The ACMA has Live 24/7 Chat support feature. Records indicate that UpJohn Pharmaceuticals was the first company to coin the term MSL in 1967. It's always a challenge to transition from academia to industry. But does that mean anything? 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. Awesome article! It's a role which has a tremendous impact on the industry and overall healthcare ecosystem. I had to unfollow their updates. 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. No existing program, to my knowledge, covers the spectrum of Medical Affairs and related topics like ACMAs 20 learning modules. Highlights the ongoing positive growth and evolution of the industry and how medical affairs contributes importantly to this. For more information and recent students testimonials, click here. Hi It is legit. Do you need prior experience before taking this? Never allow a serious crisis go to waste. So said former Mayor of Chicago and White House Chief of for the exam. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. 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. Developed by industry experts and considered the industry standard by most for MSL certification. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Medical Affairs as a discipline is accountable to varied deliverables. But the trend has unmistakably been a steady increase in moving the BCMAS toward the industry standard. in our pharmacy industry. As I've stated before, I have read Dyer's book and found it helpful 3 years ago when breaking in. They do have a chat function but Ive noticed oftentimes its not available every day and at off hours which makes it tough to get answers to important questions. The BCMAS curriculum is comprehensive spanning 20 modules covering all areas of medical affairs. 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. Will that get you a job? Depending on your year of experience in the pharmaceutical, device, and/or diagnostics industry Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacist, The ACMA, Raising the Standards of Excellence for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and Medical Affairs Professionals. ProctorU is utilized by both organizations for proctoring of the exam and both are completed under timed conditions following an identity verification process. To be fair, I will gladly prepare and sit for the MSL-BC if the MSLS would like a follow up article after the fact please contact me. Current medical affairs professionals (this includes: medical science liaisons, medical directors, VP Medical Affairs, Medical Information Specialists, Pharmacovigilance, HEOR professionals, etc.). 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. But as medical affairs strategic value continues to increase, executives need to be conversant about other vital aspects of the life sciences industry, such as pharmacovigilance, digital technology, or compliance and regulatory implications. The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. Hello, can you please tell me if you took the certification and did it help you? Copyright 2022 - BDJobsToday.org. Should that be suspected, let me know. MSL Society is a smaller non-profit organization, so they dont have the bandwidth to provide as much US & global support as the ACMA. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist is quickly becoming the industry standard for medical affairs professionals to attain. Toll Free: +1 (855) 255-7137, Rio de Janieiro St 212, Suite 151 Sao Paulo, SP 01240-010 Brasil, 202, Jai Omkar, Plot No. I had the opportunity to One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. BCMAS offers you more than just the certification exam by including in-depth learning modules, a practice question bank, case studies, and more. Any insight will be greatly appreciated. The BCMAS curriculum is comprehensive spanning 20 modules covering all areas of medical affairs. Thanks for sharing Jill! The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Program was developed by industry experts, clinicians, researchers, and online learning specialists. Need of the hour. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. What do you guys/gals think? The certification offered is not meant to train people, it isn't meant to help them "break in." The BCMAS program connects you to the clinical knowledge real-world experience, and leadership skills needed to be successful within the pharmaceutical industry's clinical medical affairs / MSL space. However, you never know where your career will take you down the road and if you think that one day you might want to expand from an MSL to a medical director, medical affairs vice president, medical information or other areas in pharma, then having BCMAS is the way to go. Current professionals working in promotional or non-promotional medical education agencies which support pharmaceutical companies. And those with pharmacy doctorates sometimes feel that while a PharmD credential shows off ones scientific research chops, its not specific enough to medical affairs to demonstrate the industry knowledge necessary or the ability to excel within a pharmaceutical or medical device company. Everyone approaches the board certification process for different reasons. I'll be curious to read this carefully when I have a moment. Thats an important differentiator for BCMAS. Director, Head of Medical Affairs, Astellas. The ACMA is building further awareness of the important contributions that medical science liaisons make in advancing the science which ultimately improves the quality of life of patients. All Right Reserved. Experienced pharmaceutical professional with a track record of high performance across diversified therapy areas in trade and tender markets in the UAE Holding a Master's Degree in Clinical Pharmacy from Ajman University of Science and Technology and working towards medical affairs board certification (BCMAS) #cardiology #endocrinology #anaesthesia #neuroscience #psychiatry #urology # . Having pre-test questions right before your actual exam feels a bit odd. within the medical community and serve as liaisons between HCPs and their company. That positive relationship can now be yours in your pharmaceutical medical affairs career. One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. The ACMA welcomes all points of view but we believe it's important to separate fact from fiction. To better understand the overall value of each program it is important to examine what each program provides. A BCMAS certification is recognized around the world. With a curriculum that includes best practices across the organization, the ACMAs aim is to reinforce an integrated, cross-functional approach to medical affairs that makes medical affairs to be viewed as a true partner by other departments. I would recommend it. Achieving the highly respected Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) Accreditation from ACMA provides this proof. The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a specific role within a function called medical affairs. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. I literally knew nothing about how to be an MSL when you got me. While the exam consists of 140 multiple-choice questions, of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. You are given 4 attempts to pass the BCMAS. The briefing will address the important and growing role pharmaceutical medical affairs and medical science liaison professionals play in educating the medical community and public on new health care advancements and the need for certification to standardize practices across the industry for greater transparency and accountability. MSLs help facilitate research and educate residents/fellows and much more. Privacy Policy. Sitting quietly for hours at a time was at complete odds with my personality. Current medical affairs professionals (this includes: medical science liaisons, medical directors, VP Medical Affairs, Medical Information Specialists, Pharmacovigilance, HEOR professionals, etc.). 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. Press J to jump to the feed. Does it give you an advantage when applying? science liaison to senior leader, you need something extra. Its the benchmark of excellence for Medical Affairs in the industry for over 5+ years. 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. 