Ready for a career in regulatory affairs? The new FRA credential is for you.
“How do I get a job in regulatory affairs?”
“How do I know which candidates stand out for my entry-level regulatory job?”
"How do I make sure my early-career employees have mastered foundational regulatory knowledge?”
These are questions those in the regulatory world have been asking almost as long as our profession has existed. And they are why RAPS is introducing a new regulatory assessment-based certificate: the Foundation in Regulatory Affairs (FRA).
Starting a regulatory affairs career can be intimidating. The FRA credential builds your foundational knowledge through expert-backed courses and then tests that knowledge to ensure you have mastered the learning objectives.
To earn your FRA, you must pass a 40-item multiple choice exam. The FRA exams and passing standard were developed by recognized experts in the regulatory field.
There are two FRA credentials, the FRA-Introduction to Medical Devices and the FRA-Introduction to Pharmaceuticals. The FRA credential is designed for early-career professionals with 0+ years of experience who want to show the world — and current and future employers — that they are ready for a career in regulatory affairs.
“The introduction of a new credential is something we took very seriously after thoughtful discussion and input from regulatory professionals,” said Brian Savoie, senior vice president, education and international programs at RAPS. “The FRA combines a strong foundation from RAPS Online University with an independent assessment-based certificate to provide early-career regulatory professionals with a way to demonstrate their interest in, and knowledge of, the regulatory practice.”
The content for each FRA exam is based on select courses from the RAPS Online University catalog, so it is highly recommended, but not required, that you complete these courses before you take your FRA exam.
This all makes an FRA credential perfect for your resume if you are early in your regulatory career. And of course, early in your regulatory career does not mean early in your professional career.
“Hiring entry level talent can feel like rolling the dice,” said Michelle Lott, founder of LeanRAQA. “However, hiring a candidate who is new to regulatory but has an FRA credential can take some of the luck out of picking a good candidate.”
The FRA credential is here to help you get your resume ready for regulatory, and to provide proof to employers that you have put in the effort to get your regulatory career off to a good start.