Investing in a board certification at this age of growth is definitely time well spent. Any insight will be greatly appreciated. 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. 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 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. SALARY Inc! Copyright 2020 Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. Addressing everything in one place can help establish a solid foundation, build confidence and competence for individuals and teams. While MSLs are not sales representatives, they ARE proactive educators. A BCMAS certification is recognized around the world. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They want to exhibit their dedication to the task with something tangible. These cookies do not store any personal information. BCMAS or Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist is the first and only certified program designed for MSL professionals who want to be a Board Certified MSL. It's always a challenge to transition from academia to industry. Certainly time well spent! doctorate degree (Ph.D., PharmD., M.D.). The ACMA offers customized training and professional development for MSL teams. Take the first steps toward achieving the gold standard in the pharmaceutical industry. Are there any online resources that cover all these topics? 700 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 204 Oradell, New Jersey 07649 USA It is designed to assist in the professional development of every MSL. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs and MSL Society. A risk that I (imho) think might be worth taking. Theyre well known for conducting conferences and meetings for MSLs. Individual career development paths is discussed specific to each credential and how board certification is impacting organizations on a macro level. Medical Director of Astellas Pharma Philippines. MSLs have advanced scientific training and academic credentials generally consisting of a an accreditor of medical affairs professionals and pharmaceutical sales representatives With this credential, your organization substantiates its commitment to quality care and improved patient outcomes. Christine Megalla, Pharm.D., Associate Director of Educational Programs at the Accreditation Council for Need of the hour. You will have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. Naturally certain aspects may be less applicable to the unique role of a professional or a company. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. But the BCMAS program appeals to younger professionals for very concrete reasons. you didnt think were possible.. 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. But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 36, Sector 20, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, India - 400 708, Building of Chocoblooms shop,Mezan floor, Office 03United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Al-Nahyan. 1. Current medical affairs professionals (this includes: medical science liaisons, medical directors, VP Medical Affairs, Medical Information Specialists, Pharmacovigilance, HEOR professionals, etc.). 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. Highlights the ongoing positive growth and evolution of the industry and how medical affairs contributes importantly to this. Google Cloud - Cloud Digital Leader. Your email address will not be published. The ACMA has Live 24/7 Chat support feature. What Happened to Expanded Access to New Medicines. 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. Part 2 certainly goes into that sort of detail. My comment continued: I agree with the article, the ACMA module content and exam are not necessarily for entry level professionals. I have nothing against the guy but I don't trust his company. 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. Considering Medical Science Liaison Training Certification. Currently the only accredited board certification for MSLs worldwide. Its a comprehensive, self-paced online, on demand certification program built by industry leaders and subject matter experts. Both your newly hired and experienced MSLs will benefit from this training with topics that include: Help your MSL team understand the changing landscape when working with different internal and external stakeholders. Nonquantifiables can be extremely important in business terms, but as hinted in the previous section, senior managers tend to focus on the money; often they are less interested in the nonquantifiables. Since then, many companies have built MSL teams within medical affairs to help provide important educational information to HCPs. You also need to understand how other people see you. After completing my first postdoc, I was unemployed for over 6 months. The truth is, I had a pretty cushy academic experience. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Additionally, they also have a dedicated team of advisors to help MSLs every step of the way. These cookies do not store any personal information. They also give you 20 modules to prepare you. Medical affairs departments throughout the industry have thousands of executives with medical or pharmacy doctorate degrees, along with their associated credentials. 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. The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the global MSL profession. 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 lowest rating is NEMA 1 . This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Developed by industry experts and considered the industry standard by most for MSL certification. Both are serving a purpose for their intended audience. diagnostic company that is focused on data generation and data dissemination to You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Medical Affairs Career? There is really only one waythrough feedback. Current professionals working within clinical research organizations (CROs). Video advice: What is a Medical Science Liaison? Such a great foundation for someone new to pharma. Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in response to the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. Very good article! Of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. 10. The other nice feature is that its a broadly used certification for everyone in medical affairs (including MSLs). Thanks, I appreciate the up-to-date info! The National Electrical Manufacturing Association, or NEMA, enclosure standards denote where whole-house surge protectors can be installed. Certifications and Ratings . This two-part article provides a good summary on the ACMA and MSLS programs. It also sets the stage for continual professional development through values centered on lifelong . 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. About the MSL-BC. The fact that theyre accredited cannot be overemphasized. I strongly encourage all BCMAS was worth it! The biggest standout feature is the exam structure. I'm leaning towards the former. Emanuel clarified his point: Its an opportunity to do things that you had never considered, or that This is rather controversial around here. 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. Industry professionals provide a review of the BCMAS program. I have a clinical Press J to jump to the feed. Many of the comments here are false and misleading. What constitutes a board certification designation? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I heard it is becoming the industry standard. I have been authorized to respond as ACMA. It is impossible to operate in such scarcity. CEO, A2A Pharmaceuticals, "BCMAS Review was excellent. The ACMA welcomes all points of view but we believe it's important to separate fact from fiction. 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. Congrats on passing the exam and getting certified. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The MSL-BC program is a very new certification (released in February 2020). The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. 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. orgAccreditation Council for Medical AffairsBe in the Know with ACMAs in the news and newsworthy shares. industry professionals, I strongly encourage all 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. Apparently there is rumors about him lying and faking his PhD and plagiarizing things from the MSL Institute inside his book. Background Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Professionals come from a wide variety of backgrounds. ProctorU is utilized by both organizations for proctoring of the exam and both are completed under timed conditions following an identity verification process. Hold an MD, PharmD, PhD, DO, MBBS, DNP, NP, PA, BPharm, PsyD, or other relevant degree from an The MSL Society (MSLs) and the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) both offer a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Board Certification. Doing the job well requires diverse set of competencies that develop over time, often with use of industry trainings that focus on individual topics, such as advisory panels or medical communication. I saw some colleagues We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. What do the study materials cost? One thing that really stood out was that these industry professionals include Vice Presidents of Medical Affairs, Chief Medical Officers, Medical Science Liaisons and other industry professionals. hit or miss. some would be new. Home Blog Articles Becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs (BCMAS): The new standard in Pharma. 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. 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. ACMA Podcast is focused on establishing benchmarks of excellence in training for the 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 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. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. Everyone approaches the board certification process for different reasons. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Being board certified in any healthcare related career has proven to be impactful. 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 exam has a 3 hour time limit. For more information and recent students testimonials, click here. 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. As the medical science liaison role continues to grow and evolve, the ACMA remains at the forefront for providing resources to help MSLs increase knowledge. The BCMAS curriculum is comprehensive spanning 20 modules covering all areas of medical affairs. Have completed at least a bachelors degree and have 2 years relevant professional experience (ie., pharmaceutical industry experience, clinical and/or research experience). 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. 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. It is a credential that resonates because of its association with board certified physicians. Every 5 years you are required to maintain your certification. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Landing an MSL role isnt easy. BCMAS is relevant for MSLs as well as other functions within Medical Affairs. They feel that having the board certification attached to their names gives them a leg up in both hiring and career development. 1. Online, proctored by a webcam. 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. It is meant to establish uniform standards for a profession that we advocate for (namely MSLs/med affairs professionals). I just began looking into this and realize the potential of. The average medical science liaisons salary is $136,000. I guess you can argue that. Specially during pandemic times MSL community has opportunity of BCMAS certifications to broaden the knowledge base. According to individuals who have gone through the curriculum and earned their BCMAS, the program meets all of those goals. The BCMAS content was developed by over 30 subject matter experts from academia, Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful comments. ), 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 days, landing an MSL role isnt easy. 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. BCMAS was worth it!" Brian Duncan MD, BCMAS Vice President, Medical Affairs . Still others are looking for a challenge to learn what they dont know. The biggest standout feature is the exam structure. The ACMA has been featured in mainstream media such as Fox News, Forbes, Al Jazeera, ABC News, etc. One way MSL professionals can stand out is by becoming board certified MSL professionals. But the BCMAS credential has a unique appeal for medical affairs executives, many of whom dont have a formal medical doctorate. You were very easy and very fun to mentor! You are using an out of date browser. Regardless of which team of Medical Affairs one resides in, I believe awareness of the whole discipline can lead to higher levels of contribution. MSLs can participate in any stage of a products lifecycle, but typically are hired as a company prepares for launch. Yes, we have more time on our hands right now! But does that mean anything? **application fee must be paid with a credit card or PayPal in US Dollars. Physicians, pharmacists, and PhD professionals wishing to transition into the pharmaceutical industry. It would be nice if these questions were available before the exam to help you prepare. The MSL-BC allows up to 4 hours for the 140-question multiple choice exam (of which 125 count toward your mark). life sciences & healthcare industries. 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. MSL-BC requires this be accomplished every 3 years while BCMAS has an every 5 year requirement. The BCMAS certification is the most comprehensive Medical Affairs professional development and training program in the world. Having pre-test questions right before your actual exam feels a bit odd. industry. 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 Do you need prior experience before taking this? Thats becoming more difficult to do as medical affairs becomes increasingly strategic, increasingly larger as a function within the industry and increasingly competitive. This demonstrates the prestigious connotation associated with the BCMAS mark. Medical Liaisons help to ensure that products are utilized appropriately. Would anyone that has completed the program recommended it? Depending on your year of experience in the pharmaceutical, device, and/or diagnostics industry ), 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). Either way you will be watched and recorded while sitting for the test. Expanded Access 4.0 Registration Now Open! This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. 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. I hope this article was useful to help you choose which MSL certification is right for you. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries.