Exam Sections and Content

Domain I: Strategic Planning – Exam Weighting approximately 29%

• Task 1: Determine the proposed product classification by using the relevant regulation to prepare for regulatory pathway and submission strategy.
• Task 2: Evaluate the regulatory environment and provide internal advice throughout the life cycle of the product (e.g., concept, development, manufacturing, marketing) to facilitate product compliance.
• Task 3: Provide input regarding comparative effectiveness/health technology assessment associated with reimbursement.
• Task 4: Perform risk/benefit analysis on product development concept for initial product viability.
• Task 5: Provide direction for safety and effectiveness testing (e.g., bench, preclinical, clinical) at the feasibility phase to determine the ability to comply with regulatory requirements.
• Task 6: Collaborate with and advise research and development programs regarding applicable regulatory compliance.
• Task 7: Provide regulatory intelligence to develop local, regional, and global regulatory strategies.
• Task 8: Evaluate the regulatory outcomes from the initial product concepts and make recommendations for future actions.
• Task 9: Research and interpret regulatory decisions in a similar product category to assess regulatory approval implications.
• Task 10: Identify appropriate regulatory authorities for submission of data for product being developed.
• Task 11: Assess impact of local, regional, and global requirements and considerations on the content of regulatory submission/dossiers.
• Task 12: Evaluate global filing strategy (e.g., simultaneous filings, joint reviews, mutual recognition agreements, assessment of similarity or dissimilarity of requirements) to define market feasibility.
• Task 13: Anticipate regulatory concerns arising from trade issues (e.g., applicable treaty law, international conventions, “for export only” status).
• Task 14: Provide alternative strategies for product development and submission to ensure timely approval and advise internal stakeholders on the requirements.
• Task 15: Develop and review regulatory department standard operating procedures to achieve regulatory compliance.
• Task 16: Participate in internal training programs for company personnel to achieve regulatory and quality compliance.
• Task 17: Assist other departments to develop standard operating procedures to achieve regulatory compliance. Regulatory Affairs Certification (Devices)

Domain II: Pre-marketing – Exam Weighting approximately 25%

• Task 1: Evaluate need for and contribute to product development for special patient populations (e.g., pediatric investigation plan/waivers/deferral, orphan devices, and humanitarian device exemptions).
• Task 2: Advise stakeholders of regulatory requirements for quality, bench, preclinical, and clinical data.
• Task 3: Assess the acceptability of quality, bench, preclinical, and clinical documentation for submission filing to meet regulatory requirements.
• Task 4: Negotiate and interact through appropriate communication tools (e.g., meetings, email) with regulatory authorities before and during the product development and review process to facilitate submission approval.
• Task 5: Determine acceptability of submission package through the preparation and review of relevant sections to comply with applicable requirements.
• Task 6: Compile and prepare regulatory submissions according to relevant guidelines and submit to the appropriate regulatory authorities.
• Task 7: Monitor the progress of the regulatory authority review process through appropriate communication with the agency.
• Task 8: Evaluate the impact on the regulatory submission strategies of proposed manufacturing changes during the preclinical development and clinical studies.
• Task 9: Facilitate the development of appropriate and timely responses to regulatory authority queries and actions to meet regulatory requirements.
• Task 10: Participate in developing a risk management system to ensure that local, regional, and global regulatory requirements are met.
• Task 11: Identify and monitor events and processes and, as applicable, submit reports (e.g., serious adverse events, periodic reports, final study reports) or notifications (e.g., changes in manufacturing) to regulatory authorities to comply with regulations.
• Task 12: Interact with other companies associated with acquisitions and collaborations.
• Task 13: Interact with and record the use of contract research organizations, subcontractors, test facilities, and consultants.
• Task 14: Review documentation of raw materials to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Domain III: Post-marketing – Exam Weighting approximately 38%

