Become a Certified National Pharmaceutical Representative

WASHINGTON - Jan. 15, 2015 - PRLog -- Certified National Pharmaceutical Representatives (CNPR) are individuals who have gone through the comprehensive CNPR Certification Program to further broaden their skill set and acquire the necessary industry training for an exciting career in pharmaceutical sales. The program is administered by the  National Association of Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives® (NAPSRx®)  and the CNPR certificate carries a lifetime federal certification mark similar to the EMT, CPA, JD, etc. The program is specifically intended to educate applicants on the pharmacuetical sales industry which entails: understanding the FDA's role in the industry, research and development of new drugs, marketing and brand strategy for new pharmaceutical products, laws governing the pharmaceutical industry, the basic concepts of clinical pharmacology, pharmaceutical terms and abbreviations, and effective physician selling skills.

Obtaining pharmaceutical sales industry training can certainly bridge the skills gap for entry level applicants to meet the demand for knowledgeable professionals in this field. When pharmaceutical companies look at applicants who have had no prior experience in pharmaceutical sales, they look for candidates who possess a bachelor's degree, a combination of sales ability/experience and medical/pharmacology education. It is important to include both types of skills on your resume.  Certified National Pharmaceutical Representatives (CNPR) are now widely sought after because of their in depth understanding of the industry and their ability to confidently promote a pharmaceutical portfolio through effective interaction with health care professionals and organizations to increase the awareness and use of the company's pharmaceutical products.

The CNPR® program is currently offered at over 300 colleges and universities across the United States (schools include: Walter E. Heller College, University of Texas, University of North Florida, Mississippi State, Indiana University, Florida International University, plus hundreds more). The CNPR program can be done by correspondence as an online/self-study. This option is time-flexible, cost effective and self-paced.  To take advantage of the correspondence training, please register directly through the NAPSRx® at http://napsronline.org/. To find a college that offers the training program please email  questions@napsronline.org