All Rights Reserved. You will have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. 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 certification offered is not meant to train people, it isn't meant to help them "break in." Your email address will not be published. Congrats on passing the exam and getting certified. Given the requirement facing most CPAs that they complete an average of 40 hours of continuing professional education per year, combined with the flexibility inherent in technologybased training delivery, multimedia continuing professional education courses would seem to hold a definite allure for CPAs. The BCMAS certification has been around since 2015 and the credential is very well recognized and widely used. Investing in a board certification at this age of growth is definitely time well spent. For more information and recent students testimonials, click here. Having a professional certification creates a uniform standard of competency and excellence for industry professionals who are responsible for providing critical information to doctors which impacts patient lives. The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material . Naturally certain aspects may be less applicable to the unique role of a professional or a company. I am stuck at home, jobless because of fucking covid.. so though I expand my career. 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. BCMAS is a Board Certification accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training / American National Standards Institute (IACET/ANSI). During this same search you will find a handful of over achievers who have added the MSL-BC to their already certified BCMAS. A Tale of 2 MSL Board Certifications: What You Should Know - Part 2 Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The BCMAS Exam. Expanded Access 4.0 Registration Now Open! you didnt think were possible.. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Board Certification Medical Affairs (BCMAS), The Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance, Prior Authorization Certified Specialist Program (PACS), The ACMA was invited to Congress. This means that as an MSL, you will consistently reach out to people with the intent to educate them about your company and its products. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Online, proctored by a webcam. Listen Now! You are given 4 attempts to pass the BCMAS. *If you do not have a terminal degree (i. e. PhD, etc. In 2015, the ACMA developed the first board certification for medical affairs professionals and medical science liaisons known as the Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program, and it is now considered the industry standard in the pharmaceutical industry. The MSL Society (MSLs) and the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) both offer a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Board Certification. Furthermore, if having an accredited organization confer an MSL certification matters to you, then ACMA is the way to go. Copyright 2020 Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. But, how do you go about getting certified? 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. Raymond Oliva, MD, FPCP, BCMAS - LinkedIn But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? Organization behind the MSL Certification: How well prepared will I be for the exam. Additionally, they also have a dedicated team of advisors to help MSLs every step of the way. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Many pharmaceutical industry futurists believe that certification and credentialing via the BCMAS program will be the norm in years to come as regulators push for higher standards of excellence in the pharmaceutical industry, which has received negative attention due to the opioid crisis and other debacles in years past. Growing need for medical affairs certification. The exam has a 3 hour time limit. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA), however, offers a Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program for medical affairs professionals across the career spectrum. Loved it! In fact, I completed my PhD in a little over 4 years. 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. Medical affairs is the division within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or Shouldn't you get your Pharm-D first, before you get "BCMAS" certified? ), but are still interested in being more informed and getting an edge on career advancement in Medical Affairs, the ACMA also offers a competency certificate (MACC) that includes the six topics starred * above. The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material to help individuals prepare. It also sets the stage for continual professional development through values centered on lifelong . These cookies do not store any personal information. I am recommending it for my colleagues as well. Part 2 certainly goes into that sort of detail. 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. Yes. One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. Both are serving a purpose for their intended audience. A community for all things affiliated with the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I assume many are in process of deciding which certification route to take. Board Certification for Medical Science Liaisons: Implications for the 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. 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. 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. As more medical affairs executives undergo the certification program, theyre seeing the value in it and recommending it to their peers. 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. Listen to BCMAS graduates share their stories! The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the global MSL profession. Since then, many companies have built MSL teams within medical affairs to help provide important educational information to HCPs. Online, proctored by a webcam. Video advice: What is a Medical Science Liaison? by Michael Grahame Moore, William G. Anderson. CompTIA A+. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) . In contrast the MSLS made their program available earlier this year following a reported two-year collaboration process and after passing the MSL professional will be entitled to the credential MSL-BC. you didnt think were possible.. ACMA does not charge any additional fees for retaking the exam if you fail which is nice. diagnostic company that is focused on data generation and data dissemination to Thats becoming more difficult to do as medical affairs becomes increasingly strategic, increasingly larger as a function within the industry and increasingly competitive. Our MSL professional development and training solutions are based on real-world experience from professionals with world class MSL experience. 