How to Become a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmaceutical sales is one of the most lucrative, stable and growing professions in the United States. Pharmaceutical sales representatives (often times referred to as pharma reps) are hired by pharmaceutical/biotech companies to educate healthcare providers about their products. With the increasing numbers of drugs being approved in the United States, pharmaceutical sales reps are in high demand across the country.

Is Pharmaceutical Sales Right for You?

Are you a people person? Can you build great relationships? Do you like connecting with others and enjoy working in the medical or allied health fields? Are you a great sales person? You might want to consider becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative. To succeed, you must learn from expert instructors with access to innovative learning opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities.

Four Steps to Becoming a Pharma Sales Rep

1. Get certified. Certification through the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) for Pharmaceutical sales representatives is the industry standard. The Pharmaceutical Representative Certification (PRC) is the only accredited certification program in the world. The PRC is comprised of 11 modules covering all the most important areas any successful pharma sales rep should know. Areas such as pharmacology, mechanism of action of drugs, anatomy & physiology, medical terminology and more are all covered in this comprehensive training program.
2. Update your resume. It’s important to update your resume to reflect that you have the knowledge and skills to be a successful pharmaceutical sales representative. Focus on your achievements, with a particular focus on quantitative accomplishments. These are specific, measurable outcomes you can use as examples during your interview.
3. Network. Social media tools today make it easier than ever before to build connections with communities that may not be in your current network. While most people will want to help you, building a relationship first is important. Once you have had several exchanges and have earned the trust of your new connection, you’ve earned the right to ask for referrals or tips on how to break into the pharmaceutical sales field.
4. Maintain a strong GPA. Most companies will look for pharma sales reps who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree. A common misconception is that your degree should be in biology or chemistry. But that isn’t necessarily true. What companies will look at in the hiring process is your soft skills and your desire to show that you’ve done your homework and gone above and beyond to stand out among other candidates.

Professional Training and Career Opportunities

Century College, in partnership with ed2go, offers online open enrollment programs designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional level positions for many in-demand occupations. These include career training programs that prepare you for industry certification or to start a new career. Our non-credit online classes are affordable, fun, fast, convenient, and geared just for you. You can choose from a variety of career and technical programs leading directly to employment.

Available Specialized Programs

The following table outlines various specialized training and certification programs available for medical and pharmaceutical professionals:

Preparing for the Interview

To Ace the Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Interview, you must unlock the secrets to acing your pharma sales interview. Learn essential strategies like deep company research and perfecting key questions. Discover expert tips from a professional pharmaceutical recruiter on crafting effective resumes and CVs to stand out among other candidates.