BCMAS is a Board Certification accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training / American National Standards Institute (IACET/ANSI). The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) Program Subsequent Examination Attempts (failed exams). While the exam consists of 140 multiple-choice questions, of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS). It is impossible to operate in such scarcity. The BCMAS provided me with a thorough knowledge of medical affairs operations, the life The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material to help individuals prepare. ACMA does not charge any additional fees for retaking the exam if you fail which is nice. The other nice feature is that its a broadly used certification for everyone in medical affairs (including MSLs). 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). 10. Having pre-test questions right before your actual exam feels a bit odd. A quick search of Linked In will show a splattering of the newly developed MSL-BC professionals while a similar inquiry will find a larger number of those with the BCMAS credential many of whom are in more leadership medical affairs positions (the larger number no doubt due to the fact that BCMAS is for all of MA not specifically MSLs and has been around for an extended period of time comparatively). Medical Science Liaison Certification : BCMAS vs. MSL-BC 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. As the U.S. grapples with the deadly opioid epidemic and public outrage over drug costs, Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) are typically trained PhD professionals, physicians, or pharmacists. Medical affairs is a growing component of MSLs may serve as scientific peers and resources within the medical community, and are scientific experts to internal colleagues at companies. 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. Speaking for myself, I can already tell a shift in mentality towards clinical development and regulatory affairs following the BCMAS modules. Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in response to the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. 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 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). Medical affairs is the division within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or I guess you can argue that. The study materials are all provided. The BCMAS certification is the most comprehensive Medical Affairs professional development and training program in the world. I just began looking into this and realize the potential of. Loved it! I learned so much last night from the free courses with a certificate to-show-at-the-end offered by NIH office of clinical research too. During this same search you will find a handful of over achievers who have added the MSL-BC to their already certified BCMAS. 700 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 204 Oradell, New Jersey 07649 USA Regardless of where you are in your MSL career, obtaining an MSL certification can help advance your MSL career and distinguish you among other MSL candidates when applying for a new MSL job or getting that promotion from MSL to MSL Manager or MSL Director. Christine Megalla, Pharm.D., Associate Director of Educational Programs at the Accreditation Council for Privacy Policy. A Tale of 2 MSL Board Certifications: What You Should Know - Part 1 I heard it is becoming the industry standard. For medical science liaisons, the BCMAS provides a professional credential that demonstrates a commitment to the role, a dedication to a high standard of excellence and protects the integrity of medical affairs. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Seems like you are jumping the gun a bit. You must log in or register to reply here. 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). Post title says it all. healthcare & this podcast is a collection of intellectual interviews with leaders There is really only one waythrough feedback. I applied to a lot of industry positions in the past and never got an interview. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This two-part article provides a good summary on the ACMA and MSLS programs. I have been authorized to respond as ACMA. You will have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. But, how do you go about getting certified? One credentialing note of differentiation here: there is an amount of verbal diarrhea when it comes to whos the first this or which company has the only that, and both credentialing bodies claim to be the worlds first and/or only fill in the blank. It's always a challenge to transition from academia to industry. 6 Best Whole-House Surge Protectors of 2023 | Are Whole-House Surge 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 preparatory modules allowed me to learn new things Master cold calling/emailing and networking. This certificate offers increased industry knowledge and adds a nice certification to your resume. 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). Industry professionals provide a review of the BCMAS program. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Hello, can you please tell me if you took the certification and did it help you? 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. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist Program - BCMAS After completing my first postdoc, I was unemployed for over 6 months. The BCMAS content was developed by over 30 subject matter experts from academia, 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. MSLs have advanced scientific training and academic credentials generally consisting of a Records indicate that UpJohn Pharmaceuticals was the first company to coin the term MSL in 1967. I hope this article was useful to help you choose which MSL certification is right for you. The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. Current medical affairs professionals (this includes: medical science liaisons, medical directors, VP Medical Affairs, Medical Information Specialists, Pharmacovigilance, HEOR professionals, etc.). Responsibility disclaimer and privacy policy | Site Map. Still others are looking for a challenge to learn what they dont know. Have completed at least a bachelors degree and have 2 years relevant professional experience (ie., pharmaceutical industry experience, clinical and/or research experience). Listen Now! ACMA does not charge any additional fees for retaking the exam if you fail which is nice. How Pharma Industry Leader Suzanne Soliman, PharmD, BCMAS Advocates For Female Pharmacists, medical affairs vs medical science liaison, Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Board Certification: A Comprehensive Review, Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS): A Review by Paul Korner, MD, How to Seize New Pharmacy Opportunity in the Pharma Industry, Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. Each of the certifications require you to complete CE and/or retest every few years to keep the board certification current. But does that mean anything? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. BPharm, MPH, MBA, BCMAS 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. The certification offered is not meant to train people, it isn't meant to help them "break in." Hi It is legit. Thats not their only reason for getting a BCMAS certification, however. Additionally, they also have a dedicated team of advisors to help MSLs every step of the way. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000. I saw some colleagues life sciences & healthcare industries. Deepa Sunkari, MD, LME, BCMAS - LinkedIn 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. The ACMA has Live 24/7 Chat support feature. A community for all things affiliated with the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) profession. ACMA is proud to offer scholarships to all of our eligible enrollees. 