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. Medical Affairs Manager, Upjohn-Pfizer. I am stuck at home, jobless because of fucking covid.. so though I expand my career. MD, MBEE, BCMAS The exam has a 3 hour time limit. The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material to help individuals prepare. One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. Speaking for myself, I can already tell a shift in mentality towards clinical development and regulatory affairs following the BCMAS modules. Responsibility disclaimer and privacy policy | Site Map. Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in response to the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. and the functions which you have worked before, you may find some modules more familiar and MSL-BC is a professional standard developed only for MSLs and MSL managers. With the addition of the BCMAS to my LinkedIn profile and resume, it attracted recruiters to me for medical science liaison roles. 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. The ACMA has Live 24/7 Chat support feature. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Program was developed by industry experts, clinicians, researchers, and online learning specialists. While the BCMAS program offers some great features, the 20 modules the ACMA includes to help MSLs prepare for the exam are definitely a great standout feature. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In a nutshell, this program gave me an in-depth perspective on the dynamic role a medical science liaison plays in scientific exchange and data generation. Absolutely agree Eric! Being board certified in any healthcare related career has proven to be impactful. Depending on your year of experience in the pharmaceutical, device, and/or diagnostics industry Join us for the largest annual conference on pre-market access to medicines. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist or BCMAS is a credential that goes right up there next to your name after MD, DO, PhD or PharmD. Program Info | ACMA Google Cloud - Cloud Digital Leader. I'll be curious to read this carefully when I have a moment. After some controversy, Theyre also accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education & Training/American National Standards Institute (IACET/ANSI) and they even offer CME/CE to US Licensed Physicians and Pharmacists who decide to complete the modules for the BCMAS program. Thoughts on BCMAS? : r/MedicalScienceLiaison - reddit Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a specific role within a function called medical affairs. ProctorU is utilized by both organizations for proctoring of the exam and both are completed under timed conditions following an identity verification process. How far have you gotten? . You are using an out of date browser. While the exam consists of 140 multiple-choice questions, of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. I spoke to one of their members on their website chat and he was down to earth, he showed me the benefits of the program along with some benefits you attain after completing the program. Christine Megalla, Pharm.D., Associate Director of Educational Programs at the Accreditation Council for What is a Medical Science Liaison (MSL)? - Medical Affairs In keeping with this year's emphasis on cloud services, this certification enters this list with a promise to earn its qualifiers an average salary of $142,708. Those professionals working within clinical development, research & development and are transitioning to a medical affairs role. 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 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 certification offered is not meant to train people, it isn't meant to help them "break in." 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. During this same search you will find a handful of over achievers who have added the MSL-BC to their already certified BCMAS. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. MSLs are focused on building relationships with key experts The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. A Tale of 2 MSL Board Certifications: What You Should Know - Part 2 How one pharma vet helped create the first industry-wide training standards for aspiring Video advice: What is a Medical Science Liaison? I was looking for avenues where I can learn more and grow in Medical Affairs. 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 The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. Having pre-test questions right before your actual exam feels a bit odd. 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. The BCMAS certification has been around since 2015 and the credential is very well recognized and widely used. Thats an important differentiator for BCMAS. However, after careful investigation it appears the BCMAS is the only accredited board certification while MSL-BC does not appear to be accredited though nearly 2 dozen respected leaders in medical affairs were apart of the credentialing examination collaboration process (if you are attached to the organization and have more complete information please dont hesitate to reach out for a correction as this specific point was hard to ascertain). Hi It is legit. The preparatory modules allowed me to learn new things A risk that I (imho) think might be worth taking. The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material . But comprehensive, accredited, educational programs for medical affairs professionals are few and far between. If you are planning to join Medical Affairs, BCMAS is indeed a certification relevant & valuable to all involved in Medical Affairs beyond the MSL community. Our training programs can be customized to meet your companys specific needs (disease state, clinical, and soft skills training). Currently the only accredited board certification for MSLs worldwide. The other nice feature is that its a broadly used certification for everyone in medical affairs (including MSLs). science liaison to senior leader, you need something extra. 