Federal RCR Requirements

Several of the major federal funding agencies require instruction in the responsible conduct of research for certain individuals helping to conduct research and scholarship. 

Do the requirements apply to you?

  • Are you funded by NSF? [If yes, see NSF section below]
  • Are you funded by NIH? [If yes, see NIH section below]
  • Do you work on a project funded by the National Institue of Food and Agriculture? [If yes, see NIFA section below]

If you answered "No" to all of the above questions, you are not required to complete RCR training at this time. However, we encourage all members of the UA research community to engage in RCR education at regular intervals throughout their careers as students, postdocs, professors, and scholars! 

If you're still unsure about whether you fall under the requirements below, please contact Research Training Services by email or at 520-626-8757 for assistance.


National Science Foundation RCR Requirements

NSF requires all faculty, senior leadership, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students funded through an NSF grant are to receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research. View the complete NSF RCR policy for more details.

  • If this requirement applies to you, you must complete an NSF RCR Certificate at each stage of your career advancement, e.g., Undergrad > Grad > Postdoc > Asst. Professor > Assoc. Professor > Sr. Faculty.

National Institutes of Health RCR Requirements

NIH requires all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars supported by NIH training grants, career development awards, and dissertation research grants to receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research. The requirement applies to the following programs: D43, D71, F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2, R25, R36, T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, and U2R. Other NIH-funded programs may also require instruction in responsible conduct of research, and will clearly state this requirement in the relevant funding opportunity announcements. View the complete NIH RCR policy for more details.

  • If you are funded by any of the NIH programs listed above, you must complete (or have completed within the past four years) an NIH RCR Certificate.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture RCR Requirements

NIFA requires that all program directors, faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and any staff participating in a research project funded by NIFA receive RCR training. Documentation of the training is subject to review by NIFA upon request. For the complete RCR policy, please see Article 7 of NIFA's research terms and conditions.

  • If this requirement applies to you, you must complete (or have completed within the past four years) any of the available RCR Certificates: NIFANSF, or NIH. All of these certificates fulfill the NIFA requirements. 

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