Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Freedom 250 banner logo Join HHS in Celebrating Freedom 250
    • About HHS

      HHS is a U.S. executive department that touches the lives of nearly all Americans by protecting your rights, research, food safety, health care, aging, and much more.

      Explore About HHS
    • About the Department
      • Leadership
      • HHS Divisions
      • Organizational Chart
      • Priorities
      • Budget in Brief
      • Contact Us
    • Press Room
      • Press Releases
      • Request for Comment
      • Request for Interview
      • Connect on Social Media
      • HHS Live
      • Podcasts
    • Careers
      • Working at HHS
      • Opportunities for Attorneys
      • Join the Health Workforce
      • I am HHS
      • New Employee Orientation
      • Transportation Services
    • Standards and Compliance
      • Gold Standard Science
      • Accessibility
      • Plain Writing
      • Digital Communications Standards
      • Records Management
    • Accountability and Transparency
      • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
      • Open Government
      • No Fear Act
      • Privacy at HHS
  • RealFood.gov
  • MAHA
    • Programs & Services

      HHS is responsible for public health, health care, and human/social services for the United States of America. This includes administering over 100 programs and services.

      Explore Programs & Services
    • Health Care
      • Find a Health Center
      • Find an Indian Health Service Facility
      • Find Support for Mental Health, Drugs, or Alcohol
      • Find a Cancer Center
      • Dental Care Options
      • Telehealth
    • Health Insurance
      • Medicare – 65+ or With Disability
      • Medicaid - Low-Income, With Disability, or Pregnant
      • Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP)
      • Find Health Insurance Coverage
      • Insurance Help for Mental Health and Substance Use
      • No Surprise Medicals Bills
    • Social Services
      • Programs for Children and Families
      • Programs for People with Disabilities
      • Programs for Older Adults
      • Resources for Caregivers
    • Public Health and Prevention
      • Emergency Preparedness and Response
      • Healthy Lifestyle
      • Mental Health and Substance Use
      • Food Safety and Nutrition
      • Drug and Product Safety
    • Health Research and Information
      • National Library of Medicine
      • Surgeon General Reports
      • Health Data
      • National Center for Health Statistics
      • Medline Plus
      • Clinical Research Studies
      • Volunteering to Participate in Research
    • Laws & Regulations

      HHS protects and helps you understand the laws and regulations, also known as "rules," that govern the nation. You also have the power to voice your opinion on these laws and regulations.

      Explore Laws & Regulations
    • Regulatory Information
      • What is a Rule?
      • Find Rules by Division
      • Comment on Open Rules
      • Suggest Deregulatory Actions
      • Understand Key Federal Laws
    • Civil Rights
      • Your Civil Rights
      • Civil Rights Laws Enforced by HHS
      • Health Information Privacy
      • Substance Use Disorder Patient Confidentiality
      • Conscience and Religious Freedom
    • Laws and Regulations by Topic
      • HIPAA Privacy Rule
      • Health Insurance Protections
      • Health IT Legislation
      • Food and Drug Safety
      • Public Health Emergencies
    • Human Research Protections
      • The Belmont Report
      • Regulations, Policy, and Guidance
      • Human Subjects Regulations (45 CFR 46)
      • Register IRBs and Obtain FWAs
      • Trainings, Tutorials, and Workshops
      • International Research
    • Complaints and Appeals
      • File a Medicare Complaint
      • File a HIPAA Complaint
      • File a Civil Rights Complaint
      • Appeal an Insurance Company Decision
      • Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse to OIG
      • Report a Problem to the FDA
      • Report a Tip on the Chemical and Surgical Mutilation of Children
    • Grants & Contracts

      HHS gives the most money in grants of any federal agency in the U.S. Find out about our grants and how your organization can apply for them. We also provide information on how you can work with us and our support of small businesses.

      Explore Grants & Contracts
    • Grants
      • Get Ready for Grants Management
      • Grant Policies and Regulations
      • Research Grants and Funding from NIH
      • Search Grants.gov
      • Avoid Grant Scams
      • Contact HHS Grant Officials
    • Contracts
      • Get Ready to Do Business with HHS
      • Programs for Businesses
      • Contract Policies and Regulations
      • Search Opportunities on SAM.gov
      • Contact HHS Contracting Managers
    • Small Business
      • Contract Opportunities
      • Small Business Programs
      • Small Business Resources
      • Contact Small Business Staff
    • Radical Transparency

      HHS protects and helps you understand the laws and regulations, also known as "rules," that govern the nation. You also have the power to voice your opinion on these laws and regulations.

