What is Certified Secure Researcher™?

Certified Secure Researcher™ (CSR) is the official certification program that validates and verifies research security training, linking credentials directly to ORCiD identifiers for seamless compliance with federal funding requirements.

In response to NSPM-33 and increasing federal mandates for research security, institutions and researchers need a standardized way to demonstrate compliance. CSR provides that solution by creating a verifiable, portable certification that follows researchers throughout their careers.

 Why CSR Matters Federal Compliance: Meet NSPM-33 and agency-specific requirements
ORCiD Integration: Credentials linked to your permanent researcher identity
Institutional Efficiency: Reduce compliance overhead by 60%+
Career Portability: Certification follows you across institutions
Standardized Training: Consistent, high-quality security education
 

Who Needs CSR Certification?

🎓

Individual Researchers

Principal investigators, postdocs, and graduate students conducting federally-funded research

Required for NSF, NIH, DOD grants
Demonstrates security awareness
Portable across institutions

🏛️

Universities & Institutions

Research universities managing compliance for hundreds or thousands of researchers

Streamlined compliance tracking
Reduced administrative burden
Audit-ready documentation

🔬

Research Labs

Independent labs and research facilities with federal contracts or grants

Team-wide certification management
Contractor compliance
Security clearance support

💼

Funding Agencies

Federal agencies verifying researcher credentials and security training

Instant verification via ORCiD
Standardized requirements
Reduced review burden

How CSR Certification Works

Complete Training

Access comprehensive research security training covering NSPM-33 requirements, insider threat awareness, foreign influence risks, and data protection.

Pass Assessment

Demonstrate mastery through scenario-based assessments and practical exercises designed by security experts.

Link to ORCiD

Your certification is automatically linked to your ORCiD identifier, creating a permanent, verifiable credential.

Maintain Compliance

Annual refresher training ensures you stay current with evolving threats and regulatory requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does certification take?

Most researchers complete the training and assessment in 4-6 hours. You can work at your own pace and save your progress.

Is CSR certification required by law?

While not mandated by law, NSPM-33 requires research security training. Many funding agencies now require standardized certification like CSR to verify compliance.

What if I change institutions?

Your CSR certification is linked to your ORCiD identifier, making it portable. It follows you throughout your career, regardless of institutional changes.

How often must I renew?

CSR certification is valid for one year. Annual renewal involves a shorter refresher course covering new threats and regulatory updates.

Can institutions certify multiple researchers?

Yes! We offer institutional licenses with volume discounts, centralized management dashboards, and bulk enrollment tools.

What topics are covered?

Training includes NSPM-33 compliance, foreign influence recognition, insider threat awareness, data protection, export controls, and conflict of interest disclosure.

Is training available in other languages?

Currently available in English. We're developing Spanish and Mandarin versions based on institutional demand.

How do funding agencies verify my certification?

Agencies can instantly verify your CSR status through your ORCiD profile or by accessing our public verification API.

About CSR Certification