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. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000. It is designed to assist in the professional development of every MSL. And some of the more seasoned industry veterans have found so much value in the BCMAS program, that theyre championing it within their companies. In fact, I completed my PhD in a little over 4 years. 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). Hi. I have been authorized to respond as ACMA. ACMA Podcast is focused on establishing benchmarks of excellence in training for the All Rights Reserved. But high performers can see their salaries climb above $171,000. 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). The study materials are all provided. My comment continued: I agree with the article, the ACMA module content and exam are not necessarily for entry level professionals. The BCMAS seal means your medical affairs & MSL team has been rigorously evaluated by the leading . They constantly blast promotions about this certification and how important it will be without much substantiation. It is also the first board certification for MSLs. The growing demands on pharmaceutical medical affairs professionals as a critical interface between the health care companies and stakeholdersincluding physicians and patientsemphasizes the need to standardize and certify core competencies and practices across medical affairs teams. taking the board exam. Content is always updated to reflect new business practices, technologies, market challenges and regulatory changes. CompTIA A+. 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. The other nice feature is that its a broadly used certification for everyone in medical affairs (including MSLs). How far have you gotten? 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. I applied to a lot of industry positions in the past and never got an interview. If I have questions while I am learning or need support I can instantly chat with a real person. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. If youre looking to only be an MSL, MSL-BC might be more suitable. With BCMAS certification, you demonstrate that you've mastered the industry standard of knowledge through intensive study, self-assessment, and evaluation. The other nice feature is that its a broadly used certification for everyone in medical affairs (including MSLs). The exam has a 3 hour time limit. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Others seek to differentiate themselves from their peers. New Data From Trials of Evolocumab, Olpasiran Show Promise for Cardiovascular Disease Care, Pharmacy Focus: Public Health Matters - Motivational Interviewing, Avadel Seeks FDA Approval for Sodium Oxybate to Treat Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Independent Rx Forum - Preparing for DIR Fee Changes, COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy Found to Protect Infants Against Infection, Hospital Admission, Study: Remote Dietary Intervention May Reduce Chronic Fatigue for Lymphoma Survivors. 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. A risk that I (imho) think might be worth taking. 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. Being board certified in any healthcare related career has proven to be impactful. 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. So, I started looking for other types of positionspositions that would fit my strengths. The ACMA offers customized training and professional development for MSL teams. Hold an MD, PharmD, PhD, DO, MBBS, DNP, NP, PA, BPharm, PsyD, or other relevant degree from an accredited college, university or institution. Apparently there is rumors about him lying and faking his PhD and plagiarizing things from the MSL Institute inside his book. 10. However, the primary purpose of the MSL role is to build peer-peer relationships with leading HCPs, referred to as External Experts (EEs) at major academic centers of excellence around the world. Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful comments. But you can clearly see on our website, our position. MSL-BC is a professional standard developed only for MSLs and MSL managers. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs and MSL Society. . The MSL Society (MSLs) and the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) both offer a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Board Certification. this course will give you a very good perspective about what you are getting into. Beyond internal training within their companies, medical affairs executives simply dont have structured options for learning how the different functions within the life science industry interact with each other. meet great people and appreciate the continued online education available. I am stuck at home, jobless because of fucking covid.. so though I expand my career. Basically, its a way to practice before the real test. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program is the first accredited certification for medical science liaisons and medical affairs professionals in the world. The CompTIA A+ certification requires two exams. Such a great foundation for someone new to pharma. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) Organization behind the MSL Certification: The ACMA is a globally accredited & recognized organization, they have offices in the U.S., India, Europe, South America and the UAE. Subsequent Examination Attempts (failed exams). Medical affairs is the division within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or The lowest rating is NEMA 1 . This demonstrates the prestigious connotation associated with the BCMAS mark. Both are serving a purpose for their intended audience. If I have questions while I am learning or need support I can instantly chat with a real person. 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. Addressing everything in one place can help establish a solid foundation, build confidence and competence for individuals and teams. Medical Director of Astellas Pharma Philippines. 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. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs is meeting the daily challenge of expanding and level-setting the knowledge base of medical affairs professionals throughout the industry. Listen to BCMAS graduates share their stories! I view them as a way to develop and solidify already gained experience. A community for all things affiliated with the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession. 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. Investing in a board certification at this age of growth is definitely time well spent. Is this certification respected and recognized? 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. 1. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. Regardless of which team of Medical Affairs one resides in, I believe awareness of the whole discipline can lead to higher levels of contribution. By looking at the job postings it seems this certification is meaningless. We cannot control how people decide to leverage their certification. Online, proctored by a webcam. life sciences & healthcare industries. . ) I agree with you but don't you think that the topics they cover could at least give you some knowledge about the field which could potentially help in getting your foot in the door? But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? 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). The BCMAS certification is internationally recognized, and achieving the BCMAS . These officials will discuss the importance of establishing certification and credentialing standards for medical affairs and medical science liaison professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. We connect MSLs to the global medical affairs community, and give them the tools and resources they need to advance in their medical science liaison career paths. 1. Once hired by a pharmaceutical company, they will be trained on (1) compliance rules and regulations related to interactions with HCPs and other important regulatory and compliance matters pertinent to the pharmaceutical industry to comply with PhRMA guidelines and (2) disease state and product(s) information related to the companys pipeline and currently marketed product(s).