How RAPS members can get the most out of Regulatory Exchange, our online member community
For regulatory affairs professionals, education never really ends. Tracking new guidance and staying abreast of changing regulations is critical.
But some things can’t wait until you have time to take a course or tune in to a webinar. Sometimes you need the answer to a specific question right now. Other times, you just need a place to share achievements or pain points that only other regulatory professionals would understand.
That’s where Regulatory Exchange, RAPS’ online community for regulatory professionals, comes in handy. Here are a few ways RAPS members can best take advantage of this resource.
1. Get help with an on-the-job problem
The Regulatory Open Forum, our main discussion board, is for RAPS members only. Here, you can access the combined knowledge of our more than 30,000 members.
The nature of the regulatory profession means there’s always unexplored territory. No matter your level of experience, no regulatory professional has a knowledge base that covers everything. That’s true whether you’re a one-person shop, a consultant or part of a larger team.
So, ask away.
And if your question is a sensitive one, you can ask it anonymously (just remember: all anonymous posts are automatically sent to our community manager for review before posting).
This is our more technical guide to creating discussion posts in our community.
2. Take the regulatory community’s pulse on issues facing the profession
No one quite gets what regulatory professionals go through better than other regulatory professionals. And that’s not just because most regulatory professionals have a mind-melting number of acronyms committed to memory. Whether you want opinions on career transition, studying for your RAC exam or more general questions about where the profession is headed, the Regulatory Open Forum is the place to have these discussions.
3. Give back to the profession
Through volunteerism, RAPS members help produce valuable educational materials and events for regulatory professionals of all experience and competency levels. RAPS announces and advertises its volunteer opportunities on RegEx. These occasions include planning RAPS Convergence, contributing to books, writing Regulatory Focus Features and more. (They also help you earn RAC recertification credits.)
Visit this page to see volunteer opportunities. If none suits you right now, keep checking back as we’re constantly updating that list.
4. Make new connections
Networking isn’t just for conferences. On RegEx, you can make new connections all year long. And as RAPS member Michelle Lott says, you can form professional relationships that turn into real-life friendships.
5. Join your local RAPS' chapter and post in its group
Every RAPS' chapter and local networking group has its own dedicated hub on RegEx. These sites allow local community members to plan events or meet-ups and discuss regulatory issues germane to their geographic areas.
Find your local RAPS community here.