Many of the comments here are false and misleading. You are using an out of date browser. life sciences & healthcare industries. Is this certification respected and recognized? Hi I just signed up for the course too. 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 # . But you can clearly see on our website, our position. MSLs have advanced scientific training and academic credentials generally consisting of a Theyre well known for conducting conferences and meetings for MSLs. These officials will discuss the importance of establishing certification and credentialing standards for medical affairs and medical science liaison professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. by Michael Grahame Moore, William G. Anderson. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The BCMAS certification is internationally recognized, and achieving the BCMAS . It would be nice if these questions were available before the exam to help you prepare. *A note from the author: I penned these articles while waiting for my exam results from BCMAS. Join us for the largest annual conference on pre-market access to medicines. The BCMAS program is a globally recognized board certification in over 40 countries. Career-minded medical affairs professionals want to show senior leaders that their role is not just a job for them. 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. Therefore, the chances of failing the exam are higher. 36, Sector 20, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, India - 400 708, Building of Chocoblooms shop,Mezan floor, Office 03United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Al-Nahyan. Director, Head of Medical Affairs, Astellas. We are going to break down the pros and cons of each. Do you need prior experience before taking this? The BCMAS content was developed by over 30 subject matter experts from academia, ACMA is proud to offer scholarships to all of our eligible enrollees. Physicians, pharmacists, and PhD professionals wishing to transition into the pharmaceutical industry. The MSL Society (MSLs) and the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) both offer a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Board Certification. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000. The fact that theyre accredited cannot be overemphasized. But a MSL position is not right for everyone. If youre looking to only be an MSL, MSL-BC might be more suitable. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Privacy Policy. 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 Now! If I have questions while I am learning or need support I can instantly chat with a real person. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Everyone approaches the board certification process for different reasons. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. Should that be suspected, let me know. MSL-BC requires this be accomplished every 3 years while BCMAS has an every 5 year requirement. A quick search on LinkedIn shows just how widely used the credential is among pharmaceutical industry professionals. Medical Science Liaison, Neurology Western Canada. 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. 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). You can do this by either I am recommending it for my colleagues as well. 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. Meet Kerry Flecknoe, an experienced Medical Science Liaison (MSL), and recent BCMAS graduate who shares her journey towards becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs. Expanded Access 4.0 Registration Now Open! With BCMAS certification, you demonstrate that you've mastered the industry standard of knowledge through intensive study, self-assessment, and evaluation. I guess you can argue that. Investing in a board certification at this age of growth is definitely time well spent. I got the weekly newsletters from ACMA and got curious. Part 2 certainly goes into that sort of detail. ACMA does not charge any additional fees for retaking the exam if you fail which is nice. The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. You do not need prior industry experience but you do need to have a pharmd/phd/md/do etc. It can help you break into a medical affairs role in big pharma or even accelerate your career advancement. 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. Copyright 2020 Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? Video advice: What is a Medical Science Liaison? Emanuel clarified his point: Its an opportunity to do things that you had never considered, or that Regardless of which team of Medical Affairs one resides in, I believe awareness of the whole discipline can lead to higher levels of contribution. 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. The study materials are all provided. 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. 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). However, that is no longer debatable as two companies have found a way to make this board certification possible, testing examinees on everything but the science. I assume many are in process of deciding which certification route to take. 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. By looking at the job postings it seems this certification is meaningless. Several Advisory board meetings held with Medical Affairs leaders and subject matter experts. With this credential, your organization substantiates its commitment to quality care and improved patient outcomes. A quick search on LinkedIn shows just how widely used the credential is among pharmaceutical industry professionals. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I will update this community should that change. What Happened to Expanded Access to New Medicines. One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, it's worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. 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. 10. I would recommend it. an accreditor of medical affairs professionals and pharmaceutical sales representatives This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. And going from a medical And this has proven to be valuable to many who are now board certified thanks to the ACMA. BCMAS is relevant for MSLs as well as other functions within Medical Affairs. Consists of 140 multiple-choice questions. I'll be curious to read this carefully when I have a moment. Growing need for medical affairs certification. The preparatory modules allowed me to learn new things Thanks, I appreciate the up-to-date info! 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. Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in response to the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. The path to becoming an exceptional Medical Science Liaison or Medical Affairs professional starts with BCMAS. ACMA does not charge any additional fees for retaking the exam if you fail which is nice. I'm leaning towards the former. 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. 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. Medical Affairs as a discipline is accountable to varied deliverables. Since then, many companies have built MSL teams within medical affairs to help provide important educational information to HCPs. MSL-BC is a professional standard developed only for MSLs and MSL managers. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program is the first accredited certification for medical science liaisons and medical affairs professionals in the world. Of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. A final note, I am not affiliated nor a member of either the MSLS or ACMA Society at this time but would consider either a great choice. 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. industry. While the exam consists of 140 multiple-choice questions, of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. Subsequent Examination Attempts (failed exams). This is rather controversial around here. Have you talked to anyone in this field about this exam and employment chances? Of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. No existing program, to my knowledge, covers the spectrum of Medical Affairs and related topics like ACMAs 20 learning modules. Naturally certain aspects may be less applicable to the unique role of a professional or a company. I look forward to your thoughts if you have a chance to read it as well. The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material to help individuals prepare. Speaking for myself, I can already tell a shift in mentality towards clinical development and regulatory affairs following the BCMAS modules. Topics include: As the U.S. grapples with the deadly opioid epidemic and public outrage over drug costs, But, how do you go about getting certified? Myth: Does anyone know about this combination? 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. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Program was developed by industry experts, clinicians, researchers, and online learning specialists. The BCMAS certification has been around since 2015 and the credential is very well recognized and widely used. And some of the more seasoned industry veterans have found so much value in the BCMAS program, that theyre championing it within their companies. So, I started looking for other types of positionspositions that would fit my strengths. Does it give you an advantage when applying? This number is inclusive regardless of the name du jour from an individual company to include: Regional Scientific Director, Clinical Liaison, Thought Leader Liaison, Field Medical Director etc. Our MSL professional development and training solutions are based on real-world experience from professionals with world class MSL experience. Yes. This credential demonstrates that you have mastered the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to work in the life sciences industry. To better understand the overall value of each program it is important to examine what each program provides. I can briefly share my experience with the ACMA program which I found quite worthwhile: Those professionals working within clinical development, research & development and are transitioning to a medical affairs role. 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. The BCMAS certification is the most comprehensive Medical Affairs professional development and training program in the world. Now in virtual format. The fact that theyre accredited cannot be overemphasized. industry professionals, I strongly encourage all orgAccreditation Council for Medical AffairsStandard of Excellence #BCMASThe ACMA, Raising the Standards of Excellence for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and Medical Affairs Professionalsmedicalaffairsspecialist. Basically, its a way to practice before the real test. 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. 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. some would be new. I was looking for avenues where I can learn more and grow in Medical Affairs. *If you do not have a terminal degree (i. e. PhD, etc. Certainly time well spent! The exam has a 3 hour time limit. Currently the only accredited board certification for MSLs worldwide. The ACMA is a globally accredited & recognized organization, they have offices in the U.S., India, Europe, South America and the UAE. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) Program sets the industry standard for the medical science liaisons and medical affairs professionals by providing an independently accredited award-winning career development program. But does that mean anything? Both are serving a purpose for their intended audience. 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. 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. One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. BCMAS helped me have everything in place and helped me expand my knowledge base beyond the product knowledge. 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). The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. The ACMA has Live 24/7 Chat support feature. The certification is a relatively new one, having launched in 2021. 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. Board Certification Medical Affairs (BCMAS), The Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance, Prior Authorization Certified Specialist Program (PACS), The ACMA was invited to Congress. 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. BCMAS is a Board Certification accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training / American National Standards Institute (IACET/ANSI). 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. Youre Certifiable! MSL-BC is a professional standard developed only for MSLs and MSL managers. 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. from Asia who were Board Certified, so I decided to complete the program. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. Associate Global Medical Director, Novo Nordisk. Thank you . All Rights Reserved. The BCMAS seal means your medical affairs & MSL team has been rigorously evaluated by the leading . The ACMA welcomes all points of view but we believe it's important to separate fact from fiction. Would anyone that has completed the program recommended it? As I've stated before, I have read Dyer's book and found it helpful 3 years ago when breaking in. 