical and translational methodology.

There are several educational programs including Masters in Regulatory Affairs (MRA), Masters in Regulatory Science (MSRS) and Masters in Translational Research (MTR). Please visit the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics website for additional information.