The ISEF forms document and record what will (or did) happen in a project — they’re used by Scientific Review Committees (SRCs) and ISEF to confirm rules, safety and legal compliance. All required forms should be completed before experimentation when prior approval is required.

The canonical ISEF forms (what they are and when you need each)

1. Form 1 — Checklist for Adult Sponsor / Safety Assessment Form
   • Required for all projects. Completed by the adult sponsor (teacher/mentor). Confirms sponsor reviewed the student checklist and research plan and assessed safety. Must be done prior to the project proceeding.
2. Form 1A — Student Checklist / Research Plan
   • Required for all students. Contains the detailed research plan and shows student responsibilities and documentation of prior approvals/consent where applicable. (The Research Plan itself follows the Form 1A instructions.)
3. Form 1B — Approval Form (SRC / IRB signoff)
   • Required for projects needing prior SRC/IRB approval: human participants, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, certain institutional research. Must be signed before experimentation begins (box 2a / prior approval). Each team member needs a completed Form 1B.
4. Form 1C — Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form
   • Use this when research or equipment use occurs in a regulated research institution (college, company, hospital, government lab). Documents the institution, lab supervisor, and any institutional approvals/oversight.
5. Form 2 — Qualified Scientist Form
   • Required when a Qualified Scientist (QS) supervises work that involves BSL-2 agents, DEA-controlled substances, or other regulated activities. The QS documents training/credentials and oversight. (Rules specify when a QS is mandatory.)
6. Form 3 — Risk Assessment Form
   • Required for projects involving potentially hazardous materials/activities to document risk mitigation measures, training, PPE, disposal, and supervision.
7. Form 4 — Human Participants Form (plus sample informed consent)
   • Required for research involving human subjects. Includes documentation of informed consent, assent (when minors), and IRB review when needed. Use the sample informed consent statement as guidance.
8. Form 5A / 5B — Vertebrate Animal Forms
   • Form 5A: for vertebrate animal work done at school/home/field site.
   • Form 5B: for vertebrate animal work done at a regulated research institution (college, hospital, commercial lab). These forms document IACUC/animal care oversight and prior approvals where required.
9. Form 6A — Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (PHBA) Form
   • Required for projects involving biological agents (bacteria, viruses, cultured cells, microbiology). Includes risk assessment, BSL level, containment/disposal, and QS oversight details if applicable.
10. Form 6B — Human & Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form
    • Required when tissues, body fluids, or primary human/animal cells are used (even fixed/preserved). Documents source, consent, handling, and biosafety controls.
11. Form 7 — Continuation Projects Form
    • For continuation (ongoing) projects from prior years; documents prior approvals, changes to protocol, and ongoing oversight.
12. Support documents you will submit with forms (not separate numbered forms but commonly required):
    • Detailed Research Plan/Project Summary (instructions appear with Form 1A).
    • Abstract (submitted via the Regeneron ISEF system).
    • Final paper / bibliography / lab notebook excerpts / photos as requested by SRC or ISEF.

Key prerequisites, approvals, and permits (when your project needs extra paperwork)

These are the administrative approvals and external permits that often accompany or are required in addition to ISEF forms:

1. SRC (Scientific Review Committee) review / IRB approval
   • Any project involving human participants, vertebrate animals, or PHBAs may require prior SRC/IRB approval — documented on Form 1B and other applicable forms. The SRC is the local affiliated fair’s review committee; ISEF SRC is the final arbiter for ISEF participation.
2. Institutional approvals (IACUC / IBC / Institutional Biosafety Committee / IRB)
   • If research is performed at a regulated institution (college, hospital) or uses animals/tissues/PHBAs, you’ll likely need institutional committee approvals and documentation (IACUC for animals, IRB for human subjects, IBC for recombinant/BSL work). Use Form 1C and 5B as appropriate.
3. Qualified Scientist oversight
   • Projects that involve BSL-2 agents, certain chemicals, or controlled substances require a Qualified Scientist (QS) who signs Form 2 and supervises/assesses safety. ISEF rules define when a QS is mandatory.
4. DEA / controlled-substance licenses
   • If your project requires handling DEA-controlled drugs/substances, institutional DEA authorizations and QS oversight are required (and such projects may be barred or tightly restricted). Check institutional policy and Form 2 guidance.
5. Field collection / wildlife / plant permits
   • For field studies that collect animals, plants, or biological samples, you may need state or federal collection permits (wildlife agencies, US Fish & Wildlife, state DNRs), site access permissions (landowner, park permits), and documentation for transport/possession. ISEF rules require legal/ethical compliance for specimen collection.
6. Biosafety level limits & prohibited work
   • Students may not perform BSL-3/BSL-4 work. BSL-2 work often requires a QS and institutional facility; the Rules and Forms explain permitted biosafety levels and containment requirements. Use Form 6A / Form 2 and the Rules booklet for details.
7. Human subject informed consent / parental permission / assent
   • Documented informed consent from participants (or parental permission for minors) is required; IRB/SRC may require specific consent language. Use Form 4 and the sample informed consent provided by ISEF.
8. Hazardous chemicals / devices / radiation
   • Projects involving hazardous chemicals, lasers, compressed gas, high voltage, radioactive sources, or other dangerous devices must follow the Hazardous Chemicals & Devices rules, complete risk assessments, and may require institutional approvals or local permits. Form 3 (risk assessment) and Display & Safety rules apply.
9. School / district approval and display requirements
   • Many schools/districts require additional permission for off-campus research, lab access, or hazardous work. Display & Safety rules also place limits on what can be exhibited at ISEF — check both your affiliated fair and ISEF display rules early.

Timeline and when each form must be completed

• Before any experimentation: Form 1 (Adult Sponsor), Form 1A (Student Checklist/Research Plan) — always; and Form 1B (Approval) before experimenting if project involves humans, vertebrates, PHBAs, campus/regulatory settings. The ISEF Overview of Forms & Dates emphasizes completing required forms prior to starting research when prior approval is required.
• During/after research: Risk assessments, continuation forms (Form 7) for multi-year projects, and documentation of final methods/results to present to SRC/ISEF as requested.

How to get IRB reviews done so you can start experiments

STEP 1 — Define the Project Clearly: Write a short proposal including:

• Research question
• Methodology
• Who the participants are (age, number, etc.)
• Any risks
• How data will be kept private
• Consent/assent plans

STEP 2 — Fill Out Required ISEF Forms: Most human-subject submissions need:

• Form 4: Human Participants Form
• Form 1A: Student Checklist
• Form 1B: Approval Form
• Form 2: Qualified Scientist Form (if there is more than minimal risk)
• Form 3: Risk Assessment Form (if applicable)
• Participant-facing materials:
  • Consent/assent form
  • Survey questions / interview script
  • Recruitment plan (how students will be chosen)

STEP 3 — Submit to Your Local IRB: This depends on the school:

Case A: The high school has an IRB

• Submit your paperwork to the school’s IRB coordinator (usually the science fair coordinator).
• They review and approve/reject or request changes.

Case B: The school does not have an IRB
Options:

1. Use the IRB of a nearby district/school
Many ISEF-affiliated regions let students use their IRB.
2. Use the regional fair’s Scientific Review Committee (SRC)
Some regional fairs allow SRC to perform IRB-equivalent review.
3. County-level STEM office IRB

Final notes & legal-safety reminders

• Always follow the “prior approval before experimentation” rule: if forms or the Rules indicate prior SRC/IRB approval is required, do not start testing until approvals and signatures are obtained — failing this can disqualify a project.
• When in doubt, consult your affiliated fair’s SRC and the ISEF Rules FAQ or email the SRC help address listed on the ISEF site — they will clarify which forms apply to your exact project.

Future Forward Labs supports students through every step of their science fairs and competitions journey — from developing their project idea to securing permits, conducting experiments, and preparing for final presentations. Start by filling the form below 👇