While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, it's worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. Everyone approaches the board certification process for different reasons. 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. The ACMAs goal is to establish a common language a standard that medical affairs executives can converse in. It has left me, a medical science liaison of less than two years, feeling more confident and equipped. 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. The ACMA has Live 24/7 Chat support feature. Medical affairs is the division within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or 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 enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. Congrats on passing the exam and getting certified. 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). Copyright 2022 - BDJobsToday.org. These cookies do not store any personal information. But high performers can see their salaries climb above $171,000. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist is quickly becoming the industry standard for medical affairs professionals to attain. It's a role which has a tremendous impact on the industry and overall healthcare ecosystem. You're either a spammer, or a sheep. 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. 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 ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. They provided quizzes and a practice exam which really helped me prepare Those who pass the certification exams will be qualified to solve basic issues in networking, operating systems, security and mobile devices. But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? If youre looking to only be an MSL, MSL-BC might be more suitable. Listen to BCMAS graduates share their stories! Home Blog Articles Becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs (BCMAS): The new standard in Pharma. 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. 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. With the addition of the BCMAS to my LinkedIn profile and resume, it attracted recruiters to me for medical science liaison roles. The biggest standout feature is the exam structure. MSL launch readiness is an important skill and many medical affairs teams intently focus on the activities that will be most important when preparing for a products launch. 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. Being board certified in any healthcare related career has proven to be impactful. 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. The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material to help individuals prepare. and the functions which you have worked before, you may find some modules more familiar and 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. being easy to digest. These cookies do not store any personal information. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. * Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Physician & Licensed Medical Esthetician with extensive network of KOLs in aesthetics, dermatology, plastic surgery, facial plastics ent, oculoplastics . The BCMAS curriculum is comprehensive spanning 20 modules covering all areas of medical affairs. 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. 10. We cannot control how people decide to leverage their certification. I would recommend it. I recently completed and passed. Unfortunately, the MSL Society doesnt have any preparatory content to help learners prepare for the MSL-BC exam. The BCMAS program is the most comprehensive educational program for medical affairs professionals and unlike other training programs that may be available; it is the only one that is accredited. Should that be suspected, let me know. 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). 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. 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. Anyone working in medical affairs understands that its a highly specialized area. This two part series endeavors to compare both certifications equipping professionals to make that decision for themselves. Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in response to the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. Since then, many companies have built MSL teams within medical affairs to help provide important educational information to HCPs. The path to becoming an exceptional Medical Science Liaison or Medical Affairs professional starts with BCMAS. in our pharmacy industry. The certification is a relatively new one, having launched in 2021. ACMA Podcast is focused on establishing benchmarks of excellence in training for the 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. 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. 700 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 204 Oradell, New Jersey 07649 USA 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 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 Thats an important differentiator for BCMAS. Tel: +1 (201) 688-2230 In fact, I completed my PhD in a little over 4 years. I have nothing against the guy but I don't trust his company. Several Advisory board meetings held with Medical Affairs leaders and subject matter experts. Copyright 2020 Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. MSL Society is a smaller non-profit organization, so they dont have the bandwidth to provide as much US & global support as the ACMA. As more medical affairs executives undergo the certification program, theyre seeing the value in it and recommending it to their peers. 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 # . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It is designed to recognize excellence among those who wish to specialize as experts in medical affairs. The BCMAS content was developed by over 30 subject matter experts from academia, hit or miss. 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 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. I took both exams. The other nice feature is that its a broadly used certification for everyone in medical affairs (including MSLs). Growing need for medical affairs certification. 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. A business opportunity with a 50/50 chance of succeeding. Those professionals working within clinical development, research & development and are transitioning to a medical affairs role. Johnson & Johnson Medical Science Liaison Jamie M. Dettler-Leonard, PhD, BCMAS from provides her review of the BCMAS program on the Pharmacy Podcast Network discussing why BCMAS was worth pursuing. healthcare providers (HCPs). This enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. Now in virtual format. 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. Meet Kerry Flecknoe, an experienced Medical Science Liaison (MSL), and recent BCMAS graduate who shares her journey towards becoming Board Certified in Medical Affairs. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It also sets the stage for continual professional development through values centered on lifelong . 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. Online, proctored by a webcam. Joined May 7, 2015 Messages . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This two-part article provides a good summary on the ACMA and MSLS programs. Required fields are marked *. Career-minded medical affairs professionals want to show senior leaders that their role is not just a job for them. 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. What do the study materials cost? If I have questions while I am learning or need support I can instantly chat with a real person. Never allow a serious crisis go to waste. So said former Mayor of Chicago and White House Chief of BCMAS was worth it!" Brian Duncan MD, BCMAS Vice President, Medical Affairs . I literally knew nothing about how to be an MSL when you got me. The BCMAS curriculum is comprehensive spanning 20 modules covering all areas of medical affairs. Press J to jump to the feed. Would anyone that has completed the program recommended it? To keep your certification active, there are two paths:. Are there any online resources that cover all these topics? It is meant to establish uniform standards for a profession that we advocate for (namely MSLs/med affairs professionals). you didnt think were possible.. 