7+ Year Member. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Getting the BCMAS Certification was definitely a major step in my career improve the quality of pharmaceutical MD, MBEE, BCMAS Career-minded medical affairs professionals want to show senior leaders that their role is not just a job for them. and the functions which you have worked before, you may find some modules more familiar and within the medical community and serve as liaisons between HCPs and their company. 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. Others seek to differentiate themselves from their peers. Joined May 7, 2015 Messages . 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. Part 2 certainly goes into that sort of detail. High performers develop their capabilities to work more effectively in their roles. *If you do not have a terminal degree (i. e. PhD, etc. Additionally, we use PayPal, so you can always use PayPal credit if you qualify. 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. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. ", Lubna El-Najjar Hi Not sure if you saw this recent PR release: I'm connected on social media with the founders of the org. If you are planning to join Medical Affairs, With a curriculum that includes best practices across the organization, the ACMAs aim is to reinforce an integrated, cross-functional approach to medical affairs that makes medical affairs to be viewed as a true partner by other departments. With BCMAS certification, you demonstrate that you've mastered the industry standard of knowledge through intensive study, self-assessment, and evaluation. So, I started looking for other types of positionspositions that would fit my strengths. Shouldn't you get your Pharm-D first, before you get "BCMAS" certified? BCMAS is a Board Certification accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training /American National Standards Institute (IACET/ANSI). Tel: +1 (201) 688-2230 Yeah, I'm sure they'll legitimately take your money and give you some extra letters after your name. 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. 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. Hi-- I am planning to take it as well. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Does anyone know about this combination? 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. A risk that I (imho) think might be worth taking. You do not need prior industry experience but you do need to have a pharmd/phd/md/do etc. 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. Unfortunately, the MSL Society doesnt have any preparatory content to help learners prepare for the MSL-BC exam. In its nearly four years, the ACMA has laid many in-roads into the industry and continues to do so. 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. Required fields are marked *. To keep your certification active, there are two paths:. 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). Regardless of which team of Medical Affairs one resides in, I believe awareness of the whole discipline can lead to higher levels of contribution. I had to unfollow their updates. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, it's worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. Certainly time well spent! These cookies do not store any personal information. In fact, I completed my PhD in a little over 4 years. background, so I found the program very helpful. 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. The ACMA offers a flexible payment plan where you can pay in 3 easy installments of The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist is quickly becoming the industry standard for medical affairs professionals to attain. . is grabbing the attention of politicians and policymakers. 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. The ACMA is a globally accredited & recognized organization, they have offices in the U.S., India, Europe, South America and the UAE. Of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. Recertification Option 2 : Retaking and passing the board exam These days, landing an MSL role isnt easy. Videory can be a good size for data scientists; enough other data scientists are around to provide mentorship and support, but the team is still small enough that you can get to know everyone. I have a few questions if you don't mind answering. 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. 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. They feel that having the board certification attached to their names gives them a leg up in both hiring and career development. healthcare & this podcast is a collection of intellectual interviews with leaders Thank you for your thorough and thoughtful comments. Basically, its a way to practice before the real test. The fact that theyre accredited cannot be overemphasized. Landing an MSL role isnt easy. Are there any online resources that cover all these topics? 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. Background Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Professionals come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Considering Medical Science Liaison Training Certification? The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the global MSL profession. BCMAS Frequently Asked Questions - Home | ACMA 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. ), 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. Board Certify Your Medical Affairs/MSL Team with BCMAS industry. Format- 100% Online, Self-Paced, Audio Time Needed to Complete - 40 hours Exam Required- Yes (online) Join us for the largest annual conference on pre-market access to medicines. Anecdotally, BCMAS graduates have noticed more momentum in their recruiting activities. Copyright 2020 Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. If I have questions while I am learning or need support I can instantly chat with a real person. 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. Should that be suspected, let me know. We hope this MSL article was helpful! The CompTIA A+ certification requires two exams. Current professionals working in promotional or non-promotional medical education agencies which support pharmaceutical companies. 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. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program is the first accredited certification for medical science liaisons and medical affairs professionals in the world. That positive relationship can now be yours in your pharmaceutical medical affairs career. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Developed by industry experts and considered the industry standard by most for MSL certification. This article is meant to help you make that decision. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Thanks for sharing Jill! MSL-BC requires this be accomplished every 3 years while BCMAS has an every 5 year requirement. This enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. Medical science liaisons (MSLs), MSL manager/directors. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. MSLs need to keep their ears to the ground and listening to Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and their needs, which can drive clinical development strategies. Board Certification Medical Affairs (BCMAS), The Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance, Prior Authorization Certified Specialist Program (PACS), The ACMA was invited to Congress. Dr. Hughes achieved the Board-Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) certification from ACMA in May of 2021 and believes that it will open new doors and provide her with more in-depth industry training that is needed to excel in the medical affairs career path.