• Task 1: Review advertising and promotional materials for regulatory compliance.
• Task 2: Review and provide input to labeling to comply with regulatory requirements.
• Task 3: Submit notifiable changes and supplemental dossier to the appropriate regulatory authorities to update product information and/or instructions for use to reflect current state of product.
• Task 4: Verify that appropriate standard operating procedures are in place to manage product associated events, complaints, recalls, market withdrawals, and safety reports.
• Task 5: Provide input to the risk assessment associated with product issues and implement appropriate regulatory steps to address issues (e.g., consumer information, advertising, labeling changes, warnings, alerts, product changes, recalls, withdrawals).
• Task 6: Participate in implementing regulatory strategy for handling recalls and communication to stakeholders (e.g., dear healthcare provider letters, patient letters, distributor letters, health authorities).
• Task 7: Report notifiable manufacturing product-associated events (e.g., failures, recalls, corrective actions resulting from inspections) to regulatory authorities as required.
• Task 8: Report product safety issues to regulatory authorities as required to comply with local, regional, and global regulations.
• Task 9: Submit single case or aggregate safety reports to comply with local, regional, and global regulations or upon request by regulatory authorities.
• Task 10: Comply with product post-marketing surveillance requirements to meet conditions of approval.
• Task 11: Proceduralize the regulatory assessment process to define notifiable changes to comply with local, regional, and global regulatory authorities for post-marketing changes.
• Task 12: Evaluate change control documents to determine the level of change and consequential submission requirement.
• Task 13: Participate in crisis/issue management team (e.g., product recall, counterfeiting) and assess the regulatory impact of an event and proposed resolution.
• Task 14: Review regulatory aspects of contracts (e.g., quality, product complaints, recalls, vigilance) for product manufacture and distribution.
• Task 15: Control access to regulatory documentation, ensuring confidentiality and protection of proprietary information.
• Task 16: Maintain licenses (e.g., establishment, narcotics, controlled substances) and submit renewals as required.
• Task 17: File new and amended patent/trademark forms to update information with applicable regulatory authorities to meet regulations.
• Task 18: Provide required information (e.g., clinical data) in support of product reimbursement requests.
• Task 19: Submit documentation and samples for lot release, if required, for customs clearance.
• Task 20: Demonstrate that quality systems are in place (e.g., ISO 13485 for medical devices).
• Task 21: Comply with import and export requirements.
• Task 22: Demonstrate compliance with applicable market controls and requirements (e.g., controlled substances, veterinary use only).
• Task 23: Assess adequacy of product traceability systems.

Domain IV: Interfacing – Exam Weighting approximately 8%

• Task 1: Communicate and negotiate with regulatory authorities and stakeholders to facilitate compliance on regulated products.
• Task 2: Review public communications, press releases, etc., to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Task 3: Participate in internal product review committees (e.g., labeling, quality, launch).
• Task 4: Develop early warning systems to identify potential regulatory compliance issues affecting the company and advise affected internal functional groups.
• Task 5: Identify and interact with the standards-developing organizations that are appropriate for the company’s product. All Tasks may be examined under the following knowledge or skill areas:
  • Regulatory intelligence
  • Product development
  • Risk management
  • Licensing, registration, and maintenance
  • Post-market activities

