Minneapolis VA Health Care System Research Service
New Staff Orientation: Required Training
Staff Orientation: Overview | Administrative Expectations | Required Training | Security | Timekeeping & Travel
Training Requirements
All VA research personnel, including WOCs, have mandatory training requirements. Training mandated for VA employees is assigned in TMS. Additional training requirements for personnel engaged in human subjects research, animal subjects research, or research that includes laboratory work is assigned through the CITI Program. Specific training requirements depend on assigned duties as listed in the individual's Scope of Practice form. A list of required training courses may be found in the appendix of the Required Research Training SOP.
Most training required in VA research must be renewed on a recurring basis. TMS trainings are primarily annual; CITI human and animal subjects training must be completed triennially. Because individual CITI training modules are used across many institutions, completion of this training for VA will generally partly satisfy requirements at our academic affiliate, if you link your CITI account to both institutions. Instructions for doing so can be found in Cross-Institute CITI Training.
Lapses in Required Training
The TMS and CITI systems send email reminders to registered users to alert them to training that is about to expire or is overdue. You are responsible for ensuring that the contact email you use for these systems is an email address that you check regularly. When training is due, you are also responsible for taking the time to complete the training. This training is a required condition of employment as a VA-paid, IPA, or WOC employee at the Minneapolis VA. As such, your immediate supervisor or PI must provide time for you to complete this training. Training can be completed on your own time outside of work, but it is inappropriate for your supervisor or PI to ask you to use your personal time to complete these items.
Applicable policy and guidance:
- RDC-010 "Required Research Training"
- VA Talent Management System Account Creation Instructions (for WOCs or those on IPA)
- CITI Program Account Creation Instructions
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