Are you a Medical Science Liaison, wondering if you should get a certification or what certification you should get? Well, I wrote this article to answer this common question for MSL out there!
The medical science liaison market is growing, and compliance demands will undoubtedly increase, and MSLs will also have a required skill set. So if I were you, I would start getting my certification already.
And when I say certification, it is not just a simple certification title, and regulators should verify it like FDA. So I’ve been searching around, and I found out that there is only one accredited certification program: the Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS).
What is the BCMAS program?
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 is designed to assist in the professional development of every MSL.
Globally-accredited by The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI), it is also considered as the most comprehensive training worldwide. When you earn your BCMAS, you are expected to have the highest standard of knowledge and excellence within your field.
What should I expect from the BCMAS program?
The whole program is very comprehensive. ACMA provides you with everything you need to take and pass the BCMAS exam successfully. The cost of the program is $1999 and you will just need 40 hours to complete it. Pre/post quiz modules are also provided within the program to come to the exam ready and well prepared. The exam is given online and proctored as well.
Who offers BCMAS programs?
BCMAS was developed by the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) and is known for offering Global Accredited Certifications. Among the other MSL certification providers, ACMA is the first and only one I’ve seen to receive prestigious awards in the pharmaceutical industry. They are known for their reliability, excellence, and high standards for giving MSL certification such as the BCMAS.
Their excellence, of course, didn’t miss the eye of the media, and they were even mentioned in famous news channels such as FOX, ABC, and featured in Forbes! So if you want to make sure that you are taking the right certification program, I suggest you consider taking the programs that ACMA offers.
How about the other programs offered online?
I know you are confused with all these Medical Liaison Certification programs that you see online. If you want to consider taking a different program, you have to make sure that the program will help you level up with your career, that the program is legit, and that the program is certified by regulators like the FDA.
My primary tip for you is to avoid getting certifications from sketchy organizations like MSL Society and From Science to Pharma.
Beware of getting certifications like the MSL-BC and BC-MLS cert programs because they are not well recognized or respected within the pharmaceutical industry. And with that said, taking them will just be a waste of time and money.
Final Words
Medical Science Liaison Certification is expected to be in demand since the MSL field is quickly growing. So when getting your certification, make sure you get the most excellent and legit one!