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. Recertification Option 2 : Retaking and passing the board exam Consists of 140 multiple-choice questions. Content is always updated to reflect new business practices, technologies, market challenges and regulatory changes. The other challenge is if you have a higher chance of failing; you are then paying twice for the exam which eventually adds up and make it very similar in pricing to BCMAS (which allows 4 exam retakes in the initial cost). The BCMAS helped me to tie together my story as a candidate.. Videory can be a good size for data scientists; enough other data scientists are around to provide mentorship and support, but the team is still small enough that you can get to know everyone. High performers develop their capabilities to work more effectively in their roles. Just perform a quick search for BCMAS on LinkedIn and the results will show the numerous industry professionals using the BCMAS credential in their titles. No existing program, to my knowledge, covers the spectrum of Medical Affairs and related topics like ACMAs 20 learning modules. Apparently there is rumors about him lying and faking his PhD and plagiarizing things from the MSL Institute inside his book. The ACMAs goal is to establish a common language a standard that medical affairs executives can converse in. This is very interesting to me. You're either a spammer, or a sheep. In regard to the value they deliver to our field however, the fees are within acceptable budget for training and development, and far less than what one may pay to participate in other Medical Affairs industry programs. It is designed to recognize excellence among those who wish to specialize as experts in medical affairs. They also give you 20 modules to prepare you. The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the global MSL profession. One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. MSLs can participate in any stage of a products lifecycle, but typically are hired as a company prepares for launch. which reflect their status as thought leaders within the pharmaceutical industry. an accreditor of medical affairs professionals and pharmaceutical sales representatives Grantors always consider if the PI has the experience and resources to get the job done. Do you need prior experience before taking this? For medical science liaisons, the BCMAS provides a professional credential that demonstrates a commitment to the role, a dedication to a high standard of excellence and protects the integrity of medical affairs. To be successful at this, you must always maintain diplomacy, self-discipline, and integrity. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The ACMA welcomes all points of view but we believe it's important to separate fact from fiction. And some of the more seasoned industry veterans have found so much value in the BCMAS program, that theyre championing it within their companies. Thats not their only reason for getting a BCMAS certification, however. With this credential, your organization substantiates its commitment to quality care and improved patient outcomes. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Several Advisory board meetings held with Medical Affairs leaders and subject matter experts. Get your Medical Science Liaison (MSL) & medical affairs team COVID-19 ready, Ensure compliant & ethical field medical affairs team interactions during COVID-19, Enhance trust with the medical (and patient) communities and your accredited medical affairs and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) team. Everyone approaches the board certification process for different reasons. The biggest standout feature is the exam structure. ACMA Podcast is focused on establishing benchmarks of excellence in training for the Regardless of which team of Medical Affairs one resides in, I believe awareness of the whole discipline can lead to higher levels of contribution. The National Electrical Manufacturing Association, or NEMA, enclosure standards denote where whole-house surge protectors can be installed. within the medical community and serve as liaisons between HCPs and their company. Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) are typically trained PhD professionals, physicians, or pharmacists. There are a number of ways you can achieve the same goals (learning what each dept does, scouting opps, boosting credentials, getting the interview) without spending nearly as much money and that are far more useful. I would recommend it. Both are serving a purpose for their intended audience. BCMAS Home | ACMA Emanuel clarified his point: Its an opportunity to do things that you had never considered, or that I recently completed and passed. BCMAS Graduates From Over 200 Companies Certify Your Team Payment Options One-Time Payment Application Fee $49 BCMAS Online Course $1000 Credentialing Fee $150 Examination Fee $800 TOTAL $1999 ACMA Easy Pay (3 Month) Monthly Payment $716.33 / Mo Monthly Installments 3 TOTAL $2149 PayPal CREDIT Financing BCMAS is relevant for MSLs as well as other functions within Medical Affairs. Of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. The BCMAS certification has been around since 2015 and the credential is very well recognized and widely used. 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. *If you do not have a terminal degree (i. e. PhD, etc. Board Certification Medical Affairs (BCMAS), The Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance, Prior Authorization Certified Specialist Program (PACS), The ACMA was invited to Congress. BCMAS established to create standards for knowledge, business skills and professional practice in the pharmaceutical industry. The BCMAS certification is the most comprehensive Medical Affairs professional development and training program in the world. You will have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. Current professionals working in promotional or non-promotional medical education agencies which support pharmaceutical companies. Yes. Does it give you an advantage when applying? I strongly encourage all It is also the first board certification for MSLs. Part 2 of this short series will dive deep into the specifics of each of the certifications, including detailed descriptions of both programs, cost of the certification and exam fees and who is eligible to sit for each exam (spoiler alert: it is not the same group of test takers). medical affairs and MSL colleagues to enroll in BCMAS. Additionally, they also have a dedicated team of advisors to help MSLs every step of the way. We are going to break down the pros and cons of each. The other challenge is if you have a higher chance of failing; you are then paying twice for the exam which eventually adds up and make it very similar in pricing to BCMAS (which allows 4 exam retakes in the initial cost). For more information and recent students testimonials, click here. