RCR training is required of all trainees, postdoctoral fellows, students and career-development recipients supported by training grants (e.g., T32, F32, all K-awards) identified in the NIH notice dated November 24, 2009; and NSF training and research grant supported students and postdoctoral fellows as identified in the Federal Register notice dated August 20, 2009.​

RCR training is required of all trainees, postdoctoral fellows, students and career-development recipients supported by training grants (e.g., T32, F32, all K-awards) identified in the NIH notice dated November 24, 2009; and NSF training and research grant supported undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel as identified in the Federal Register notice dated August 20, 2009.​

The MGB RCR Program consists of two parts:

1) MGB Seminar – Offered four times a year

3) Participation in no less than four hospital-based lecture/discussion offerings identified as eligible for RCR credit in addition to the MGB RCR Seminar

The RCR seminar should be attended and completed within the first 12-months of NIH or NSF support and the four additional lectures should be completed within 12 months of attending the MGB Seminar

Contact the MGB RCR Program to determine whether your course will fulfill the MGB requirements.

Yes. Completion of RCR training was a term of your grant and should have been completed during the grant’s performance period.

Yes. The MGB RCR Seminar is offered four times per year:  February, June, September, and November

Principal Investigators of NIH institutional training grants are responsible for ensuring that T-32 supported trainees receive research ethics training. This includes:

1. Notifying trainees of the RCR requirement,
2. Requiring completion of the MGB RCR requirements as a condition of the training grant appointment,
3. Reporting on RCR activity in the Progress Report, and
4. Developing and offering program or department-based activities that supplement the MGB RCR program.

You should contact the organization administering the grant to familiarize yourself with that institution’s RCR requirements and whether the MGB RCR Program is an acceptable substitute.

Yes. You are required to fulfill the RCR requirements of the institution administering the grant.

You are required to provide documentation of completion of all components of the MGB RCR program. You can do so by completing and submitting the RCR Attestation Form​. You should retain a copy for your records as you may be asked by your sponsor or PI to provide documentation confirming that you completed the MGB RCR program.

Descriptions of the MGB RCR Program are available at the RCR website. 

We require official documentation from the Catalyst or HSPH documenting that you have completed the course. You can provide this through a copy of the Catalyst or HSPH certificate or an email or letter from the RCR course director confirming completion.  There are additional NIH requirements for individuals receiving training support beyond three years.  Anyone who met the initial requirement through the Catalyst or HSPH should consult the MGB RCR web site for the MGB requirement prior to enrolling through the Catalyst, HSPH, or another RCR program. ​​

The NIH requires individuals with four or more years of training support to complete additional RCR training, what we are calling a “refresher” course.