The ACMA has been featured in mainstream media such as Fox News, Forbes, Al Jazeera, ABC News, etc..) which reflect their status as thought leaders within the pharmaceutical industry. With questions looming about whether or not AstraZeneca cherry-picked its COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial data, trust and transparency from pharmaceutical companies about the integrity of their science is front and center. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Its a comprehensive, self-paced online, on demand certification program built by industry leaders and subject matter experts. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. One (1) year of cumulative experience working full-time as a Medical Science Liaison (or equivalent title) or leading a Medical Science Liaison team. High performers develop their capabilities to work more effectively in their roles. Hi It is legit. The BCMAS certification is the most comprehensive Medical Affairs professional development and training program in the world. What do the study materials cost? Physicians, pharmacists, and PhD professionals wishing to transition into the pharmaceutical industry. Christine Megalla, Pharm.D., Associate Director of Educational Programs at the Accreditation Council for Also, in case there is any concern about MSLS or ACMA influencing how this community is run, rest assured I have no affiliation with either. BCMAS designers developed content using psychometric analysis to ensure that graduates are held to the highest standards of learning and assessment. BCMAS is a Board Certification accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training / American National Standards Institute (IACET/ANSI). Johnson & Johnson Medical Science Liaison Jamie M. Dettler-Leonard, PhD, BCMAS from provides her review of the BCMAS program on the Pharmacy Podcast Network discussing why BCMAS was worth pursuing. By looking at the job postings it seems this certification is meaningless. To better understand the overall value of each program it is important to examine what each program provides. I applied to a lot of industry positions in the past and never got an interview. At this time, its difficult to tell how recognized the MSL-BC mark will become in the future and whether it will stand the test of time. *If you do not have a terminal degree (i. e. PhD, etc. Press J to jump to the feed. Bachelors Degree or higher from a regionally or nationally accredited educational institution (a copy of the candidates highest degree or transcript must be provided at the time of registration). About 100 questions in total (Multiple choice, case studies and True/False). Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3cb49ddf8da07e17af6d699a0ebe2fc" );document.getElementById("ae49f29f56").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The BCMAS program is the most comprehensive educational program for medical affairs professionals and unlike other training programs that may be available; it is the only one that is accredited. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. Achieving the BCMAS demonstrates the highest standards of knowledge and excellence in the Medical Affairs profession. Hold an MD, PharmD, PhD, DO, MBBS, DNP, NP, PA, BPharm, PsyD, or other relevant degree from an The 3 Month (100 Day) MCAT Study Schedule Guide: 2022 Edition, http://www.medicalaffairsspecialist-affairs-specialist-program/exam-information/, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/director-of-medical-affairs-salary-SRCH_KO0,27.htm, https://pharmacy.temple.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/qara-non-thesis-ms, http://shp.rutgers.edu/dept/biopharma/certificates/, The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Program (BCMAS) comes to Rutgers University providing a new path forward for scientific and clinical professionals looking to work within the pharmaceutical industry, Opinion on regulatory affairs vs. medical affairs, Regulatory Affairs or Medical Information, All resources are student and donor supported. The MSL-BC includes only the certification exam and the onus is on the learner to try and find material to help them prep for the exam. I recently completed and passed. The certification offered is not meant to train people, it isn't meant to help them "break in." The biggest standout feature is the exam structure. I had the opportunity to I am recommending it for my colleagues as well. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) graduates are the pharma industry's thought leaders. Would anyone that has completed the program recommended it? Theyre well known for conducting conferences and meetings for MSLs. The ACMA offers a flexible payment plan where you can pay in 3 easy installments of But the BCMAS credential has a unique appeal for medical affairs executives, many of whom dont have a formal medical doctorate. Online board certification program meant for medical science liaisons (MSL), medical directors, medical affairs professionals, medical/drug information, HEOR, pharmacovigilance, etc.. Includes 20 preparatory modules, case studies, and practice questions to help you best prepare for the board exam. One thing that really stood out was that these industry professionals include Vice Presidents of Medical Affairs, Chief Medical Officers, Medical Science Liaisons and other industry professionals. Currently the only accredited board certification for MSLs worldwide. (1) completing 20 hours of continuing education credits approved by the ACMA or (2) by Current professionals working within clinical research organizations (CROs). Thanks for sharing Jill! Tel: +1 (201) 688-2230 The BCMAS certification has been around since 2015 and the credential is very well recognized and widely used. Meet Kerry Flecknoe, an experienced Medical Science Liaison (MSL), and recent BCMAS graduate who shares her journey towards becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs. BCMAS established to create standards for knowledge, business skills and professional practice in the pharmaceutical industry. