BCMAS allows up to 3 hours for their four-section exam which includes multiple . ", Lubna El-Najjar 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. being easy to digest. The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. Read more, Listen to the ACMA podcast on Pharmacy Podcast, Establish yourself as an authority in pharma, Demonstrate mastery of the Medical Science Liaison/Medical Affairs profession with this award-winning program. The average medical science liaisons salary is $136,000. 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. The MSL-BC credential is still very new, and it remains to be seen how widely adopted it becomes. #BCMAS #PACS #PRC Board Certifications in Life SciencesACMA in the Newsmedicalaffairsspecialist. It has left me, a medical science liaison of less than two years, feeling more confident and equipped. My comment continued: I agree with the article, the ACMA module content and exam are not necessarily for entry level professionals. Medical affairs is a growing component of We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I view them as a way to develop and solidify already gained 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. But how do you choose the right MSL Certification for you? 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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). We cannot control how people decide to leverage their certification. Hello, can you please tell me if you took the certification and did it help you? If I have questions while I am learning or need support I can instantly chat with a real person. #msl #boardcertification #bcmas #mslbc #medicalaffairs #msls #acma. The MSL-BC contains only an exam and has no preparatory content or material to help individuals prepare. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs' (ACMA) BCMAS certification fee (more on that later) comes along with. This is very interesting to me. Expanded Access 4.0 Registration Now Open! Required fields are marked *. Investing in a board certification at this age of growth is definitely time well spent. MSLs help facilitate research and educate residents/fellows and much more. But how can one get all this info? Thats becoming more difficult to do as medical affairs becomes increasingly strategic, increasingly larger as a function within the industry and increasingly competitive. diagnostic company that is focused on data generation and data dissemination to ), 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). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Current medical affairs professionals (this includes: medical science liaisons, medical directors, VP Medical Affairs, Medical Information Specialists, Pharmacovigilance, HEOR professionals, etc.). 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. is grabbing the attention of politicians and policymakers. The lowest rating is NEMA 1 . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. healthcare & this podcast is a collection of intellectual interviews with leaders Achieving the BCMAS demonstrates the highest standards of knowledge and excellence in the Medical Affairs profession. 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. Having pre-test questions right before your actual exam feels a bit odd. 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. Seems like a way to graft $ from you. 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. The ACMA provides training and certification programs for the pharmaceutical & healthcare industries. The path to becoming an exceptional Medical Science Liaison or Medical Affairs professional starts with BCMAS. Consists of 140 multiple-choice questions. Thanks, I appreciate the up-to-date info! 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. It is designed to recognize excellence among those who wish to specialize as experts in medical affairs. Perfect time to get board certified. I just began looking into this and realize the potential of. We connect MSLs to the global medical affairs community, and give them the tools and resources they need to advance in their medical science liaison career paths. Its the benchmark of excellence for Medical Affairs in the industry for over 5+ years. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, its worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. ACMA is proud to offer scholarships to all of our eligible enrollees. I will update this community should that change. Having pre-test questions right before your actual exam feels a bit odd. 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. The MSL-BC program is a very new certification (released in February 2020). Its a comprehensive, self-paced online, on demand certification program built by industry leaders and subject matter experts. 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. 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. These days, landing an MSL role isnt easy. One (1) year of cumulative experience working full-time as a Medical Science Liaison (or equivalent title) or leading a Medical Science Liaison team. BCMAS was worth it! But the BCMAS credential has a unique appeal for medical affairs executives, many of whom dont have a formal medical doctorate. Every 5 years you are required to maintain your certification. This article is meant to help you make that decision. 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. Have you talked to anyone in this field about this exam and employment chances? Our training programs can be customized to meet your companys specific needs (disease state, clinical, and soft skills training). High performers develop their capabilities to work more effectively in their roles. 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. I can briefly share my experience with the ACMA program which I found quite worthwhile: The certification is a relatively new one, having launched in 2021. 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. Would anyone that has completed the program recommended it? 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 ACMA has been featured in mainstream media such as Fox News, Forbes, Al Jazeera, ABC News, etc. This two part series endeavors to compare both certifications equipping professionals to make that decision for themselves. 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. Career-minded medical affairs professionals want to show senior leaders that their role is not just a job for them. (Article updated to include link to part 2). I saw some colleagues 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. Obviously don't take my word, do your own research but just my take on the topic. 