Domain I: Strategic Planning – Exam Weighting approximately 24%

• Task 1: Evaluate the regulatory environment and provide internal advice throughout the life cycle of the product (e.g., concept, development, manufacturing, marketing) to ensure compliance.
• Task 2: Perform risk/benefit analysis on product development concept for initial product viability.
• Task 3: Determine endpoints for safety and efficacy testing at the feasibility phase to determine the ability to comply with regulatory standards.
• Task 4: Advise research and development programs to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Task 5: Provide regulatory intelligence to develop local, regional, and global regulatory strategies that include determination of regulatory classification, submission type (e.g., eCTD, electronic, paper) for regulatory applications, due diligence, and internal/external license opportunities.
• Task 6: Evaluate the regulatory outcomes of initial product concepts and make recommendations for future actions.
• Task 7: Evaluate and interpret regulatory decisions in a similar product category to assess regulatory implications for approval.
• Task 8: Identify and engage appropriate regulatory authorities for submission of data concerning the product being developed.
• Task 9: Assess impact of local, regional, and global requirements and considerations on the regulatory dossiers.
• Task 10: Consult with multidisciplinary teams to develop indications for use, intended use, and product claims (e.g., target product profile, product requirements).
• Task 11: Evaluate the regulatory merits of domestic versus regional or global submission strategies (e.g., simultaneous filings, joint reviews, mutual recognition agreements, assessment of similarity or dissimilarity of requirements) to define market feasibility.
• Task 12: Anticipate regulatory issues arising from trade-related matters (e.g., applicable treaty law, international conventions, “for export only” status).
• Task 13: Develop strategies for regulatory authority interactions (e.g., FDA/CA meetings, correspondence, documenting verbal communication or commitments) to guide product development life cycle management.
• Task 14: Ensure regulatory compliance of company standard operating procedures impacting internal stakeholders.
• Task 15: Provide internal trainers with information on regulatory requirements to incorporate in ongoing training programs.

Domain II: Pre-marketing – Exam Weighting approximately 37%

Manufacturing Section

• Task 1: Determine applicable regulatory requirements for manufacturing and/or development of drug products.
• Task 2: Review documentation of raw materials to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., API/drug substance, novel excipients, animal-derived materials).
• Task 3: Review documentation (e.g., stability data, specifications, investigational labeling) for adequacy to support IND/CTA submission.
• Task 4: Ensure regulatory compliance of manufacturing and release of investigational products for clinical use.

Nonclinical Section

• Task 5: Determine nonclinical test requirements (e.g., GLP, toxicology studies) and ensure compliance with applicable guidance, standards, and regulations for product-specific requirements.
• Task 6: Evaluate adequacy of nonclinical data and risk management activities to support initiation of clinical trials.

Clinical Section

• Task 7: Determine requirements for clinical development and ensure compliance with applicable guidance, standards, and regulations for product-specific requirements (e.g., ICH,GCPs, monitoring, auditing, ethics committee, safety reporting, informed consent, financial disclosure).
• Task 8: Ensure that reporting procedures are in place to report adverse events that occur during clinical trials/investigations to appropriate regulatory bodies.
• Task 9: Generate and ensure regulatory compliance of product labeling.
• Task 10: Inform stakeholders of regulatory implications regarding ongoing clinical trials/investigations (e.g., protocol amendments, ICF amendments).

General Section

• Task 11: Advise stakeholders of regulatory requirements for quality, nonclinical, and clinical data to meet applicable regulations.
• Task 12: Assess the acceptability and completeness of quality, nonclinical, and clinical documentation for submission filing to comply with applicable regulations (e.g., IND/CTA, NDA/BLA/MAA submission, manufacturing transfer).
• Task 13: Initiate and monitor the process to obtain nonproprietary (e.g., USAN, INN) and proprietary names.
• Task 14: Manage outsourcing strategy (e.g., contract research organizations, subcontractors, test facilities, consultants) using appropriate communication tools throughout the product development life cycle.
• Task 15: Compile and review regulatory submission packages in accordance with applicable regulations.
• Task 16: Prepare or review study data and manufacturing information to ensure compliance with local, regional, national, and international regulatory requirements.
• Task 17: Maintain authorization for ongoing clinical trials/investigations (e.g., amendments, annual reports, updates) and monitor the progress of the regulatory authority review process.
• Task 18: Evaluate proposed manufacturing changes on nonclinical and clinical development and regulatory submission strategies.
• Task 19: Facilitate the development of appropriate and timely responses to regulatory authority queries and actions to ensure compliance with company procedures.
• Task 20: Participate in developing a risk management system (e.g., vigilance) to ensure that local, regional, and global regulatory requirements as applicable are met for the development program.
• Task 21: Identify, monitor, and submit applicable reports (e.g., serious adverse events) or notifications (e.g., changes in manufacturing) to regulatory authorities to comply with regulations.
• Task 22: Participate in audits/inspections by regulatory authorities and contribute to responses to audit findings as required.

