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About the Qualifications

Commonly asked questions about the qualifications. Click on the relevant question to see our answer.

What qualification do I need?

All the information you need to determine which qualification is right for you can be found here 


The ABPI Code of Practice Clause 9.4 states that representatives must take an appropriate examination (this means attempting all unit assessments comprising the exam qualification) within their first year of employment as a representative, and must pass it within two years. 

This time limit does not apply to learners not currently employed in the promotion of medicines to prescribers. However, please note, as per the ABPI Examination Regulations, ‘For those learners for whom the ...

No, it does not. However, please be advised that the content in section M4.2 of Volume 1 of the learning materials (accredited Intermediate Programme and Advanced Programme) may be examined in all other units. 

If you are sitting the Advanced Programme, you are required to sit:

  • five Mandatory units (Units M1-5)
  • three Optional units

From the optional units, you must select one of the following two combinations:

  • 3 units: all from units O1 and O3-12 
  • 2 units: Unit O2 (10 credits) and one unit from units O1 and O3-12

The Mandatory units are called:

M1 - Operating in the Pharmaceutical Industry

M2 - Human body systems (Part 1)

M3 - Human body systems (Part 2)

M4 - Development and Use of medicines

M5 - Understanding working with the NHS and the provision of prescription medicines

 

 

The Optional Units are called:

O1 - Arthritis

O2 - Cardiovascular disease

O3 - Dermatology disorders

O4 - Diabetes

O5 - Diseases of the CNS

O6 - Disease of bone

O7 - Female ...

In order to sit the ABPI Exam, you must purchase the learning manuals. You can obtain a free set of the electronic Learning Manuals alongside your Programme registration for a fee of £185. You also have the option to purchase a hard copy set of the Learning Manuals for £61 via the Online Store. There is free postage within mainland UK (international delivery charges apply for overseas delivery). These learning manuals cover all the material for both the Advanced and Intermediate Programmes. 


E...

It depends on your background knowledge. Most of the units require knowledge of human biology, so if you have a life science degree or a recent Biology A-Level (or equivalent) you will not need to study as many hours as someone with little biology knowledge. If you have no prior knowledge of any of the topics you may need to study for 75 hours per mandatory unit, and for 50 hours per optional unit. This is consistent with programmes equivalent to Level 3 qualifications.


Yes. When you create your profile, to register for the ABPI Exam, do not tick the box ‘Are you working in industry’. This will indicate to us that you are not currently working as a medical representative.


The ABPI Exams Team recommend not to schedule your exams back-to-back. Very rarely an issue could occur during one of your examinations which could take a short time to resolve. This could affect future exams if they are scheduled close together.

Yes. If you require to transfer to the alternative programme, please contact the ABPI Exams Team at exams@abpi.org.uk.

If you have registered within 14 days and not sat an exam, there is no charge to transfer to the alternative programme. 

If you have registered more than 14 days ago and/or sat an exam and wish to change programme there is a charge of £60 + VAT.

When you create your personal profile you are required to state the date you started working in a promotional role in the pharmaceutical industry, if you do so, for the purpose of compliance with the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice. The Code requires that representatives sit the exam, within their first year (this means attempting all unit assessments comprising the exam qualification) and allows a maximum of 2 years for someone to pass the exam. Once you have exceeded 2 years from ...

No, there are no prerequisites to take the exam.

However, many of the exam units require a knowledge of human biology, so the hours of study are likely to be less for someone with this background than for a person who has done no biology since GCSE.

The exam will require those people who do not have a science background to study in more depth, but the knowledge gained will enable representatives to have meaningful conversations with healthcare professionals about the products their company ...

The ABPI is committed to managing the ABPI examination to the highest standards of transparency and ethics. We expect all learners and ABPI staff and contractors to be honourable in all aspects concerning the attempting and management of the exam process.  


However, all institutions face the risk of things going wrong from time to time, or of unknowingly harbouring illegal or unethical conduct. ABPI is committed to the highest standards of openness, probity and accountability to prevent such ...

You will be asked a mixture of questions all areas of the unit. All questions in the exam are multiple choice with four possible answers with one correct answer. There is no negative marking. 


The questions will include the following question types: 


A. Remembering - recall of factual information given in the learning materials 

B. Understanding - straightforward questions based on information given in the learning manuals but which require a degree of understanding and/or interpretation of the ...

Yes, the content in section M4.2 of Volume 1 of the learning materials (accredited Intermediate Programme and Advanced Programme) may be examined in all other units.