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. Accreditation Council for Medical AffairsStandard of Excellence #BCMAS medicalaffairsspecialist. 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. (1) completing 20 hours of continuing education credits approved by the ACMA or (2) by It should be stated that all attempts were made to write an unbiased review article, however, only going through 1 of the certification programs and exams may have made it more difficult than expected. After completing my first postdoc, I was unemployed for over 6 months. Such a great foundation for someone new to pharma. Being board certified in any healthcare related career has proven to be impactful. Recertification Option 1 : Completing twenty (20) hours of continuing education modules provided by the ACMA and successful quiz completion of each module. Basically, its a way to practice before the real test. You will have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. These days, landing an MSL role isnt easy. While MSLs are not sales representatives, they ARE proactive educators. 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. According to individuals who have gone through the curriculum and earned their BCMAS, the program meets all of those goals. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. MSL Society is a smaller non-profit organization, so they dont have the bandwidth to provide as much US & global support as the ACMA. Developed by industry experts and considered the industry standard by most for MSL certification. **application fee must be paid with a credit card or PayPal in US Dollars. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. A community for all things affiliated with the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession. Apparently there is rumors about him lying and faking his PhD and plagiarizing things from the MSL Institute inside his book. Hold an MD, PharmD, PhD, DO, MBBS, DNP, NP, PA, BPharm, PsyD, or other relevant degree from an The ACMA has Live 24/7 Chat support feature. Thats an important differentiator for BCMAS. That positive relationship can now be yours in your pharmaceutical medical affairs career. * Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Physician & Licensed Medical Esthetician with extensive network of KOLs in aesthetics, dermatology, plastic surgery, facial plastics ent, oculoplastics . which reflect their status as thought leaders within the pharmaceutical industry. All Right Reserved. CEO, A2A Pharmaceuticals, "BCMAS Review was excellent. They also give you 20 modules to prepare you. With the addition of the BCMAS to my LinkedIn profile and resume, it attracted recruiters to me for medical science liaison roles. Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacist, The ACMA, Raising the Standards of Excellence for Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and Medical Affairs Professionals. MSLs help facilitate research and educate residents/fellows and much more. 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? 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. My comment continued: I agree with the article, the ACMA module content and exam are not necessarily for entry level professionals. What do you guys/gals think? Toll Free: +1 (855) 255-7137, Rio de Janieiro St 212, Suite 151 Sao Paulo, SP 01240-010 Brasil, 202, Jai Omkar, Plot No. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. 36, Sector 20, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, India - 400 708, Building of Chocoblooms shop,Mezan floor, Office 03United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Al-Nahyan. The MSL-BC program is a very new certification (released in February 2020). ), 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). It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? Anyone working in medical affairs understands that its a highly specialized area. 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. This button displays the currently selected search type. 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 $700. Depending on your year of experience in the pharmaceutical, device, and/or diagnostics industry 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. 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. Have completed at least a bachelors degree and have 2 years relevant professional experience (ie., pharmaceutical industry experience, clinical and/or research experience). I have nothing against the guy but I don't trust his company. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS). Thanks for sharing Jill! #BCMAS #PACS #PRC Board Certifications in Life SciencesACMA in the Newsmedicalaffairsspecialist. We cannot control how people decide to leverage their certification. 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. So BCMAS applies to several roles in pharma-not just MSL jobs. Medical Affairs, talks about the organizations certification process. Medical Liaisons help to ensure that products are utilized appropriately. Home Blog Articles Becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs (BCMAS): The new standard in Pharma. It has left me, a medical science liaison of less than two years, feeling more confident and equipped. Addressing everything in one place can help establish a solid foundation, build confidence and competence for individuals and teams. A yearly membership to ACMA is approximately 2/3 the cost of MSLS ($200 vs. $290), but the outward appearance is that MSLS is a more active society and the membership includes the newly published digital MSL Journal. Therefore, the chances of failing the exam are higher. We have answered the questions, What is an MSL? and talked quite a bit about Medical Liaison Training. Now that we know what a medical liaison is and the different certification programs available for MSLs, you can make a more informed decision on what route is best for you. You did the heavy lifting by being awesome :-). While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, its worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. ), 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). These cookies do not store any personal information. Specially during pandemic times MSL community has opportunity of BCMAS certifications to broaden the knowledge base. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Press J to jump to the feed. BPharm, MPH, MBA, BCMAS I very much agree that awareness of the discipline as a whole (of medical affairs) leads to higher levels of contribution. 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.