Domain III: Post-marketing – Exam Weighting approximately 28%

• Task 1: Evaluate advertising and promotional materials for adherence to regulations, guidelines, and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance.
• Task 2: Generate and evaluate product labeling (e.g., package insert, instructions for use)
• for adherence to regulations, guidelines, and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance.
• Task 3: Submit notifiable changes and supplemental dossiers and follow up with the appropriate regulatory authorities to achieve compliance.
• Task 4: Ensure that appropriate standard operating procedures are in place to manage product-associated events, complaints, adverse drug reports, recalls, market withdrawals, and vigilance reports in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Task 5: Provide regulatory input for risk management strategy to be presented to stakeholders and implement appropriate regulatory steps for selected options (e.g., consumer information, advertising, or labeling changes, warnings or alerts, product changes, recalls, withdrawals).
• Task 6: Implement regulatory strategy for handling communication to stakeholders for notifiable product-associated events, complaints, adverse drug reports, and recalls (e.g., dear healthcare provider letters, patient letters, distributor letters, health authorities).
• Task 7: Report notifiable manufacturing product-associated events (e.g., failures, recalls, corrective actions resulting from inspections) to regulatory authorities to maintain compliance.
• Task 8: Report product safety issues/failures to regulatory authorities to comply with local, regional, and global regulations.
• Task 9: Engage regulatory authorities and comply with product post-marketing commitments and requirements to meet conditions of approval.
• Task 10: Participate in crisis/issue management team (e.g., product recall, counterfeiting) and assess the regulatory impact and resolution of product-related events.
• Task 11: Review regulatory aspects (e.g., quality, product complaints, recalls, vigilance) of contracts for product manufacturing and distribution to ensure compliance.
• Task 12: Control access to regulatory documentation to ensure confidentiality and protection of proprietary information.
• Task 13: Maintain licenses (e.g., registration and listings, narcotics, controlled substances) and submit renewals as required.
• Task 14: File new and amended patent/trademark forms to update information with applicable regulatory authorities to meet regulations.
• Task 15: Provide required information (e.g., clinical data) in support of product reimbursement requests.
• Task 16: Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for lot distribution and release.
• Task 17: Provide regulatory oversight of quality system compliance (e.g., ISO, GXPs, SOPs).
• Task 18: Comply with import and export requirements.
• Task 19: Ensure compliance with applicable market controls and requirements (e.g., controlled substances, veterinary use only).
• Task 20: Ensure adequacy of product traceability systems.

Domain IV: Interfacing – Exam Weighting approximately 11%

• Task 1: Advise on regulatory strategy for risk management process to mitigate impact to company.
•  Task 2: Coordinate company presentations and development of briefing documentation for regulatory advisory committee, agency representatives, and other government agencies to facilitate regulatory compliance.
• Task 3: Provide input on proposed legislation, regulations, guidelines, and/or standards to be followed by industry and regulatory authorities to ensure consistent and clear application of requirements.
• Task 4: Manage regulatory authority inspections to ensure company personnel are well-prepared and understand inspection processes.
• Task 5: Evaluate legislation, regulations, guidelines, standards, and related issues to facilitate compliance on regulated products and to support strategic planning.
• Task 6: Advise stakeholders on the impact of current and proposed legislation, regulations, guidelines, and standards and provide training when necessary to facilitate regulatory compliance.
• Task 7: Communicate with legal counsel and company officials when appropriate to minimize exposure to legal liability.
• Task 8: Participate on cross-functional product development teams (e.g., individuals from CMC, quality, labeling, research and development, clinical, nonclinical, marketing, legal) to provide regulatory affairs expertise. All tasks may be examined under the following knowledge or skill areas:
  • Regulatory intelligence
  • Product development
  • Risk management
  • Licensing, registration, and maintenance
  • Post-market activities