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. BCMAS is a Board Certification accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training /American National Standards Institute (IACET/ANSI). Its the benchmark of excellence for Medical Affairs in the industry for over 5+ years. Your credential enables career advancement and improves MSL and medical affairs professionals' overall contribution to the lives of patients whom their valued expertise ultimately impacts. And theres certainly no programs offering board certification. Meet Kerry Flecknoe, an experienced Medical Science Liaison (MSL), and recent BCMAS graduate who shares her journey towards becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs. Hold an MD, PharmD, PhD, DO, MBBS, DNP, NP, PA, BPharm, PsyD, or other relevant degree from an A quick search on LinkedIn shows just how widely used the credential is among pharmaceutical industry professionals. $700. 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. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) . And going from a medical and be BCMAS.. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist and transition from retail pharmacy to the pharmaceutical industry. MSLs help facilitate research and educate residents/fellows and much more. The ACMA offers customized training and professional development for MSL teams. Several years ago many did not believe that it would be possible to have a certification that broadly sweeps small and large organizations and everything in between including all therapeutic areas. 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. Current professionals working in promotional or non-promotional medical education agencies which support pharmaceutical companies. Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful comments. The MSL-BC allows up to 4 hours for the 140-question multiple choice exam (of which 125 count toward your mark). Medical science liaisons (MSLs), MSL manager/directors. The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. Board certifying medical affairs and medical science liaison professionals is critical to ensure ethical practices, compliance excellence, and public trust at this crucial time. The BCMAS certification is internationally recognized, and achieving the BCMAS . The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material to help individuals prepare. industry professionals worldwide and therefore improve patient care., Sotirios G. Stergiopoulos Both are official board certifications, not certificate programs meaning the idea isnt to simply learn about being an MSL the goal is to prove you know what the credential specifically implies, BCMAS leaning towards overall medical affairs (MA) and MSL-BC focusing on the MSL career specifically. Never allow a serious crisis go to waste. So said former Mayor of Chicago and White House Chief of You will have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. The average medical science liaisons salary is $136,000. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Certification Review: Comparing the BCMAS vs. MSL-BC Certification, Handbook of Distance Education: Second Edition, Rich Dad Poor Dad What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money, Medical Writing: A Guide for Clinicians, Educators, and Researchers, Is An Mba Worth It For A Salesforce Career, Are Consulting Fees Subject To Self Employment Tax, What Career Can You Get With International Relations, What Happens If You Unlearn A Profession Maplestory, Is Teaching A Good Profession In Australia, How To Start An Employment Agency From Home In India, How To Authorize A New Career College In Texas, How Have Computers Changed The Him Profession, 5 From the Fastest-Growing Remote Career Groups, Does Employment Security Ofice Have My Job History, How To Hide Job Search From Employer On Linkedin, Responsibility disclaimer and privacy policy. 10 Essential IT Certifications for 2023 | Coursera These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Medical affairs is the division within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. It also customizes BCMAS exams to reflect different regions around the world so BCMAS is a great option for global MSL teams wanting to certify. Additionally, they also have a dedicated team of advisors to help MSLs every step of the way. Master cold calling/emailing and networking. Certain aspects I am not familiar with, such as which program came first or whether the organizations are non profit. I can briefly share my experience with the ACMA program which I found quite worthwhile: ACMA launched their accredited board certification program over 3 years ago; those who pass will garnish the BCMAS credential or are deemed Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialists. They constantly blast promotions about this certification and how important it will be without much substantiation. Jbrl Full Member. I heard it is becoming the industry standard. Hi Not sure if you saw this recent PR release: I'm connected on social media with the founders of the org. Sitting quietly for hours at a time was at complete odds with my personality. This enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. ", Lubna El-Najjar The ACMA has Live 24/7 Chat support feature. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. Pharmacology lecturer for University of the Philippines, and a clinician with expertise on Hypertension and primary care, Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist | Matuto pa tungkol sa karanasan sa trabaho, edukasyon, mga koneksyon, at higit pa ni Raymond Oliva, MD, FPCP, BCMAS sa pamamagitan ng pagpunta sa kanyang profile sa LinkedIn Either way you will be watched and recorded while sitting for the test. We cannot control how people decide to leverage their certification. Are the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) and the board-certified medical affairs specialist (BCMAS) certification legitimate and desired by medical affairs hirers in industry, or is it a scam set up by the Apotheker Group and William and Suzanne Soliman. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. Medical Science Liaison Certification that You Should Get This week, with that backdrop, the House Committee on Energy and Commerces Health Subcommittee will hear from senior leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the founder and CEO of the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA), William Soliman, PhD, BCMAS. While MSLs are not sales representatives, they ARE proactive educators. Every 5 years you are required to maintain your certification. Growing need for medical affairs certification. This is rather controversial around here. We hope this MSL article was helpful! All Right Reserved. Industry professionals provide a review of the BCMAS program. 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. With us it's easy to find the job you want! Any insight will be greatly appreciated. and improve on what I already know regarding Medical Affairs. Now in virtual format. Copyright 2020 Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. I just signed up to take and they do a background check to verify your application. you didnt think were possible.. About 100 questions in total (Multiple choice, case studies and True/False). Medical Affairs as a discipline is accountable to varied deliverables. ACMA and The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) have different board certification credentials and the question becomes which is the right one for each MSL. 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). And often, medical affairs executives get so engrossed in their day to day activities that its challenging to gain a deep understanding of how other departments and functions operate, let alone train another colleague on these functions. Tel: +1 (201) 688-2230 The MSL Society (MSLs) and the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) both offer a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Board Certification. Certifications and Ratings . medical affairs and MSL colleagues to enroll in BCMAS, Board Certification Medical Affairs (BCMAS), The Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance, Prior Authorization Certified Specialist Program (PACS), Listen to the ACMA podcast on Pharmacy Podcast, Clinical Trial Design & Evidence Based Medicine, Comparative View of the Mechanism of Action of Drugs for every organ system, Presentation & Communications Strategies for MSLs, Professional Ethics Related to Interactions with HCPs, Anatomical & Physiological Effects of Drugs, Compliance for pharma, device & diagnostics, Effective Advisory Boards for Medical Affairs. As the U.S. grapples with the deadly opioid epidemic and public outrage over drug costs, While the exam consists of 140 multiple-choice questions, of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. It is impossible to operate in such scarcity. More important than setting themselves apart from other job seekers or attaching the BCMAS letters to the ends of their names, graduates of the ACMAs program want to demonstrate their commitment to medical affairs. medical affairs professionals. The BCMAS seal means your medical affairs & MSL team has been rigorously evaluated by the leading . Copyright 2022 - BDJobsToday.org. Additionally, we use PayPal, so you can always use PayPal credit if you qualify. Those professionals working within clinical development, research & development and are transitioning to a medical affairs role. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. My comment continued: I agree with the article, the ACMA module content and exam are not necessarily for entry level professionals. 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. It's a role which has a tremendous impact on the industry and overall healthcare ecosystem. Anecdotally, BCMAS graduates have noticed more momentum in their recruiting activities. I am also not associated with any organization, but upon doing my research Dyer's organization seems a bit screechy to me. This button displays the currently selected search type. BCMAS helped me have everything in place and helped me expand my knowledge base beyond the product knowledge. Online, proctored by a webcam. I thought it was interesting considering an acquaintance of mine (a former-MSL now in a non-field MedAffairs role) mentioned he didn't know anyone that cared for that certification. Youre Certifiable! A BCMAS certification is recognized around the world. Getting the BCMAS Certification was definitely a major step in my career improve the quality of pharmaceutical *A note from the author: I penned these articles while waiting for my exam results from BCMAS. What do you guys/gals think? Thanks, I appreciate the up-to-date info! Cost-benefit comparison As seen in Figure 1, MSL Society's program costs $450-$550, the BCMAS program costs $1,999, and the IFAPP program costs $8,600-$9,600. BCMAS allows up to 3 hours for their four-section exam which includes multiple . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Currently the only accredited board certification for MSLs worldwide. Developed by industry experts and considered the industry standard by most for MSL certification. Anyone working in medical affairs understands that its a highly specialized area. diagnostic company that is focused on data generation and data dissemination to 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. 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