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. industry professionals, I strongly encourage all This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. 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. industry professionals worldwide and therefore improve patient care., Sotirios G. Stergiopoulos Still others are looking for a challenge to learn what they dont know. It is impossible to operate in such scarcity. A quick search on LinkedIn shows just how widely used the credential is among pharmaceutical industry professionals. Consists of 140 multiple-choice questions. The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the global MSL profession. 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. 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 BCMAS certification has been around since 2015 and the credential is very well recognized and widely used. Now in virtual format. life sciences & healthcare industries. This two-part article provides a good summary on the ACMA and MSLS programs. It would be nice if these questions were available before the exam to help you prepare. We are going to break down the pros and cons of each. For more information, please see our BPharm, MPH, MBA, BCMAS 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. accredited college, university or institution. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Our training programs can be customized to meet your companys specific needs (disease state, clinical, and soft skills training). Certifications and Ratings . BCMAS is the first and only accredited program, as well as the longest standing MSL/Medical Affairs Certification program in the industry. ACMA and The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) have different board certification credentials and the question becomes which is the right one for each MSL. While the exam consists of 140 multiple-choice questions, of these, 125 questions will be used to calculate your test score. Medical Director of Astellas Pharma Philippines. I view them as a way to develop and solidify already gained experience. 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. Is A Bcmas Worth It For Msl Career | Bd Jobs Today High performers develop their capabilities to work more effectively in their roles. 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). But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? Investing in a board certification at this age of growth is definitely time well spent. The ACMA has an important mission BCMAS can help improve the quality of pharmaceutical 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. I saw some colleagues Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in response to the global financial crisis of 2007/2008. It never hurts to continue learning. Jbrl Full Member. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000. science liaison to senior leader, you need something extra. Please contact us for more information, or view the scholarships information page. Perfect time to get board certified. Since then, many companies have built MSL teams within medical affairs to help provide important educational information to HCPs. 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. Such a great foundation for someone new to pharma. And theres certainly no programs offering board certification. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. But you can clearly see on our website, our position. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? In regard to the value they deliver to our field however, the fees are within acceptable budget for training and development, and far less than what one may pay to participate in other Medical Affairs industry programs. ), 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). Program Policies | ACMA The CompTIA A+ certification requires two exams. Hughes Receives Board Certification as Medical Affairs Specialist BCMAS Home | ACMA 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. The ACMA offers a flexible payment plan where you can pay in 3 easy installments of *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. 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. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, its worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. I had to unfollow their updates. I look forward to your thoughts if you have a chance to read it as well. Addressing everything in one place can help establish a solid foundation, build confidence and competence for individuals and teams. this course will give you a very good perspective about what you are getting into. Industry professionals provide a review of the BCMAS program. MSLs help facilitate research and educate residents/fellows and much more. BCMAS was worth it!" Brian Duncan MD, BCMAS Vice President, Medical Affairs . 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). The truth is, I had a pretty cushy academic experience. We hope this MSL article was helpful! ACMA received IACET accreditation, whose processes helped us build a rigorous curriculum. This demonstrates the prestigious connotation associated with the BCMAS mark. The MSL-BC program is a very new certification (released in February 2020). While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, its worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. See previous posts: https://www.reddit.com/r/MedicalScienceLiaison/comments/cfurwp/is_a_bcmas_a_good_idea_if_you_have_no_previous/, https://www.reddit.com/r/MedicalScienceLiaison/comments/diiyry/is_the_bcmas_worth_it/, https://www.reddit.com/r/MedicalScienceLiaison/comments/cnlgqp/how_many_of_you_are_board_certified_by_acma_is/. It's a role which has a tremendous impact on the industry and overall healthcare ecosystem. What is a Medical Science Liaison (MSL)? - Medical Affairs I had the opportunity to Copyright 2020 Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. Tel: +1 (201) 688-2230 an accreditor of medical affairs professionals and pharmaceutical sales representatives All Right Reserved. MSL Society is a smaller non-profit organization, so they dont have the bandwidth to provide as much US & global support as the ACMA. Several Advisory board meetings held with Medical Affairs leaders and subject matter experts. The BCMAS curriculum is comprehensive spanning 20 modules covering all areas of medical affairs. The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. I got the weekly newsletters from ACMA and got curious. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. Our MSL professional development and training solutions are based on real-world experience from professionals with world class MSL experience. More and more medical affairs professionals sign up to undergo the certification process each month. CompTIA A+ is widely considered one of the go-to certificates for a well-rounded entry-level introduction to IT. It is meant to establish uniform standards for a profession that we advocate for (namely MSLs/med affairs professionals). The BCMAS program will expand your knowledge and advance your medical science liaison career. . I took both exams. Hold an MD, PharmD, PhD, DO, MBBS, DNP, NP, PA, BPharm, PsyD, or other relevant degree from an Have completed at least a bachelors degree and have 2 years relevant professional experience (ie., pharmaceutical industry experience, clinical and/or research experience). The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs and MSL Society. 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. This two part series endeavors to compare both certifications equipping professionals to make that decision for themselves. The ACMA has been featured in mainstream media such as Fox News, Forbes, Al Jazeera, ABC News, etc. Privacy Policy. medical affairs and MSL colleagues to enroll in BCMAS, Board Certification Medical Affairs (BCMAS), The Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Industry Compliance, Prior Authorization Certified Specialist Program (PACS), Listen to the ACMA podcast on Pharmacy Podcast, Clinical Trial Design & Evidence Based Medicine, Comparative View of the Mechanism of Action of Drugs for every organ system, Presentation & Communications Strategies for MSLs, Professional Ethics Related to Interactions with HCPs, Anatomical & Physiological Effects of Drugs, Compliance for pharma, device & diagnostics, Effective Advisory Boards for Medical Affairs. 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. 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. This means that as an MSL, you will consistently reach out to people with the intent to educate them about your company and its products. It is also the first board certification for MSLs. Medical Liaisons help to ensure that products are utilized appropriately. Do you need prior experience before taking this? MSL-BC is a professional standard developed only for MSLs and MSL managers. What do you guys/gals think? New Data From Trials of Evolocumab, Olpasiran Show Promise for Cardiovascular Disease Care, Pharmacy Focus: Public Health Matters - Motivational Interviewing, Avadel Seeks FDA Approval for Sodium Oxybate to Treat Excessive Daytime Sleepiness, Independent Rx Forum - Preparing for DIR Fee Changes, COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy Found to Protect Infants Against Infection, Hospital Admission, Study: Remote Dietary Intervention May Reduce Chronic Fatigue for Lymphoma Survivors. The BCMAS helped me to tie together my story as a candidate.. Being board certified in any healthcare related career has proven to be impactful. 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. 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. I just began looking into this and realize the potential of. But as medical affairs strategic value continues to increase, executives need to be conversant about other vital aspects of the life sciences industry, such as pharmacovigilance, digital technology, or compliance and regulatory implications.