Required Biological Safety Training Courses
The links on this page will direct you to required training courses for safe handling of biological materials. It is important to complete all required safety training courses prior to working in the laboratory.
Training needs vary depending on what a person will work with in the lab. Use the training matrix below to determine what biosafety trainings you are required to complete.
If you… | Training Course Name | Renewal Frequency | Training Format | Access Link |
…work with any biological materials | Basic Introduction to Biosafety (CITI)
OR UWM Biosafety Training (Canvas) |
every 3 years | asynchronous online | CITI |
…work with any rDNA or synthetic NA materials | NIH Recombinant DNA Guidelines (CITI)
OR UWM Biosafety Training (Canvas) |
every 3 years | asynchronous online | CITI |
…work with biological materials and/or rDNA/synthetic NAs at BSL2 containment or higher | UWM Biosafety Training | every 3 years | asynchronous online | Canvas |
…work with human/primate blood, tissues, cell cultures, or other potentially infectious material | OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens | every year | asynchronous online (CITI) | CITI |
…ship biological materials or samples | Shipping and Transport of Regulated Biological Materials | every 2 years | asynchronous online (CITI) | CITI |
…handle live animals challenged with infectious agents and/or handled at ABSL2 or higher | Animal Biosafety | every 3 years | asynchronous online (CITI) | CITI |
Note that all relevant trainings in the matrix above are required. For example, if you work with human cell lines, you will need to complete UWM Biosafety Training and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens training. If you are unsure which trainings are required, reach out to the biosafety office at uwm-biosafety@uwm.edu
Course DescriptionsIntended audience:
- Laboratory personnel working with biological materials at BSL1 only
- Labs with short-term or minimal use of biological materials
Note for PIs: Note that this course does not address UWM campus-specific biosafety guidelines. PIs working at BSL1 should therefore strongly consider taking the UWM Biosafety Training course for initial training to ensure they are aware of any relevant campus requirements.
UWM Biosafety Training (Canvas)
- Review of biosafety regulations and UWM Biosafety Program campus-specific guidelines
- Discussion of biological risk assessment
- Required and recommended containment practices & equipment for different BSLs
- Standard operating procedures for PPE, biosafety cabinets, and other widely used equipment
- Decontamination & disposal requirements
- Occupational health & biosecurity considerations
- Exposure and spill response procedures
Intended audience:
- Laboratory personnel working with biological materials at BSL2 or higher
- Labs with long-term and/or extensive use of biological materials, regardless of BSL
- Principal Investigators, Lab Directors, Course Instructors, or other supervisory staff
NIH Recombinant DNA Guidelines (CITI)
Intended audience: Any individuals working with any recombinant/synthetic nucleic acids or transgenic organisms, including animals & plants
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens (CITI)
Intended audience: Any individuals working with human or primate materials, including cell lines, blood, tissue, or other bodily fluids; or any individuals working with other potentially infectious materials
Shipping and Transport of Regulated Biological Materials (CITI)
Intended audience: Any individuals who ship or receive regulated biological materials, OR any individuals who ship or receive ANY biological materials if unsure how to classify the materials
Animal Biosafety (CITI)
Intended audience: Any individuals who work with live animals in their research. Primarily focused on work with vertebrate mammals.
Access Instructions
- Go to the CITI website.
- If you are already registered: log in to your existing account. If your registration is with a different institution, you can add an affiliation to UWM from the Main Menu.
- If you are not already registered: create an account. Click “Register” on the right side of the screen. In the Organization/Affiliation box, enter “University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee” and select it from the list.
- Select the Biosafety/Biosecurity (BSS) Group of courses and click “Next”
- Enroll in the relevant course(s) from the above training matrix.
Canvas Courses
Biosafety Training is offered as a Canvas Continuing Education Course. You may self-enroll, using your UWM ID and password.
To enroll follow these instructions:
- Go to the Biosafety Training Course Link.
- Click on “Enroll”.
- Use your UWM 1Login ID and password to access the course.
- After you’ve completed the course, you will have an automated certificate generated through Canvas for your records.
Additional Training & Education Opportunities
Other Required TrainingsDepending on the hazards worked with in your lab, you may be required to take additional safety training courses. Click the links below to be directed to other UWM safety programs that may be relevant to determine your required training needs:
Biosafety Program Orientation
This 10-minute video provides a brief orientation to the Biosafety Program at UWM. It is strongly recommended that new Principal Investigators and Course Instructors view this video to learn about the Biosafety Program and what requirements to expect as they set up their labs.
Custom Training Sessions
The Biosafety Program offers customized training sessions as requested for research groups, classes, or others on campus. These trainings can be conducted virtually or in-person, depending on the needs of the group. If you would like to request a training session, contact uwm-biosafety@uwm.edu to discuss topics of interest and schedule a session!