Biosafety and Biosecurity (BSS) Series Update: Guidance for Organizations and Learners

Overview

In response to the growing need to address the unique roles within the field of biosafety and biosecurity, CITI Program is reorganizing the current Biosafety and Biosecurity (BSS) series into three distinct, role-aligned series:

• Biosafety and Biosecurity Fundamentals (BSS Fundamentals)
• Biosafety and Biosecurity Advanced (BSS Advanced)
• Biosafety and Biosecurity Comprehensive (BSS Comprehensive) for organizations that need access to both series.

Organizations with subscriptions renewing starting in October 2026 will see these changes automatically reflected in their renewal invoices. For example, if your organization has subscribed to courses that are now:

• Only found in BSS Fundamental, an invoice will automatically be generated for BSS Fundamental.
• Only found in BSS Advanced, an invoice will automatically be generated for BSS Advanced.
• Found in both BSS Fundamental and BSS Advanced, an invoice will automatically be generated for the BSS Comprehensive.

 Organizations are encouraged to review their current course offerings and needs.

As part of this update, our catalog no longer reflects the Biosafety Officer Training course. Organizations that created this course for their learners will see no change to their setup and may continue to build the Biosafety Officer Training course using modules from the BSS Comprehensive series.

Why is this change necessary?

This change is designed to help organizations assign training that better matches learners' roles and experience, streamline curriculum administration, and support a more straightforward training pathway—while maintaining continuity of content and value for your organization.

Training in biosafety and biosecurity has expanded significantly in topic scope and learner audience. The original BSS series covered introductory content (suitable for new staff, students, and general laboratory personnel) and advanced content (ideal for experienced biosafety officers, biosafety committee chairs, and other personnel). This change is part of an ongoing effort to help organizations deliver modern, streamlined, and easily assignable training.

This change has several advantages for organizations and learners:

• Improved curriculum alignment – Organizations can more easily assign training based on job duties, experience, and regulatory needs.
• Reduced over-assignment – With clearly differentiated topics, introductory learners will not be assigned advanced content unnecessarily.
• Clearer pathways – New staff can begin with the BSS Fundamentals series and progress to the BSS Advanced series as needed.
• Better learning outcomes – Training is more focused, relevant, and digestible.
• Simplified LMS administration – Assignments, tracking, and renewals become easier to manage.

Will there be a change in subscription fees?

Each series (BSS Fundamentals and BSS Advanced) will be billed separately at $675 per year/per site as a subscription add-on for government and non-profit organizations or $750 per year/per site as a subscription add-on for for-profit organizations. Organizations can select the BSS Comprehensive series as a subscription add-on for $1,080 per year/per site for government and non-profit organizations or $1,200 per year/per site for for-profit organizations.

Organizations that use modules exclusively from either the BSS Fundamentals or BSS Advanced series will not experience any subscription fee changes. Organizations that subscribe to the current BSS series as an add-on and use modules from both the BSS Fundamentals and BSS Advanced series will be billed for the BSS Comprehensive series beginning with the subscription start date of October 2026. Organizations that subscribe to the current BSS series as part of a Make Your Own (MYO) subscription and use modules from both the BSS Fundamentals and BSS Advanced series will not incur any fee changes. For these MYO subscriptions, the BSS Comprehensive series will replace the current BSS series in their MYO selections.

How should organizations prepare for the transition and upcoming renewal invoice?

Organizations should promptly review their current course offerings and learner needs well in advance of the transition and their renewal invoice to ensure a smooth process. Early review will help determine whether the organization requires BSS Fundamentals, BSS Advanced, or BSS Comprehensive and will help prevent unexpected charges or delays during the renewal process.

If the organization decides to modify its existing subscription offerings, it is strongly recommended that these changes be communicated as early as possible to both learners and the Technical Support team. Submitting requests to Technical Support early ensures they enter the support queue in a timely manner, allowing sufficient time for processing before the renewal invoice is issued.

Can the new series be selected in Make Your Own (MYO) subscriptions?

Organizations may select BSS Fundamentals, BSS Advanced, or BSS Comprehensive as part of a MYO subscription.

What content will be in each new series?

The BSS Fundamentals series includes the following courses:

The BSS Advanced series includes the following courses:

The BSS Comprehensive series will include all the courses available in the BSS Fundamentals and BSS Advanced series.

Will learners need to retake courses because of this update?

No. Learners will not be required to retake courses due to the update. Existing course completions will remain valid based on each organization’s policies and renewal cycles. Additionally, learners will be able to access their completion reports through the “My Records” menu in their accounts. Administrators will be able to access completion data using the “Admin” menu in their accounts.

Will module content change because of this update?

The module content will remain the same. Over time, both series will continue to receive updates, enhancements, and new content as part of our ongoing maintenance and development processes.

What if my organization has custom training or specific regulatory requirements?

Organizations can still deliver custom modules or regional regulatory modules alongside BSS Fundamentals or BSS Advanced modules. Our support team can provide guidance on best practices for integrating custom modules and addressing other specific needs.

When will the BSS Fundamentals, BSS Advanced, and BSS Comprehensive changes become effective?

The updated structure will take effect beginning with the subscription start date of October 2026.. All organizations will be notified in advance, and detailed instructions will be provided to administrators.

New subscribers wishing to add biosafety and biosecurity content will be subscribing to BSS Fundamentals, BSS Advanced, or BSS Comprehensive effective January 5, 2026.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

If you need assistance or have questions about transitioning to the new series structure, please contact CITI Program Support or your organizational account manager. We are here to help ensure a smooth and beneficial experience for both administrators and learners.

Phone support is also available by calling 888.529.5929.