Penn CR: Onboarding | Office of Clinical Research | Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

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Penn CR: Onboarding

Penn Clinical Research (CR): Onboarding Certificate and Certification Program

University policy (SOP401) mandates that all research staff engaged in human subjects research are appropriately trained in human research protections. Also, all staff having contact with patient information are required to complete training on the protection of personal identifiable information. Research staff performing CRC functions are hired using different HR titles, any staff member performing function(s) related to human subjects research for which the IRB would require CITI and/or HIPAA training are required to complete the Penn CR: Onboarding and Certification Program.

Benefits of the Penn CR: Onboarding and Certification Program:

Convenient online format
Designed to meet the needs of new and experienced research staff at Penn
Provides required comprehensive training and education within 2 months of hire

The onboarding program will provide comprehensive training in accordance with Good Clinical Practices (GCP) for investigator-initiated, industry-sponsored and grant-funded clinical research. It will present best standards of practice and regulatory requirements for critical job functions of the Clinical Research Coordinator and methods for achieving these standards and requirements.

NOTE: As of January 1st, Sunday 2023, many clinical research training modules from the Office of Clinical Research changed platforms and the way you access them. OCR’s clinical research training content provider ACRP (Association of Clinical Research Professionals) has changed their training website of choice, from Pro-ficiency to Moodle Workplace. Please see this Guide on how to navigate this change once you find a course of choice in Workday@Penn Learning system.

The requirements of both programs are listed below.

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Penn CR: Onboarding and Certification Program Requirements:

Must be assigned by OCR «request» via Workday@Penn Learning system
Completion of CITI Protection of Human Subjects Research Training - ORA
Completion of Protecting Patient Information (HIPAA) (UPHS)
Registration in the Clinical Research Staff Portal and Registry (CRSPR)

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.

Details of Penn CR: Full Onboarding Curriculum

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

How long will this take?
The program, including all modules and completion of the exam, 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.

Do I have to take all of the eLearning modules?
If you are conducting human subjects research, you must complete all of the listed onboarding e-learning modules within the curricula.

Penn CR: Certification Program

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Who should take Certification Program?
Once you have completed the full Penn CR: Onboarding Program, or pass the OPT OUT Program, you are required to complete the Certification Program within two years of hire. The Certification Program will be assigned to your "My Learning Plan" automatically via Knowledge Link. In addition, you will also need to complete four hours of Human Subject training.

The Certification will be looked upon favorably when considering job advancements at Penn.

How long will this take?
There are four e-Learning modules listed above that are required for the certification, which will take a total of six hours. There is an ACRP Test Out option for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) for the Experienced CRC. In addition, you must complete four additional hours by taking either human subjects research workshops, additional human clinical research training available in KL, or external human clinical research courses. After all requirements have been met you can submit the application for certification for review.

For a more detailed description of each module click here.

OCR has some sample tracks that can be taken for completion of certification by clinical research support staff based on their job role or function. Examples include Monitoring and Sponsor Support, for more details view the eLearning section.

Is there a Certification Exam?
There is no exam for the Penn CR: Certification Program.

Penn CR: re Certification - Maintaining Status

The Penn CR: Onboarding Program is valid for 3 years. At the end of the 3-year period, participants must continue to partake in taking Human Subjects workshops.

The requirements for maintaining your onboarding 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still finalize my certification if I have completed the 2-day Penn CR: Foundations course?
Yes. If you have completed the Penn CR Foundations course, you will need to take the Penn CR Assessment test in Workday@Penn Learning and have four hours of Human Subject Research training (HSR). We currently offer eLearning modules in KL that will provide you with these HSR workshop hours. Each eLearning module has the amount of contact hours within the description.

Do I have to be part of the Onboarding Program to watch the e-learning modules?
No. The Office of Clinical Research has an entire catalog of resources for you to view under the eLearning section of the website. However, taking these modules outside of the assigned Penn: CR Onboarding program will not provide you with credit towards the Onboarding program.

What are the benefits of taking the eLearning modules OCR is providing?

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 Penn CR: Certification Program change?

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@Penn 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.

ACRP Credited Online Modules

Is this certification 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”.

Masters

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.