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. Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in response to the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. Subsequent Examination Attempts (failed exams). 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. Why Certify with BCMAS - Home | ACMA (1) completing 20 hours of continuing education credits approved by the ACMA or (2) by Medical affairs is a growing component of It is meant to establish uniform standards for a profession that we advocate for (namely MSLs/med affairs professionals). 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. 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. medical affairs and MSL colleagues to enroll in BCMAS. . ) This enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. in our pharmacy industry. My comment continued: I agree with the article, the ACMA module content and exam are not necessarily for entry level professionals. 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. MSL-BC requires this be accomplished every 3 years while BCMAS has an every 5 year requirement. I very much agree that awareness of the discipline as a whole (of medical affairs) leads to higher levels of contribution. and be BCMAS.. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist and transition from retail pharmacy to the pharmaceutical industry. is grabbing the attention of politicians and policymakers. so what makes BCMAS so special that you think it's worth thousands of dollars when there are high quality comprehensive free online courses from places like NIH lol? #msl #boardcertification #bcmas #mslbc #medicalaffairs #msls #acma. Does it give you an advantage when applying? It would be nice if these questions were available before the exam to help you prepare. 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. The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the global MSL profession. Thanks, I appreciate the up-to-date info! Medical affairs is a growing component of 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. I recently completed and passed. Certainly time well spent! Thats not their only reason for getting a BCMAS certification, however. After completing my first postdoc, I was unemployed for over 6 months. But how can one get all this info? 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 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. As a result the BCMAS program has several international variations each containing region specific information. About 100 questions in total (Multiple choice, case studies and True/False). Home Blog Articles Becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs (BCMAS): The new standard in Pharma. BCMAS MENA | Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs I saw some colleagues 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. More than ever, confidence in objective, science-based data about therapeutics, such as the COVID-19 vaccine and other health care services, is a shared imperative across the pharmaceutical industry, health care communities, and the American public. It is a credential that resonates because of its association with board certified physicians. 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. (See below for the rest of my comment ). The MSL Society (MSLs) and the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) both offer a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Board Certification. The average medical science liaisons salary is $136,000. Consists of 140 multiple-choice questions. Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacist, The ACMA, Raising the Standards of Excellence for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and Medical Affairs Professionals. ", Lubna El-Najjar in our pharmacy industry. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The MSL-BC allows up to 4 hours for the 140-question multiple choice exam (of which 125 count toward your mark). an accreditor of medical affairs professionals and pharmaceutical sales representatives industry professionals, I strongly encourage all A risk that I (imho) think might be worth taking. Program Policies | ACMA healthcare & this podcast is a collection of intellectual interviews with leaders So BCMAS applies to several roles in pharma-not just MSL jobs. The MSL-BC credential is still very new, and it remains to be seen how widely adopted it becomes. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Program - BCMAS 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. 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 Getting the BCMAS Certification was definitely a major step in my career improve the quality of pharmaceutical Content is always updated to reflect new business practices, technologies, market challenges and regulatory changes. Is this certification respected and recognized? We hope this MSL article was helpful! 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. Of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. Thank you . Basically, its a way to practice before the real test. What do the study materials cost? I just began looking into this and realize the potential of. But you can clearly see on our website, our position. Now in virtual format. You do not need prior industry experience but you do need to have a pharmd/phd/md/do etc. I literally knew nothing about how to be an MSL when you got me. Medical Affairs Career? And some of the more seasoned industry veterans have found so much value in the BCMAS program, that theyre championing it within their companies. ), 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). What do you guys/gals think? And this has proven to be valuable to many who are now board certified thanks to the ACMA. 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. Just talked to some of my colleagues in regulatory affairs who are anywhere from SM to SVP in their respective companies, mostly Temple (. and the functions which you have worked before, you may find some modules more familiar and Post title says it all. Have you talked to anyone in this field about this exam and employment chances? This demonstrates the prestigious connotation associated with the BCMAS mark. 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. 