Medical Affairs, PharmD? Any one in Medical Affairs? I am considering BCMAS

[rxlawreview]

Does anyone know about this combination? I just began looking into this and realize the potential of

1. Greater salary
2. working in the pharmaceutical industry
3. more career satisfaction


I am looking on taking this exam http://www.medicalaffairsspecialist...-affairs-specialist-program/exam-information/ next year


and be BCMAS.... Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist


and transition from retail pharmacy to the pharmaceutical industry.

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/director-of-medical-affairs-salary-SRCH_KO0,27.htm


Seems like earning potential is unlimited and great way to do something different and acquire new knowledge and skills

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[Leper Messiah]

You're either a spammer, or a sheep. I'm leaning towards the former.

 

[PharmaSex]

This is very interesting to me. Have you talked to anyone in this field about this exam and employment chances? Do you need prior experience before taking this? What do the study materials cost?

 

[pharmduic]

Hi-- I am planning to take it as well. I heard it is becoming the industry standard.

Does anyone know about this combination? I just began looking into this and realize the potential of

1. Greater salary
2. working in the pharmaceutical industry
3. more career satisfaction


I am looking on taking this exam http://www.medicalaffairsspecialist...-affairs-specialist-program/exam-information/ next year


and be BCMAS.... Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist


and transition from retail pharmacy to the pharmaceutical industry.

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/director-of-medical-affairs-salary-SRCH_KO0,27.htm


Seems like earning potential is unlimited and great way to do something different and acquire new knowledge and skills

 

[pharmduic]

This is very interesting to me. Have you talked to anyone in this field about this exam and employment chances? Do you need prior experience before taking this? What do the study materials cost?

You do not need prior experience. Not sure about the cost but I want to say ~$1000.

 

[pharmduic]

This is very interesting to me. Have you talked to anyone in this field about this exam and employment chances? Do you need prior experience before taking this? What do the study materials cost?

Hi It is legit. I just signed up to take and they do a background check to verify your application. You do not need prior industry experience but you do need to have a pharmd/phd/md/do etc. The study materials are all provided. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000.

 

[Niosh]

Hi It is legit. I just signed up to take and they do a background check to verify your application. You do not need prior industry experience but you do need to have a pharmd/phd/md/do etc. The study materials are all provided. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000.

Yeah, I'm sure they'll legitimately take your money and give you some extra letters after your name. But does that mean anything? Will that get you a job? By looking at the job postings it seems this certification is meaningless. None of the posting mention it in required or preferred qualifications.

 

[lord999]

Just talked to some of my colleagues in regulatory affairs who are anywhere from SM to SVP in their respective companies, mostly Temple (https://pharmacy.temple.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/qara-non-thesis-ms), Rutgers (http://shp.rutgers.edu/dept/biopharma/certificates/), and USC (https://regulatory.usc.edu/) alumni. They've never heard of it, nor does anyone they know have it. There are actual programs (the above) in that field and also certain law schools like Chicago and Penn specialize in that area of health law and product regulation.

Piscataway and King of Prussia tend to prefer government hires themselves (as in, go in as a GS-11/12/13 Consumer Affairs and last for three years) if they did not start in marketing or risk management. There are quite a number of marketing reps and medical science affairs reps (the lowest rungs in the professional totem pole in industry) who were sponsored by their companies to those programs and had jobs waiting for them at the end. PhRMA does have a serious reputation for developing their own in-house talent.

 

[Dylan Tran]

Hi It is legit. I just signed up to take and they do a background check to verify your application. You do not need prior industry experience but you do need to have a pharmd/phd/md/do etc. The study materials are all provided. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000.

Hi I just signed up for the course too. If this blows up in the next few years, consider us striking gold to get this certification first. I believe it in. How far have you gotten?

 

[pharmduic]

This is very interesting to me. Have you talked to anyone in this field about this exam and employment chances? Do you need prior experience before taking this? What do the study materials cost?

Hi Not sure if you saw this recent PR release: 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

 

[pharmduic]

Hi I just signed up for the course too. If this blows up in the next few years, consider us striking gold to get this certification first. I believe it in. How far have you gotten?

I am almost done with half of the modules...

 

[CetiAlphaFive]

Hi Not sure if you saw this recent PR release: 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

Hi I too am very curious. How can I get in on this sca... excellent opportunity on the ground level. I too want to believe it in.

 

[Anthony7]

Hi It is legit. I just signed up to take and they do a background check to verify your application. You do not need prior industry experience but you do need to have a pharmd/phd/md/do etc. The study materials are all provided. Everything including the exam fee is ~$1000.

Did their fees go up? Looks like it's almost $2K now??

 

[Anthony7]

Bahaha for real?

Yep!

 

[Jbrl]

I'm connected on social media with the founders of the org. They constantly blast promotions about this certification and how important it will be without much substantiation. I had to unfollow their updates. Seems like a way to graft $ from you.

Your certification won't matter without work experience. People don't recognize it.

 

[Lnsean]

I'm connected on social media with the founders of the org. They constantly blast promotions about this certification and how important it will be without much substantiation. I had to unfollow their updates. Seems like a way to graft $ from you.

Your certification won't matter without work experience. People don't recognize it.

Well to be honest....they just really need to get the ball rolling. Once a good number of people fall for this scam, this is what everyone will be required to have in order to even get an interview. Let's band together and just say no to these silly letters and mumbo jumbo certs.

 

[Anthony7]

I'm connected on social media with the founders of the org. They constantly blast promotions about this certification and how important it will be without much substantiation. I had to unfollow their updates. Seems like a way to graft $ from you.

Your certification won't matter without work experience. People don't recognize it.

