Has anyone utilized the NAPRx pharmaceutical sales course?

I am strongly considering entering the NAPRx course. My freind who is a rep at Eli Lilly recommended their training program which is designed to train newcomers to the pharmaceutical industr.

This is what I found out:

CNPR® Certification helps applicants qualify for a pharmaceutical sales career:

CNPR® Pharmaceutical Sales Certification is the college accredited healthcare industry assurance that an individual has met rigorous, peer-developed and reviewed standards endorsed by a national professional body -- National Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives®.
Employers welcome and respect CNPR® Pharmaceutical Sales Training offered by the association as well as at over 300 universities/colleges nationwide.
The NAPRx® can be used as a third party to verify the credentials of pharmaceutical sales professional to promote ethical regulatory and compliance guidelines which have recently been modified.
CNPR® Certification (Entry Level- Pharmaceutical Sales Training) is important for internal professional recognition, external verification, and accountability for applicants looking to enter the very technical and scientific industry of pharmaceutical sales.
The CNPR® program is the only accredited vocational pharmaceutical sales training course in the United States which is dedicated to helping those enter a career in pharmaceutical sales.

The CNPR® Pharmaceutical Sales Training program was initiated to:

Provide pharmaceutical sales education to individuals who are seeking a professional career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Address the professional advancement needs of applicants already established as professionals but not in the pharmaceutical industry.
Establish benchmarks of scientific qualifications required to interview and enter a career in pharmaceutical sales.
Provide a recognizable mark of excellence for candidates interviewing with pharmaceutical companies.

The CNPR® program details include:

Correspondence training which is self-paced but educates students on the pharmaceutical product knowledge required by pharmaceutical sales companies, provides knowledge on rules & regulations for selling pharmacology pro

As a sales trainer, providing Continuing Medical Education in the industry, I am aware of how important it is acquire pharmaceutical industry knowledge.

If you are an entry level candidate for pharmaceutical sales positions it is important to meet the employer requirements to successfully obtain interviews. Industry recruiters and human resource professionals look for applicants with pharmacology and science education. The CNPR® training and certification provides such education which will lead to meeting minimum pharmaceutical sales requirements.

One reason that pharmaceutical companies prefer industry education and training is because they look to get newly hired candidates quickly out into a sales territory. If the new employee has limited training in pharmacology or the medical field then their training could last many weeks or months. This typically means no physician coverage for the assigned territory of the new employee while they are being trained. Thus the territories market share could be affected the longer it takes to train a new sales rep.

Another reason that pharmaceutical companies look to hire educated and trained reps is that there is just less time and money devoted towards entry level training. According to Steve Rauschkolb, Associate Vice President of Leadership and Management Development at Sanofi-Aventis, The most important result of the changing sales structure for pharma firms is a reduction in the amount of training resources.

I just wanted to tell others that this program is a wise investment. I recently took the exam and scored a 92%. Since passing the exam I have been receiving calls from companies wanting interviews. Most importantly, the certification and training has given me the qualifications that I was lacking before.

I am writing to you to let you know that the NAPRX Pharmaceutical Sales Training Manual/CNPR program is purely awesome. I was overjoyed with the NAPRX website and without hesitation I purchased the premium package with NAPRx membership and subscription to the monthly magazines.

I am so excited because I just got my first interview with Eli Lilly today, exactly a week after submitting my resume. The training and career center with job search tips for any applicant was extremely helpful.

I will keep the association updated. You rock!

Hmmm, I always thought that hiring managers are looking for folks who knows how to sell and close. Don't the pharma companies train you on their drugs?

Eric Lopicolo in Ballwin, Missouri said: I am currently enrolled and I am find the training to be very informative and useful.

Are you studying at a local college in St. Louis, Mo?

No I am taking it by correspondence directly through the NAPRX. It is mostly memorization so I really have not needed an instructor to this point and I am almost done with the program. It has been very informative and is all focused on being trained to become a pharmaceutical sales representative.

The CNPR® Pharmaceutical Sales Training Program is offered by correspondence/online through the NAPRx® which can be ordered by clicking the below banner and following the instructions .

If you are looking for a college nearest you please e-mail us at contacts@salespharmaceutical.org.

If you are seeking a career in pharmaceutical sales it is important to obtain accredited pharmaceutical sales training (CNPR® Certification Program). You can find several books out there will help with your resume and cover letter but will not provide you with the necessary job skill sets that pharmaceutical employers prefer. The CNPR® program provides candidates with the skills sets that attract pharmaceutical employers and comprehensive industry training which will enhance anyone's pharmaceutical sales career. To effectively detail physicians you need to understand the fundamentals of pharmacology as well as some understanding of the medical industry. The NAPRx® (CNPR® Program) is presented in a way that is easy to comprehend while being user friendly. If you are looking to enter a new career in pharmaceutical sales make your job search become much easier by acquiring the skills sets sought after by pharmaceutical companies and obtain your CNPR® as soon as possible.

Applicants who have no previous pharmaceutical sales experience but who have acquired industry sales training, pharmaceutical product knowledge, managed care guidelines plus selling regulations will always be more qualified versus others without it. A person does not need to be Einstein to learn algebra or be Tiger Woods to teach golf; similarly you do not need to be a pharmacist to effectively sell pharmaceuticals but it is necessary to have some basic understanding of pharmacology and medical terminology to effectively detail physicians.

