How to Tell if You’ve Found the Right Regulatory Affairs Program

Studying regulatory affairs is a great way to get started in a career in the pharmaceutical industry, including as a regulatory affairs associate, technical writer, or documentation specialist. However, when researching the different regulatory affairs programs available, you may have trouble distinguishing which programs offer a high-quality education.

Fortunately, there are a couple signs you can rely on during your research that we’ll look at in detail below. By identifying an institution that offers a reputable regulatory affairs program, you’ll help set yourself up for greater success after graduation.

Graduate Employment Rates Will Tell You a Lot About a Regulatory Affairs Program’s Quality

One way to gain a good understanding of the quality of a pharmaceutical school is to look at how well its students do after they graduate. Fortunately, the Ontario government keeps track of college graduates’ success through highly reputable surveys of each college’s graduate population. This data will tell you valuable information, such as the percentage of graduates who are employed six months after graduation, for example.

At the Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology (TIPT), we take pride in our graduates’ success rate. For instance, TIPT graduates enjoy an 87.1% employment rate, which is significantly higher than the 71.2% for all private career colleges in Ontario. Furthermore, our graduates have an impressive 0% OSAP default rate, compared to the 16.4% default rate for all private career colleges. Such statistics are indicative of the career success our students typically go on to have after graduation.

A Regulatory Affairs Program with an Integrated Co-op Helps You Stand Out to Employers

Employers in the pharmaceutical industry place a premium on graduates who have not only theoretical knowledge of regulatory affairs, but who have experience putting that knowledge into practice. For that reason, you should seek out a regulatory affairs diploma that includes practical, hands-on experience.

At TIPT, this practical component is delivered through our highly successful integrated co-op. In the integrated co-op, you will have an opportunity to work with actual drug submissions that have been approved by regulators. This gives you insight into what regulatory authorities look for in successful drug applications. That practical experience is invaluable when you pursue a career in regulatory affairs, as employers will value candidates who are able to adapt to a real-world work environment quickly upon being hired.

Look for Career Services That Can Help You Land a Job After You Graduate

Finally, the reason you are studying pharmaceutical affairs is to upgrade your skills so that you can pursue a better career. As a result, the regulatory affairs program you choose should have resources in place to help you land your first job after you graduate. When researching colleges, look at what career services they offer and how those services can help you achieve success.

At TIPT, we offer an extensive array of career services. Our dedicated Career Services Advisor liaises between graduates and employers in the pharmaceutical industry. The Career Services Advisor contacts employers throughout the year to notify them of our recent graduates and why they would make a welcome addition to their teams. TIPT’s Career Services Advisor also works with you to help you develop your job search skills through resume-writing tips and interview preparation. Twice a year, we also hold a career fair where you can network with industry insiders and potentially meet your future employer.

Interested in pursuing a new career?

Contact TIPT to learn more about our regulatory affairs courses.