I agree with you but don't you think that the topics they cover could at least give you some knowledge about the field which could potentially help in getting your foot in the door? I applied to a lot of industry positions in the past and never got an interview.
I know this may be a scam but it might not be one. I feel like it's a gamble, hit or miss. A business opportunity with a 50/50 chance of succeeding. A risk that I (imho) think might be worth taking. What do you guys/gals think?

 

[Jbrl]

I agree with you but don't you think that the topics they cover could at least give you some knowledge about the field which could potentially help in getting your foot in the door? I applied to a lot of industry positions in the past and never got an interview.
I know this may be a scam but it might not be one. I feel like it's a gamble, hit or miss. A business opportunity with a 50/50 chance of succeeding. A risk that I (imho) think might be worth taking. What do you guys/gals think?

There are a number of ways you can achieve the same goals (learning what each dept does, scouting opps, boosting credentials, getting the interview) without spending nearly as much money and that are far more useful. Master cold calling/emailing and networking.

As it stands there is no utility for this certification. No brand recognition = pass. Find another way to put "Medical Affairs" on your resume for the job auto filters. Maybe in 5 years if enough buy into this for-profit scheme. I hope lnsean is dead wrong but he's probably not

 

[Anthony7]

There are a number of ways you can achieve the same goals (learning what each dept does, scouting opps, boosting credentials, getting the interview) without spending nearly as much money and that are far more useful. Master cold calling/emailing and networking.

As it stands there is no utility for this certification. No brand recognition = pass. Find another way to put "Medical Affairs" on your resume for the job auto filters. Maybe in 5 years if enough buy into this for-profit scheme. I hope lnsean is dead wrong but he's probably not

I guess you can argue that. But how can one get all this info? Are there any online resources that cover all these topics?

 

[beautifulrobot]

I guess you can argue that. But how can one get all this info? Are there any online resources that cover all these topics?

View attachment 220198

You can start with the FDA website, they post all their guidances to industry online, which cover most of those topics.

The regulatory affairs certificate (RAC) has much more recognition than the certificate the OP posted, although the RAC is more helpful for regulatory project managers than medical affiars people per se. I'm not in medical affairs, and dont know much about that path, but from the little i know, it seems that pharmacists who have specialized clinical knowledge, drug info training, or completed an industry fellowship are the ones who are able to get medical affairs jobs.

 

[pharmduic]

Yeah, I'm sure they'll legitimately take your money and give you some extra letters after your name. But does that mean anything? Will that get you a job? By looking at the job postings it seems this certification is meaningless. None of the posting mention it in required or preferred qualifications.

Have you all seen this?
Pretty funny actually.....

 

[pharmduic]

Yeah, I'm sure they'll legitimately take your money and give you some extra letters after your name. But does that mean anything? Will that get you a job? By looking at the job postings it seems this certification is meaningless. None of the posting mention it in required or preferred qualifications.

Have you all seen this?
Pretty funny actually.....

 

[Dr.Kelz93]

Would anyone that has completed the program recommended it?

 

[BidingMyTime]

You're either a spammer, or a sheep. I'm leaning towards the former.

Most likely both.

 

[Leper Messiah]

I guess you can argue that. But how can one get all this info? Are there any online resources that cover all these topics?

View attachment 220198

75% by not sleeping through P1 year. 90% if you take industry electives.

 

[pharmduic]

Would anyone that has completed the program recommended it?

Hi. I recently completed and passed. I would recommend it. I have worked in medical affairs for 3 years and I still felt like I learned a lot. I am recommending it for my colleagues as well. It never hurts to continue learning.

 

[Dylan Tran]

Hi. I recently completed and passed. I would recommend it. I have worked in medical affairs for 3 years and I still felt like I learned a lot. I am recommending it for my colleagues as well. It never hurts to continue learning.

Hi. Congrats on passing the exam and getting certified. I have a few questions if you don't mind answering.

I just finished all the modules. So the exam can be taken in the comfort of your own home/office? Is someone monitoring you w/ the camera access?
How was the exam on the level of difficulty? What step/s should I take in order to be fully prepared for the exam?
Do you think industry will do a target search for "BCMAS" for job outlook?
What is your title/position at your job place?
Thanks in advance.
-Dylan

 

[BidingMyTime]

Hi. Congrats on passing the exam and getting certified. I have a few questions if you don't mind answering.
I just finished all the modules. So the exam can be taken in the comfort of your own home/office? Is someone monitoring you w/ the camera access?
How was the exam on the level of difficulty? What step/s should I take in order to be fully prepared for the exam?
Do you think industry will do a target search for "BCMAS" for job outlook?
What is your title/position at your job place?
Thanks in advance.
-Dylan

Shouldn't you get your Pharm-D first, before you get "BCMAS" certified? Seems like you are jumping the gun a bit....

 

[Jbrl]

Hi. I recently completed and passed. I would recommend it. I have worked in medical affairs for 3 years and I still felt like I learned a lot. I am recommending it for my colleagues as well. It never hurts to continue learning.

I find it a bit suspect that your only posts in the last 10 years have been about BCMAS - even posting in the ortho sub...

Shouldn't you get your Pharm-D first, before you get "BCMAS" certified? Seems like you are jumping the gun a bit....

This is pretty much it. For example, evaluate a comparable - the Regulatory Affairs Certification exam. Prior experience in Reg is required before taking the exam. Same thing with BCPS. It has little use for students, in the sense that you can do other things that would better improve your chances and don't cost 2k.

 

[Dylan Tran]

Shouldn't you get your Pharm-D first, before you get "BCMAS" certified? Seems like you are jumping the gun a bit....

I am a pharmacist