Biomedical Sciences Blog

The RAPS Online Pharmaceuticals Certificate is the perfect way to round out your regulatory knowledge and professional skills. Whether you are looking to gain an understanding of the pharmaceutical industry or bolstering your credibility and your resume, this certificate is a valuable asset in your pursuit of professional advancement.

As you take on new roles and increased responsibilities, you cannot afford to let gaps in your knowledgebase keep you from advancing in your career. This series of online courses will equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to progress your career to the next level.

This exclusive certificate is achieved by completing a series of customizable online courses pertaining to the pharmaceutical industry. It is a cost-effective, convenient option that will provide you with the skills you need regardless of whether you are new to pharmaceuticals, transitioning from a related field or you simply need to refresh your knowledge.

Cost:
RAPS Members: $1,600 USD
Nonmembers: $1,785 USD–includes a 12-month RAPS membership
Group Pricing is Available

Note: If you have already taken a RAPS Online University course that is eligible for the certificate, you can apply it toward the certificate program requirements. There is a two course and up to a $350 credit limit.

How Is the Certificate Achieved?
The RAPS Online Pharmaceuticals Certificate is achieved by completing four core and five of the elective courses outlined below. You will have six months to complete all nine courses. After successfully completing all nine courses, you will receive a certificate recognizing your achievement.

Core Courses (Required)

• Ethics
• Global Regulatory Strategy for Pharmaceuticals
• Pharmaceuticals: Definition & Lifecycle
• Role of the RA Professional

Elective Courses (Select five from the list below)

• Basic Project Management for RA
• Effective Communication & Negotiation
• Good Clinical Practices (GCPs)
• Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs)
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
• Intermediate Medical Writing—Available for pre-order
• Introductory Medical Writing—Available for pre-order
• Pharmaceuticals: Canada Regulations—Available for pre-order
• Pharmaceuticals: EU Regulations—Available for pre-order
• Pharmaceuticals: US Regulations—Available for pre-order
• Regulation of Combination Products
• Regulation of US and EU Biologics
• Understanding and Managing the Clinical Trials Process

What is the difference between a certificate and certification?
There's a lot of confusion about what a certificate program is and is not. The word "certificate" is used broadly as a document awarded to designate the attainment or completion of something. An individual might receive a certificate from an education or training provider as verification of attendance or participation in a learning event (often called a certificate of attendance or certificate of participation). The distribution of a certificate, however, does not indicate that the education or training program completed was a "certificate program." In a certificate program, an individual participates in a learning event or series of events designed to assist him or her in achieving specified learning outcomes within a defined scope, and the individual receives a certificate only after verification of successful completion of all program requirements (including but not limited to an evaluation of learner attainment of intended learning outcomes). If you are having a hard time envisioning what a certificate program is, think of the many certificate programs currently offered by colleges and universities.

It is also important to distinguish certificate programs from the certification of individuals. A professional certification, which may also be called a professional credential requires that an organization grants a credential to an individual after verifying that he or she has met established criteria for proficiency or competency, usually through an eligibility application and assessment. While certification eligibility criteria may specify a certain type or amount of education or training, the learning event(s) are not typically provided by the certifying body. Instead, the certifying body, through an application process, verifies education, training, and experience obtained elsewhere and administers a standardized test of current proficiency or competency. Development of a professional certification or credential takes several years of work involving subject matter experts and experts in testing and measurement. There are strict requirements and standards for credentially organizations to follow in developing and managing these programs.

In contrast, in a certificate program, the learning event(s) and the assessment(s) are both developed and administered by the certificate issuer, and there is an essential link between them. That is, the learning event(s) are designed to help participants achieve learning outcomes and the assessment is designed to evaluate the learners' attainment of those intended learning outcomes.

Also, certifications have ongoing requirements for maintaining proficiency or competency and can be revoked for not meeting these ongoing requirements. In contrast, certificates do not have ongoing maintenance or renewal requirements and, therefore, cannot be revoked.

Both certification and certificate programs issue designations and associated acronyms; however, it is essential that any designations issued for certificate programs do not state or imply that the individuals are certified.