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. The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSLS) is an organization dedicated to advancing the global MSL profession. While some MSLs view MSLS as a valuable resource, it's worth noting that they are not accredited by any outside body. this course will give you a very good perspective about what you are getting into. BPharm, MPH, MBA, BCMAS About the MSL-BC. Medical Liaisons help to ensure that products are utilized appropriately. Unfortunately, the MSL Society doesnt have any preparatory content to help learners prepare for the MSL-BC exam. Unfortunately, I cannot ensure that there are not shill accounts in this community. Hi. But the trend has unmistakably been a steady increase in moving the BCMAS toward the industry standard. It would be nice if these questions were available before the exam to help you prepare. BCMAS established to create standards for knowledge, business skills and professional practice in the pharmaceutical industry. Notwithstanding and beyond the scope of this review but for completeness, both the MSLS and ACMA are worthy non-profit organizations with outstanding missions, prestigious boards of governors and either (or both) is a great choice for a professional membership regardless of which board certification you choose. I have a few questions if you don't mind answering. 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. ProctorU is utilized by both organizations for proctoring of the exam and both are completed under timed conditions following an identity verification process. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It is also the first board certification for MSLs. This level of support is something MSLs engaged in e-learning will really appreciate and value. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Certain aspects I am not familiar with, such as which program came first or whether the organizations are non profit. You will have a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. MSL-BC is a professional standard developed only for MSLs and MSL managers. you didnt think were possible.. by Michael Grahame Moore, William G. Anderson. This enables MSLs to ask questions any time 7 days a week. In fact, I completed my PhD in a little over 4 years. And theres certainly no programs offering board certification. I believe it in. 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 But the BCMAS program appeals to younger professionals for very concrete reasons. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. When comparing both certifications directly a stark contrast can be seen. **application fee must be paid with a credit card or PayPal in US Dollars. 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. Everyone approaches the board certification process for different reasons. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs and MSL Society. 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. 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. Curious to know if the BCMAS is worth pursuing? 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. Medical Affairs as a discipline is accountable to varied deliverables. ACMA Podcast is focused on establishing benchmarks of excellence in training for the MSL Society is a smaller non-profit organization, so they dont have the bandwidth to provide as much US & global support as the ACMA. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. The other nice feature is that its a broadly used certification for everyone in medical affairs (including MSLs). MSL-BC requires this be accomplished every 3 years while BCMAS has an every 5 year requirement. Does it give you an advantage when applying? ), 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. After some controversy, MSLs have advanced scientific training and academic credentials generally consisting of a 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. The BCMAS program is packed with information about each role within medical affairs, all while 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. Never allow a serious crisis go to waste. So said former Mayor of Chicago and White House Chief of 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/. 1. And going from a medical You can do this by either Video advice: What is a Medical Science Liaison? Board certifying medical affairs and medical science liaison professionals is critical to ensure ethical practices, compliance excellence, and public trust at this crucial time. Hold an MD, PharmD, PhD, DO, MBBS, DNP, NP, PA, BPharm, PsyD, or other relevant degree from an accredited college, university or institution. You also need to understand how other people see you. 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. Subsequent Examination Attempts (failed exams). ACMA does not charge any additional fees for retaking the exam if you fail which is nice. Current professionals working within clinical research organizations (CROs). But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Current professionals working in promotional or non-promotional medical education agencies which support pharmaceutical companies. Medical Affairs, talks about the organizations certification process. The BCMAS helped me to tie together my story as a candidate.. The remaining 15 items serve as pretest questions, and do not affect your final score. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Content is always updated to reflect new business practices, technologies, market challenges and regulatory changes. The BCMAS certification has been around since 2015 and the credential is very well recognized and widely used. 700 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 204 Oradell, New Jersey 07649 USA Medical Affairs, talks about the organizations certification process. All Rights Reserved. Shouldn't you get your Pharm-D first, before you get "BCMAS" certified? Hi I just signed up for the course too. Expanded Access to Advanced Cell Therapies. Online, proctored by a webcam. By looking at the job postings it seems this certification is meaningless. 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. ACMA works with experts around the world to develop country- and region-specific content within the BCMAS curriculum using advanced geo-redirect technology features. 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. Subsequent Examination Attempts (failed exams). They also give you 20 modules to prepare you. Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS). I have been getting mixed reviews when asking and thought to ask this community. I took both exams. Apparently there is rumors about him lying and faking his PhD and plagiarizing things from the MSL Institute inside his book. The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) graduates are the pharma industry's thought leaders. Those professionals working within clinical development, research & development and are transitioning to a medical affairs role.