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. It never hurts to continue learning. In comparison the BCMAS credential is already being used by professionals from around the world because its been around for several years and industry leaders recognize BCMAS. How one pharma vet helped create the first industry-wide training standards for aspiring sciences industry, cross-functionality within life science companies and the regulatory and ethical requirements of medical science liaisons. Unfortunately, the MSL Society doesnt have any preparatory content to help learners prepare for the MSL-BC exam. ACMA received IACET accreditation, whose processes helped us build a rigorous curriculum. 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 # . 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. So, I started looking for other types of positionspositions that would fit my strengths. Background Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Professionals come from a wide variety of backgrounds. As I've stated before, I have read Dyer's book and found it helpful 3 years ago when breaking in. This is very interesting to me. Still others are looking for a challenge to learn what they dont know. Would anyone that has completed the program recommended it? Unfortunately, the MSL Society doesnt have any preparatory content to help learners prepare for the MSL-BC exam. I have a few questions if you don't mind answering. This enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. Director, Head of Medical Affairs, Astellas. Take the first steps toward achieving the gold standard in the pharmaceutical industry. this course will give you a very good perspective about what you are getting into. industry professionals worldwide and therefore improve patient care., Sotirios G. Stergiopoulos Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS), Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Certification Review: Comparing the BCMAS vs. MSL-BC Certification. It is also the first board certification for MSLs. 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. How far have you gotten? I just signed up to take and they do a background check to verify your application. 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. For more information, please see our To be successful at this, you must always maintain diplomacy, self-discipline, and integrity. A business opportunity with a 50/50 chance of succeeding. which reflect their status as thought leaders within the pharmaceutical industry. Medical Affairs, talks about the organizations certification process. Becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs (BCMAS): The new standard Tel: +1 (201) 688-2230 They also give you 20 modules to prepare you. 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. Those professionals working within clinical development, research & development and are transitioning to a medical affairs role. MSL-BC is a professional standard developed only for MSLs and MSL managers. The exam has a 3 hour time limit. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, its worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. 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. I view them as a way to develop and solidify already gained experience. Tel: +1 (201) 688-2230 Current professionals working within clinical research organizations (CROs). 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. ), 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). However, I do notice quite a few MSLs with that certification. 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? Have completed at least a bachelors degree and have 2 years relevant professional experience (ie., pharmaceutical industry experience, clinical and/or research experience). 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That positive relationship can now be yours in your pharmaceutical medical affairs career. Thoughts on BCMAS? : r/MedicalScienceLiaison - reddit life sciences & healthcare industries. I believe it in. BCMAS offers you more than just the certification exam by including in-depth learning modules, a practice question bank, case studies, and more. Depending on your year of experience in the pharmaceutical, device, and/or diagnostics industry Theyre well known for conducting conferences and meetings for MSLs. It is also the first board certification for MSLs. being easy to digest. These cookies do not store any personal information. CEO, A2A Pharmaceuticals, "BCMAS Review was excellent. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Yes, we have more time on our hands right now! It would be nice if these questions were available before the exam to help you prepare. Individual career development paths is discussed specific to each credential and how board certification is impacting organizations on a macro level. The MSL-BC allows up to 4 hours for the 140-question multiple choice exam (of which 125 count toward your mark). Recertification Option 1 : Completing twenty (20) hours of continuing education modules provided by the ACMA and successful quiz completion of each module. Myth: Everyone approaches the board certification process for different reasons. 36, Sector 20, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, India - 400 708, Building of Chocoblooms shop,Mezan floor, Office 03United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Al-Nahyan. It's always a challenge to transition from academia to industry. medical affairs professionals. ACMA is proud to offer scholarships to all of our eligible enrollees. 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. Medical Liaisons help to ensure that products are utilized appropriately. and our And going from a medical I hope this article was useful to help you choose which MSL certification is right for you. 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. medical affairs professionals. The CompTIA A+ certification requires two exams. Copyright 2020 Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) Program 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. 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. Others seek to differentiate themselves from their peers. After some controversy, We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Specially during pandemic times MSL community has opportunity of BCMAS certifications to broaden the knowledge base. an accreditor of medical affairs professionals and pharmaceutical sales representatives Sitting quietly for hours at a time was at complete odds with my personality. My comment part 1: The topic of standardization in Medical Affairs is timely and important. The ACMA offers customized training and professional development for MSL teams. But a MSL position is not right for everyone. Currently the only accredited board certification for MSLs worldwide. 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