      Explore Radical Transparency
    • CDC’s ACIP Conflicts of Interest
    • Ending Anti-Semitism on College Campuses
    • Ending Wasteful Spending
    • Keeping Food Ingredients Safe
    • Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool
  • About OHRP
  • Regulations, Policy & Guidance
  • Education & Outreach
  • Compliance & Reporting
  • News & Events
  • Register IRBs & Obtain FWAs
  • SACHRP Committee
  • International
Breadcrumb
  1. HHS
  2. OHRP
  3. Education & Outreach
  4. Human Research Protection Training
  5. Human Research Protection Foundational Training
  • About Research Participation
    • Informational Videos
    • Questions to Ask
    • Protecting Research Volunteers
      • Why Have Regulations to Protect Research Participants?
      • What Regulations Protect Research Participants?
      • Who Oversees the Regulations to Protect Research Participants?
      • Is All Human Research Regulated?
      • Who is Responsible for Protecting Research Participants?
    • Additional Resources
    • Printable Information Materials
  • Upcoming Educational Events
  • Past Educational Events
  • Revised Common Rule
  • Human Research Protection Training
    • Human Research Protection Foundational Training
    • Participant-Centered Informed Consent Training
    • Considerations for Reviewing Human Subjects Research
    • OHRP Webinars
    • Mini-Tutorials
  • Videos
  • Exploratory Workshop
    • 2024 (Human Research with AI)
    • 2023 (Psychedelics Research)
    • 2022 (Payment for Participation)
    • 2021 (Third-Party Research Risks)
    • 2020 (Single IRB)
    • 2019 (Privacy and Data Research)
    • 2018 (Informed Consent)
  • Luminaries Lecture Series
  • Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) Resources
  • Educational Collaboration with OHRP
    • Research Community Forums (RCFs)
    • Educational Workshops
      • OHRP Co-Sponsored Workshops
    • Speaking Engagements
  • Education & Outreach Archived Materials

Human Research Protection Foundational Training

If your institution would like to incorporate this/ese training(s) on your own learning system for ease of access and tracking, write to OHRP-EDU@hhs.gov.

OHRP offers this comprehensive training on human research protections based on the requirements of the revised Common Rule (or 2018 Requirements). A printable completion certificate is available at the conclusion of each lesson. Note that OHRP does not collect information about who accesses or completes this training.

For NIH-funded human subjects research, investigators and key personnel must fulfill the protection of human subjects education requirement. This can be achieved by completing OHRP’s Human Research Protection Training. Please review NIH’s “Educational Requirement” for additional information.

When HHS Regulations Apply

When HHS Regulations Apply (Lesson 1)
This lesson introduces human research protections, the Common Rule, and the offices and agencies that oversee human subjects research. It takes approximately 35 min to complete.

Click to access a English transcript of this lesson

Click to access a Spanish transcript of this lesson

Go to Lesson 1
What is Human Subjects Research

What is Human Subjects Research (Lesson 2)
This lesson details how the Common Rule regulations define “research” and “human subjects” and explains what it means to be exempt from the Common Rule regulatory requirements. It takes approximately 1 hr and 35 min to complete.

Click to access a English transcript of this lesson

Click to access a Spanish transcript of this lesson

Go to Lesson 2
What are IRBs

What are IRBs (Lesson 3)
This lesson explains the purpose of and membership requirements for Institutional Review Boards, or IRBs. It takes approximately 45 min to complete.

Click to access a English transcript of this lesson

Click to access a Spanish transcript of this lesson

Go to Lesson 3
IRB Review of Research

IRB Review of Research (Lesson 4)
This lesson describes the regulatory requirements for IRB review and the criteria for IRB review and approval under the Common Rule. It takes approximately 1 hr and 40 min to complete.

Click to access a English transcript of this lesson

Click to access a Spanish transcript of this lesson

Go to Lesson 4
Institutional Oversight of Human Research

Institutional Oversight of Human Research (Lesson 5)
This lesson explains the requirements for research institutions and IRBs for ensuring regulatory compliance and oversight of research to protect human participants. It takes approximately 45 min to complete.

Click to access a English transcript of this lesson

Click to access a Spanish transcript of this lesson

Go to Lesson 5
Content last reviewed May 7, 2025
Back to top
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Follow @SecKennedy

HHS icon

Follow @HHSGov

HHS Email updates

Receive email updates from HHS.

Subscribe

HHS Logo

HHS Headquarters

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​

  • Contact HHS
  • Careers
  • HHS FAQs
  • Nondiscrimination Notice
  • Press Room
  • HHS Archive
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget/Performance
  • Inspector General
  • Web Site Disclaimers
  • EEO/No Fear Act
  • FOIA
  • The White House
  • USA.gov
  • Vulnerability Disclosure Policy