The Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS™) program is arguably one of the best paths you can choose to enter the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) / medical affairs industry or to elevate your existing career as an Medical Science Liaison.
This comprehensive, 20-module, self-paced, online program establishes a minimum level of core competencies crucial for success as a medical affairs professional. With BCMAS™ certification, you demonstrate that you’ve mastered the highest standard of knowledge through intensive study, self-assessment, and evaluation.
Covers traditional pharma, medical devices, and diagnostics as well as newer areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology
Focuses on ethical and compliance issues relevant to any medical affairs professional
Provides a comprehensive understanding of pharmacoeconomics, clinical trial design, evidence-based medicine, drug development, REMS, and pharmacovigilance
Centers on important functional areas within medical affairs, such as compliant publication practices, advisory board, CME, investigator sponsored research, and post-marketing studies
Provides basic presentation and communication skills essential for any effective medical affairs professional
Each of the 20 BCMAS™ modules includes:
Establishes your existing knowledge of the specific module's content
Consists of multiple sections that vary from module to module
Determines how well you’ve absorbed and retained the module content
It's a self-paced program, and you have six months to complete the board certification. On average, most learners complete the program within 2-3 months (approximately 40 hours).
Align the direction and goals of a medical affairs organization by better understanding the cross-functional areas that relate to medical affairs
These areas include regulatory affairs, clinical development, marketing, compliance, and drug development
Understand health economics outcomes research as it relates to medical affairs
Learn about clinical-trial design and evidence-based medicine
Become an expert at interpreting medical literature
Broaden your knowledge in diagnostics and medical devices
Understand publication planning and regulations
Module 1 explores the pharmaceutical industry’s structure and operations, the divisions within pharmaceutical companies, and the external factors governing the industry.
Module 2 provides an overview of the medical device industry, product influencers, trends, and regulatory controls. It also outlines the dynamics shaping the future of the industry.
Module 3 provides a summary of the diagnostics industry, its importance, structure, and function, external factors governing the industry, how it differs from other life sciences industries.
Module 4 explains in detail how the interactions between life sciences companies and healthcare providers - and the regulations governing those interactions - benefit the companies, providers, patient populations and the healthcare system in general.
Module 5 provides the basic HEOR principles that medical affairs professionals should be familiar with, including the steps involved for assessing pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes studies.
Module 6 defines the importance and the applicability of EBM in the modern practice of medicine.
Module 7 provides an in-depth understanding of how companies design clinical trials to generate scientifically valid results.
Module 8 helps develop strong presentation skills specifically for the life sciences. It establishes the foundations of effective communication skills.
Module 9 is an overview of the regulatory affairs function within a life sciences organizations, both domestically and internationally.
Module 10 provides compliance rules, regulations, and functions within a pharmaceutical company for both drug and device products.
Module 11 instills a strong foundation on how to write an abstract, clinical protocol, or manuscript, which is an important skill for any medical director, medical writer or scientific communications professional.
Module 12 is an in-depth summary of the publication planning process and the purpose of publications. It also covers the most recent Good Publications Practice guidelines.
Module 13 presents an in-depth explanation of how a compound evolves from the initial discovery stage to the marketplace, detailing the requirements for each phase in the development cycle.
Module 14 discusses the typical responsibilities of medical information, the competencies necessary to excel in the role of medical information, and the ongoing complexities of the role.
Module 15 discusses the typical responsibilities of the Medical Science Liaison, as well as the evolution of its specialization to developing and managing relationships between key experts while leveraging expectations by partner companies.
Module 16 describes the key steps in the grant application process, as well as the level of involvement a company has in the IIS process.
Module 17 describes the primary role and purpose for advisory boards in the life sciences industry including the challenges and key elements of a successful advisory board.
Module 18 explains the various types and different purposes of post-marketing studies, their purpose and some of the underlying strategic reasons why companies conduct these trials.
Module 19 provides an overview of REMS programs and strategies, including comparisons of the different situations they attempt to mitigate.
Module 20 outlines the process by which safety signals are evaluated and to learn about the current steps involved to monitor and assure medication safety and pharmacovigilance.