M.S. in Regulatory Affairs

Lossatcareer

Registered
I am in medical device regulatory affairs. I do not have an MS and wouldn't suggest that you pursue the degree if you have to pay for it yourself.

It is true that you will learn the basics. However, it is absolutely true that if you have an MS in regulatory and no other regulatory experience, you will still come in at an entry level because as BevD said, experience is everything. Some of the worst RA people I know (as in, got fired because they were not good at their job) had an MS.
I have also known many people who came into RA from very different fields (electrical engineering, chemistry, business, physical therapy, political science, industrial engineering....) and were successful.

QC and manufacturing are relevant enough that you could transition into the regulatory side. I'd suggest looking at roles at a large company where internal mobility is possible. There are also many contracting/consulting firms that staff for regulatory contract roles. If you are willing to do some boring contract work for a while, you can start out there to gain some experience and then (ideally) move into a full time role.

I would also suggest you do as much supplemental cheap education as you can through RAPS, Emergo, RQM, Coursera, etc.... there are many places that do free or inexpensive webinars and training programs. I wouldn't put these on your resume, but if/when you do get into a regulatory role, getting that foundational knowledge will help you to move up faster and be better at your job. It will also help you communicate why your existing skills are transferrable to regulatory affairs.
Thank you and appreciate your advice.

MS in RA costs the lowest at 30K up to 60K. My workplace do pay for tuition up to 5K per year. Do you suggest that I pursue a Certificate in RA which is cheaper option? At least I can put the certificate on my resume.

My workplace also does have a RA department.
 

Randy

Super Moderator
MS in RA costs the lowest at 30K up to 60K. My workplace do pay for tuition up to 5K per year. Do you suggest that I pursue a Certificate in RA which is cheaper option? At least I can put the certificate on my resume.
My MBA (accredited) was about $4K. How many years will it take to recover that expense you're looking at with very little real potential for return of that investment?

I suggest you get something you can realistically make a living with.

As a shopper why would I want to purchase an unlabeled, untried, untested product when I can get something that is solidly a known item? That's all anyone is in the real world of work, a can of soup on the shelf, and the vast majority of "new people" get all this stylish, fancy sounding, meaningless mumbo-jumbo, alphabet soup of degrees and end up in dead potential jobs. Great education for the "stylish" but in reality what you can scrape off a shoe might have more worth...it at least could be used a fertilizer to help grow food.

Really think it through.
 

EmiliaBedelia

Quite Involved in Discussions
Thank you and appreciate your advice.

MS in RA costs the lowest at 30K up to 60K. My workplace do pay for tuition up to 5K per year. Do you suggest that I pursue a Certificate in RA which is cheaper option? At least I can put the certificate on my resume.

My workplace also does have a RA department.
Company experience will be much more valuable than any external learning you can do. Talk to the RA people at your workplace. They will be able to give you a better idea of what experience would actually help you to transition into the department.

Also, talk to them about what their day to day job is like. No degree or certificate is worth your time if you don't actually like doing the job. You say you've "been advised" to get the MS.... do you actually want to go into regulatory? Decide what you actually want to do (and do more research on what it entails) before you spend money on anything.
 
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