Is joining Version 3.0 required?

Applies to: Agreement V3.0

Not by SMART IRB — but in practice, often. The Agreement is voluntary. No law or SMART IRB policy requires your institution to join.

However, since March 17, 2025, Version 3.0 is the only version of the Agreement that can support a new reliance arrangement. If your institution wants to rely on, or review for, another Participating Institution under SMART IRB — including being added as a new site to an existing study — it must be a Version 3.0 signatory. Funders, sponsors, and networks that use SMART IRB as their reliance mechanism may therefore make joining a practical condition of participating in their studies.

Institutions that have not joined Version 3.0 can still use other reliance agreements with willing partners.

See also - Already on V1.0 or V2.0? What changes - Key dates and the transition from V1.0/V2.0