Instructions Milestone 7 IRB Certifications: Work With Your

Instructionsmilestone 7 Irb Certificationswork With Your Chair To Det

Complete the required IRB certifications as part of your dissertation research process, in coordination with your chair. This involves obtaining certifications for the NIH training on protecting Human Research Participants and HIPAA training, which must be submitted before IRB approval. You must verify that all research personnel, including yourself and any co-investigators, complete the necessary training modules, with certificates attached to your IRB application. All certifications are valid for three years, and it is the principal investigator's responsibility to keep certifications current.

Prior to data collection, ensure IRB approval is obtained and procedures are in place to minimize risks and address adverse consequences. The principal investigator must hold at least a master's degree unless a qualified co-investigator who meets this requirement is designated. Students conducting research as part of their coursework will have a faculty co-investigator overseeing their project.

To access the required training, register for the free Protecting Human Research Participants (PHRP) course through the South University Online Library IRB site, following specific instructions provided. After completing the coursework, upload the certificates to the Milestone 7 Submissions Area and notify your chair via email upon submission.

Remember that successful completion of all milestones, including certifications, is essential for progressing through your dissertation and passing each course milestone. Plan your timeline accordingly, allowing time for feedback and revisions from your chair or committee before moving on to subsequent milestones.

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The completion of Institutional Review Board (IRB) certifications is a critical step in ensuring ethical standards and compliance in dissertation research involving human subjects. These certifications serve to safeguard participants by ensuring researchers are adequately trained in human research protections and confidentiality protocols. Nanly, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) mandates specific training modules that all research personnel must complete before submitting an IRB application (NIH, 2022). These modules focus on ethical considerations, participant safety, and federal regulations guiding research practices.

One of the key certifications required is the NIH’s Protecting Human Research Participants training. This program educates researchers about the ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report—respect for persons, beneficence, and justice—while emphasizing the importance of informed consent and confidentiality. Since this training is valid for three years, principal investigators (PIs) and research team members are responsible for renewing their certifications to maintain compliance (NIH, 2022).

In addition, HIPAA training is mandatory for researchers handling protected health information (PHI). Since research often involves the collection, storage, and analysis of sensitive health data, understanding the legal and ethical boundaries of PHI is essential. The HIPAA training equips researchers with knowledge about data privacy, security protocols, and lawful data handling procedures, thereby safeguarding participant privacy and avoiding legal violations (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2020). Similar to NIH training, HIPAA certifications must be current throughout the duration of the research project.

The principal investigator (PI) plays a central role in managing these certifications. They are responsible for ensuring that all research personnel—including co-investigators, research assistants, or students involved—complete requisite training before data collection begins. The PI must also ensure certifications are updated periodically and properly documented when submitting IRB applications (Bryman, 2016). The PI’s capacity to design and implement a research protocol that minimizes risk hinges on adhering to these ethical and legal standards.

Accessing and completing the required training modules is straightforward. Researchers should register through the South University Online Library IRB portal, which guides users through the enrollment process for the Protecting Human Research Participants course. After registration, participants can progress through the modules at their convenience, culminating in the issuance of completion certificates. These must be uploaded into the IRB submission portal and shared with the dissertation chair as verification of compliance (South University, 2023).

It is essential to recognize that research involving human subjects must adhere to federal laws and institutional policies. The IRB’s role is to review and approve research protocols to protect participants and ensure ethical standards are maintained. No data collection or interaction with human subjects may occur without IRB approval, and certification of training is a prerequisite for approval (Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, 1991). Researchers must also demonstrate ongoing compliance by renewing certifications as needed.

Commencing research without proper certifications can result in disciplinary action, invalidation of data, or ethical breaches that compromise the study’s validity and integrity. As such, researchers should incorporate sufficient time into their research timeline to complete all training, obtain IRB approval, and address any feedback from their committees. Careful planning ensures a smooth progression from training completion to data collection and ultimately, successful dissertation defense.

References

• Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press.
• Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects. (1991). The Belmont Report.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2022). Protecting Human Research Participants Training Modules. https://phrptraining.nih.gov
• South University. (2023). IRB Training and Certification Procedures. https://southuniversity.edu/irb
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2020). Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html