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. Medical Affairs, talks about the organizations certification process. Basically, its a way to practice before the real test. My comment continued: I agree with the article, the ACMA module content and exam are not necessarily for entry level professionals. industry professionals worldwide and therefore improve patient care., Sotirios G. Stergiopoulos It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Currently the only accredited board certification for MSLs worldwide. 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. Physicians, pharmacists, and PhD professionals wishing to transition into the pharmaceutical industry. I hope this article was useful to help you choose which MSL certification is right for you. 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. Yeah, I'm sure they'll legitimately take your money and give you some extra letters after your name. Industry professionals provide a review of the BCMAS program. As the U.S. grapples with the deadly opioid epidemic and public outrage over drug costs, Does anyone know about this combination? Getting the BCMAS Certification was definitely a major step in my career improve the quality of pharmaceutical 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. It is also the first board certification for MSLs. The ACMA has been featured in mainstream media such as Fox News, Forbes, Al Jazeera, ABC News, etc. Consists of 140 multiple-choice questions. For more information and recent students testimonials, click here. Join us for the largest annual conference on pre-market access to medicines. healthcare & this podcast is a collection of intellectual interviews with leaders These days, landing an MSL role isnt easy. BPharm, MPH, MBA, BCMAS background, so I found the program very helpful. 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 biggest standout feature is the exam structure. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) are typically trained PhD professionals, physicians, or pharmacists. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs' (ACMA) BCMAS certification fee (more on that later) comes along with. Theyre well known for conducting conferences and meetings for MSLs. 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. I'm leaning towards the former. I strongly encourage all All Rights Reserved. While the exam consists of 140 multiple-choice questions, of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. 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. As I've stated before, I have read Dyer's book and found it helpful 3 years ago when breaking in. 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 ACMA offers a flexible payment plan where you can pay in 3 easy installments of They want to exhibit their dedication to the task with something tangible. for the exam. The exam has a 3 hour time limit. clinical medicine, and experts from the pharmaceutical industry. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, its worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. 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. 36, Sector 20, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, India - 400 708, Building of Chocoblooms shop,Mezan floor, Office 03United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Al-Nahyan. 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. I am stuck at home, jobless because of fucking covid. so though I expand my career. Others seek to differentiate themselves from their peers. Therefore, the chances of failing the exam are higher. A community for all things affiliated with the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Expanded Access to Advanced Cell Therapies. One (1) year of cumulative experience working full-time as a Medical Science Liaison (or equivalent title) or leading a Medical Science Liaison team. Have completed at least a bachelors degree and have 2 years relevant professional experience (ie., pharmaceutical industry experience, clinical and/or research experience). Its the benchmark of excellence for Medical Affairs in the industry for over 5+ years. I had the opportunity to Some are looking to add to their personal understanding of medical affairs role in the life sciences industry. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. And as that trend continues, medical affairs professionals throughout the life sciences industry will no doubt be better prepared, more confident and, most importantly, more knowledgeable as they approach their roles. . ) The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. I applied to a lot of industry positions in the past and never got an interview. Listen Now! *If you do not have a terminal degree (i. e. PhD, etc. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program is the first accredited certification for medical science liaisons and medical affairs professionals in the world. With this credential, your organization substantiates its commitment to quality care and improved patient outcomes. Medical affairs is a growing component of My comment part 1: The topic of standardization in Medical Affairs is timely and important. Tel: +1 (201) 688-2230 They also give you 20 modules to prepare you. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000. ACMA Podcast is focused on establishing benchmarks of excellence in training for the They also give you 20 modules to prepare you. You will have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. Sitting quietly for hours at a time was at complete odds with my personality. The BCMAS program is the most comprehensive educational program for medical affairs professionals and unlike other training programs that may be available; it is the only one that is accredited. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The BCMAS program is packed with information about each role within medical affairs, all while Myth: and be BCMAS.. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist and transition from retail pharmacy to the pharmaceutical industry. Physicians, pharmacists, and PhD professionals wishing to transition into the pharmaceutical industry. Have completed at least a bachelors degree and have 2 years relevant professional experience (ie., pharmaceutical industry experience, clinical and/or research experience). I work for the ACMA social media staff and was made aware of these threads on reddit. industry. Subsequent Examination Attempts (failed exams). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. So, I started looking for other types of positionspositions that would fit my strengths. Hi It is legit. Yes. These cookies do not store any personal information. Board Certification Medical Affairs (BCMAS), The Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance, Prior Authorization Certified Specialist Program (PACS), The ACMA was invited to Congress. Thanks for sharing Jill! 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. Additionally, they also have a dedicated team of advisors to help MSLs every step of the way. The BCMAS certification is the most comprehensive Medical Affairs professional development and training program in the world. Also, in case there is any concern about MSLS or ACMA influencing how this community is run, rest assured I have no affiliation with either. Privacy Policy. 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 Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) graduates are the pharma industry's thought leaders. 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. SALARY Inc! by Michael Grahame Moore, William G. Anderson. That positive relationship can now be yours in your pharmaceutical medical affairs career. And this has proven to be valuable to many who are now board certified thanks to the ACMA. I assume many are in process of deciding which certification route to take. The ACMA offers customized training and professional development for MSL teams. According to individuals who have gone through the curriculum and earned their BCMAS, the program meets all of those goals. Wow, those are pretty serious allegations to put out there. Certain aspects I am not familiar with, such as which program came first or whether the organizations are non profit. It is designed to assist in the professional development of every MSL. 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. BCMAS is now on audio The #1 MSL & Medical Affairs Board Certification Program The Official Medical Science Liaison (MSLs) & Medical Affairs Board Certification- The only recognized program by regulators. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs and MSL Society. 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. And theres certainly no programs offering board certification.