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. With BCMAS certification, you demonstrate that you've mastered the industry standard of knowledge through intensive study, self-assessment, and evaluation. What Happened to Expanded Access to New Medicines. Never allow a serious crisis go to waste. So said former Mayor of Chicago and White House Chief of So BCMAS applies to several roles in pharma-not just MSL jobs. Content is always updated to reflect new business practices, technologies, market challenges and regulatory changes. Regardless of which team of Medical Affairs one resides in, I believe awareness of the whole discipline can lead to higher levels of contribution. All Rights Reserved. Either way you will be watched and recorded while sitting for the test. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, it's worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. And while some Americans are waiting in line to get their COVID-19 vaccine, others are cautious due to doubts about the rapid vaccine development process and questions that have plagued the FDA about whether clinical data from pharmaceutical companies are being reviewed thoroughly. Hi. If you have any questions , please direct them to our staff directly who would be happy to help you , rather than making assumptions about what we do on an anonymous forum. The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. I have worked in medical affairs for 3 years and I still felt like I learned a lot. ", Lubna El-Najjar Certainly time well spent! One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. Those are some of the reasons why executives with more than a decade of industry experience have turned to the ACMA to earn their medical affairs credentials. 1. Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) are typically trained PhD professionals, physicians, or pharmacists. Have you talked to anyone in this field about this exam and employment chances? The BCMAS seal means your medical affairs & MSL team has been rigorously evaluated by the leading . Yes, we have more time on our hands right now! With this credential, your organization substantiates its commitment to quality care and improved patient outcomes. Hi. diagnostic company that is focused on data generation and data dissemination to Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in response to the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. As the U.S. grapples with the deadly opioid epidemic and public outrage over drug costs, Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the global MSL profession. Investing in a board certification at this age of growth is definitely time well spent. One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. Take the first steps toward achieving the gold standard in the pharmaceutical industry. Medical affairs departments throughout the industry have thousands of executives with medical or pharmacy doctorate degrees, along with their associated credentials. Is this certification respected and recognized? If youre looking to only be an MSL, MSL-BC might be more suitable. 700 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 204 Oradell, New Jersey 07649 USA The BCMAS helped me to tie together my story as a candidate.. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. No existing program, to my knowledge, covers the spectrum of Medical Affairs and related topics like ACMAs 20 learning modules. According to the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession has exploded to over 3000 MSLs across the country and is still growing. They feel that having the board certification attached to their names gives them a leg up in both hiring and career development. With the growing number of professionals and one of the most varied entry experience requisites of any career field all funneling into a single job description it was certain that the time would come that a board certification would be needed. Toll Free: +1 (855) 255-7137, Rio de Janieiro St 212, Suite 151 Sao Paulo, SP 01240-010 Brasil, 202, Jai Omkar, Plot No. A quick search of Linked In will show a splattering of the newly developed MSL-BC professionals while a similar inquiry will find a larger number of those with the BCMAS credential many of whom are in more leadership medical affairs positions (the larger number no doubt due to the fact that BCMAS is for all of MA not specifically MSLs and has been around for an extended period of time comparatively). **application fee must be paid with a credit card or PayPal in US Dollars. A business opportunity with a 50/50 chance of succeeding. However, I do notice quite a few MSLs with that certification. Medical Affairs Manager, Upjohn-Pfizer. Our MSL professional development and training solutions are based on real-world experience from professionals with world class MSL experience. As for ACMA, the content of modules and associated tools, access to online chat, and opportunity to get board certified, are well worth the cost. The BCMAS certification is internationally recognized, and achieving the BCMAS . industry professionals, I strongly encourage all An important caveat is that, unlike the BCMAS program, with MSL-BC the additional cost to retake the exam can be as high as $400. 