Medical Affairs and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Professionals come from a wide variety of backgrounds. They may have backgrounds in nursing, pharmacy, medicine, or a PhD in the life and physical sciences. Medical affairs professionals work in various settings such as the pharmaceutical industry, medical device, diagnostics and biotechnology companies. They may work with medical education companies, or medical advertising agencies. Some work at Clinical Research Organizations (CROs); Site Management Organizations (SMOs); independent research and development organizations; or organizations involved in the management of clinical trials. These varying backgrounds and settings contribute to the unique knowledge and diverse expertise of the medical affairs or MSL professional.

The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) has developed the first and only recognized US and International Board Certification Program for medical affairs and MSL professionals in order to create an internationally-accepted standard of knowledge, education, and experience by which medical affairs will be recognized as Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialists (BCMAS®) in the life sciences and medical communities. The standards upon which this certification program is based have been set forth by this organization to promote recognition and continuing excellence in the ethical conduct of clinical trials.

ACMA developed the BCMAS® Certification program to evaluate the knowledge, understanding, and application of the best practices for the profession, including the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the ethical principles that guide good practices within medical affairs and in alignment with the principles of the Nuremberg Code, the Belmont Report and the Declaration of Helsinki. This Examination does NOT test on state, provincial, Ministry of Health, local, or institutional policy.