RUO Handling Certification

Curriculum

Seven modules, approximately 15.5 hours of instruction, each module citing primary literature or regulatory source documents.

• 01

  What “research use only” actually means

  Statutory and regulatory definitions, labeling requirements, the difference between RUO, investigational, and approved material, and where the legal line sits.

  2.0 hrs
• 02

  Peptide chemistry fundamentals

  Primary structure, sequence notation, molecular weight, salt forms and net peptide content, solubility, and why a mass on a label is not a purity claim.

  3.0 hrs
• 03

  Reading a certificate of analysis

  HPLC purity, mass spectrometry identity confirmation, water and acetate content, endotoxin and bioburden testing, and how to spot a fabricated COA.

  2.5 hrs
• 04

  Handling, storage, and stability

  Lyophilized versus reconstituted stability, cold-chain practice, aliquoting, light and pH sensitivity, contamination control, and labeling discipline.

  2.5 hrs
• 05

  Laboratory safety and disposal

  Personal protective equipment, sharps and biohazard handling, spill response, safety data sheets, and compliant disposal of reagents and sharps.

  2.0 hrs
• 06

  Documentation and recordkeeping

  Laboratory notebook standards, chain of custody, lot traceability, and structured observation records that could later support formal review.

  2.0 hrs
• 07

  Ethics, scope, and the human-use line

  Research ethics basics, why self-experimentation is outside the scope of this credential, mandatory disclosures, and the code of conduct.

  1.5 hrs

Examination and scoring

• Format. 120 multiple-choice and scenario items drawn from a larger reviewed bank, delivered under remote proctoring.
• Passing standard. A criterion-referenced cut score set by subject-matter review, not a curve. Module 07 (ethics and scope) must be passed independently.
• Record. Each attempt is recorded with its date, per-module subscore, and outcome. Attempt history stays on the credential record; only the final result is public.
• Validity. Two years, with a shorter recertification module covering regulatory and literature changes.
• Revocation. Credentials may be suspended or revoked for code-of-conduct violations, misrepresentation of scope, or identity fraud. Revocations appear on the public verification record.

Fees and sitting policy

• Fee. Each sitting requires a paid examination seat of $50 USD, purchased through the candidate portal. The fee covers proctoring, scoring, and credential administration; it is not a charge for the certificate itself.
• Scheduling. A sitting date is chosen after payment and is recorded on the candidate file. The examination opens at the scheduled time.
• Attempt limits. At most three sittings in any rolling 12-month period, with a 14-day waiting period after an unsuccessful sitting.
• Rescheduling. A scheduled seat may be moved once, no later than 48 hours before the sitting.

Identity verification

A credential is only meaningful if it belongs to a real, identified person. Verification will run through an established third-party identity provider: government-issued photo ID plus a liveness check, with the Foundation retaining a verification result and reference - not raw identity documents. See the privacy notice for retention detail.

The member portal

Certified members will have an account showing:

• Identity verification status and date
• Examination dates, attempt history, and per-module scores
• Certificate number, issue and expiry dates, and current standing
• A Foundation email address on the ruofoundation.org domain, issued on request
• A shareable verification link and downloadable certificate

Foundation email addresses are issued to verified, in-good-standing members and are revoked with the credential. They identify a member as certified; they do not imply employment by, or endorsement from, the Foundation.