1. Online board certification program meant for medical science liaisons (MSL), medical directors, medical affairs professionals, medical/drug information, HEOR, pharmacovigilance, etc.. Includes 20 preparatory modules, case studies, and practice questions to help you best prepare for the board exam. Medical affairs is the division within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or The BCMAS program is the most comprehensive educational program for medical affairs professionals and unlike other training programs that may be available; it is the only one that is accredited. But, how do you go about getting certified? life sciences & healthcare industries. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, its worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. Nonquantifiables can be extremely important in business terms, but as hinted in the previous section, senior managers tend to focus on the money; often they are less interested in the nonquantifiables. I just signed up to take and they do a background check to verify your application. These officials will discuss the importance of establishing certification and credentialing standards for medical affairs and medical science liaison professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. You are using an out of date browser. Listen Now! BCMAS was worth it! BCMAS allows up to 3 hours for their four-section exam which includes multiple choice, true/false, select all that apply and case study formatted questions totaling between 90-100 questions. within the medical community and serve as liaisons between HCPs and their company. How Pharma Industry Leader Suzanne Soliman, PharmD, BCMAS Advocates For Female Pharmacists, medical affairs vs medical science liaison, Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Board Certification: A Comprehensive Review, Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS): A Review by Paul Korner, MD, How to Seize New Pharmacy Opportunity in the Pharma Industry, Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. Regardless of where you are in your MSL career, obtaining an MSL certification can help advance your MSL career and distinguish you among other MSL candidates when applying for a new MSL job or getting that promotion from MSL to MSL Manager or MSL Director. Due to the newness of the certification, there are very few people that have the MSL-BC credential, therefore, it is not well recognized yet. Therefore, the chances of failing the exam are higher. Having pre-test questions right before your actual exam feels a bit odd. It is impossible to operate in such scarcity. healthcare providers (HCPs). Unfortunately, the MSL Society doesnt have any preparatory content to help learners prepare for the MSL-BC exam. My comment part 1: The topic of standardization in Medical Affairs is timely and important. I look forward to your thoughts if you have a chance to read it as well. BCMAS offers you more than just the certification exam by including in-depth learning modules, a practice question bank, case studies, and more. ACMA received IACET accreditation, whose processes helped us build a rigorous curriculum. I just began looking into this and realize the potential of. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The ACMAs goal is to establish a common language a standard that medical affairs executives can converse in. It features data and insights from policymakers, industry and academic leaders, and patient advocates working to ensure equity, trust, and excellence in Medical Affairs professional engagements. The study materials are all provided. The BCMAS program is the most comprehensive educational program for medical affairs professionals and unlike other training programs that may be available; it is the only one that is accredited. A community for all things affiliated with the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession. Every 5 years you are required to maintain your certification. Medical Affairs, talks about the organizations certification process. This enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. BCMAS allows up to 3 hours for their four-section exam which includes multiple . 20 modules to prepare you for the Board Examination, Practice Question Bank to help prepare you for the BCMAS exam, Assistance with connections to MSL & Medical Affairs Recruiters, ACMA Easy Pay 3 Month-Installment Option (This gives you the option of splitting the payments over 3 months which is great especially for folks starting out and looking for financial flexibility. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It's a role which has a tremendous impact on the industry and overall healthcare ecosystem. ACMA Podcast is focused on establishing benchmarks of excellence in training for the One thing that I really liked about the BCMAS program is that it included a question bank which helps prepare its learners for the exam. medical affairs professionals. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Never allow a serious crisis go to waste. So said former Mayor of Chicago and White House Chief of But comprehensive, accredited, educational programs for medical affairs professionals are few and far between. But high performers can see their salaries climb above $171,000. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) Program - $1999.99 Medical Terminology & Abbreviations - $99.99 Basic Principles in Pharmacology - $99.99 + + Buy all together : $ 2199.97 The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) Program - $1999.99 Medical Terminology & Abbreviations - $99.99 This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Shouldn't you get your Pharm-D first, before you get "BCMAS" certified? Subsequent Examination Attempts (failed exams). You did the heavy lifting by being awesome :-). ), Financing Option through PayPal Credit (In partnership with PayPal, the ACMA offers the option for up to one year of financing for professional development and obtain your new MSL certification). which reflect their status as thought leaders within the pharmaceutical industry. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. With the addition of the BCMAS to my LinkedIn profile and resume, it attracted recruiters to me for medical science liaison roles. With increased scrutiny on pharmaceutical industry practices, ensuring that pharmaceutical companies are validating the knowledge of their field teams in medical affairs and sales is imperative. Those professionals working within clinical development, research & development and are transitioning to a medical affairs role. ProctorU is utilized by both organizations for proctoring of the exam and both are completed under timed conditions following an identity verification process. A displaced senior pilot-with 100,000 hours of heavy airline transport time, earning $150,000 a year-would have a hard time finding an equivalent highpaying job in school teaching. * Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Physician & Licensed Medical Esthetician with extensive network of KOLs in aesthetics, dermatology, plastic surgery, facial plastics ent, oculoplastics . Topics include: Maximize your MSL teams emotional intelligence and how to use it to build relationships. Doing the job well requires diverse set of competencies that develop over time, often with use of industry trainings that focus on individual topics, such as advisory panels or medical communication. Therefore, the chances of failing the exam are higher. One credentialing note of differentiation here: there is an amount of verbal diarrhea when it comes to whos the first this or which company has the only that, and both credentialing bodies claim to be the worlds first and/or only fill in the blank. There are BCMAS programs for Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Canada, and South America where material is customized based on regional differences in the regulatory & compliance landscape (For example, FDA vs. EMA vs. Health Canada) 5. Need of the hour. Associate Global Medical Director, Novo Nordisk. I literally knew nothing about how to be an MSL when you got me. The BCMAS program is packed with information about each role within medical affairs, all while Several Advisory board meetings held with Medical Affairs leaders and subject matter experts. These cookies do not store any personal information. industry. The BCMAS program is a perfect resource for industry professionals, transitioning academics or anyone seeking to gain and demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of healthcare landscapes, therapeutic development and regulatory infrastructure. A BCMAS certification is recognized around the world. Of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. CEO, A2A Pharmaceuticals, "BCMAS Review was excellent. Dr. Hughes achieved the Board-Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) certification from ACMA in May of 2021 and believes that it will open new doors and provide her with more in-depth industry training that is needed to excel in the medical affairs career path. Does anyone know about this combination? This enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. Perfect time to get board certified. The BCMAS provided me with a thorough knowledge of medical affairs operations, the life MSLs need to keep their ears to the ground and listening to Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and their needs, which can drive clinical development strategies. Expanded Access 4.0 Registration Now Open! I can briefly share my experience with the ACMA program which I found quite worthwhile: Send a powerful message that you have achieved the highest standard of excellence, 90% of BCMAS professionals land the role they want in as little as two months, Build your brand as a subject matter expert with colleagues and HCPs, BCMAS Professionals earn up to 24% more than their peers, Senior Manager, Medical Science Liaison and Clinical Strategy Lead. And as that trend continues, medical affairs professionals throughout the life sciences industry will no doubt be better prepared, more confident and, most importantly, more knowledgeable as they approach their roles.