Eric Lopicolo in Ballwin, Missouri said: I am currently enrolled and I am find the training to be very informative and useful.

What package from the website did you purchase?
I applied for an entry level job with nothing needed and I got an email from NAPRx in return. I am looking to taking the course online and am looking for what package is the really the better deal.

I ordered the Premium Package because I wanted to get Pharmaceutical Representative magazine. It is a lot cheaper to get that package than going to local colleges. I am finding the CNPR pharmaceutical industry training to be interesting but most importantly I know that it will help me get employment in the industry.

A person I worked with just got hired on with Eli Lilly and he completed this program. How can I enroll in it?

I am taking the CNPR course by correspondence. I registered at www.napsronline.org I interviewed with Watson Pharmaceuticals and they asked if I had completed the training. I had not so I registered the next day.

what type of questions are on the test?

The questions are about clincial pharmacology, pharmaceutical terms, selling regulations, medical disease state, theraputic classes, pharmaceutical selling techniques, drug sampling and alot more. Go to www.napsronline.org to learn more.

Having been laid off from one of the larger pharmaceutical companies, I checked with my former contacts there and out of 8 people I asked none have heard of this program. They all have been in the industry for a long time. Is this legit or is this a scheme?

The NAPRX and its programs (CNPR) were on the cover of Pharmaceutical Representative magazine in November 2008. If you are laid off you should still be keeping up with changes in the industry. Certifications are on the increase with many states requiring them. Get Pharmaceutical Representative magazine at www.pharmrep.com

You can also check out other facts for the CNPR program at www.napsronline.org

Stacey Metger in Williamston, Michigan said: I am strongly considering entering the NAPRx course. My freind who is a rep at Eli Lilly recommended their training program which is designed to train newcomers to the pharmaceutical industr.

The pharm business is tough and not very well paid when you consider the hours you put in, the number of calls per day and the cost of lunches and parties for the doctors ' staff (you pay for thiese but you can claim it as a tax item). You can make good money but the windows are limited-if you are a woman they will only keep you so long and then replace you with someone younger to come into your territory that you have built up. You sound willing to work hard and do the work-choose another field. Its not sour grapes - I enjoyed my time but as I watched hard working people who helped show me the ropes get picked off one by one I decided to dump this industry.

Good luck and God bless/////

I am making over $125k a year and do not work over 40 hours a week and receive a check every month for all of my business expenses. It is unheard of in this industry to pay for your own expenses. Who did you work for?

I just interviewed with Eli Lilly and they want my to complete the CNPR Program right away. Is it best to complete it at a college or take it correspondence through the NAPRx.

I am 47 years old male and my current job is an international food sale rep but with the state of things in the US and Caribbean I wanted to try Pharm sales. At my age and being a male do I even spend the money for the CNPR Program?

It is important to get your CNPR if you do not have any pharmaceutical sales experience and/or pharmacology education. Companies will like your sales background but also look for pharmacology industry education.

Emily-REP in Ballwin, Missouri said: It is important to get your CNPR if you do not have any pharmaceutical sales experience and/or pharmacology education. Companies will like your sales background but also look for pharmacology industry education.

Ok what about my age and sex? I here that most company's want mostly women and right out of collage?

A recent poll in Pharmaceutical Representative magazine states that there are 52% women and 48% men who make up the pharmaceutical sales industry. The majority are seasoned professionals. Certainly there are young people in the industry as alot of young people apply and mature individuals are already in some other career.

E.S. in Pompano Beach, Florida said: Having been laid off from one of the larger pharmaceutical companies, I checked with my former contacts there and out of 8 people I asked none have heard of this program. They all have been in the industry for a long time. Is this legit or is this a scheme?

I too, am trying to break into the pharma market and was told by a former Pfizer hiring manager that the certification is useless and to not bother. But my question is this, if it gives you added knowledge of the industry then how can it hurt? I think he was confused by what it is exactly, because he said to me that if a hiring manager interviewing isn't part of this group or ever heard of it he is going to feel that it's not an important credential to have.

After reading this forum, I'm findind that maybe he's wrong. If I can secure a pharma job by having additional knowledge of the industry, it will make the interview go smoother and I'll have more confidence going in, why wouldn't I complete the certification? I think that continuing education is important throughout a persons career life. I don't think it's a scam.

jetta1999 in Stuart, Florida said: Ok what about my age and sex? I here that most company's want mostly women and right out of collage?

I too, am older and was wondering the same thing as yourself. I asked this question from the NAPRx website and this was the answer I got. Pharma companies will hire who they feel are qualified regardless of age, that there are many older people getting hired. He did say to start with the smaller to mid-size companies and get experience, then try to move up to the larger pharma cos. but not because of my age, because of my lack of experience in pharma. I have eight years of sales. I know of a woman that worked with my sister, she is 47 and just got hired by a pharma company and she came from advertising sales.

You might want to consider medical device sales too. I think men do better in that area. Don't know the statistics of that, but it just appears that way. I personally would rather be in that industry (it pays more!). Good luck on your continued success!

I've been in advertising for over 25 years, and am also now trying to get into pharma sales. I'm a 49 year old male.
Despite my age, I just had two phone interviews this week with two different pharma companies and both went well. A good candidate is a good candidate, regardless of age.
I do want to get into medical device sales, but its been impossible so far. I think it'll be easier to get into pharma and then move to medical device down the road (although SOME medical device companies will NOT hire pharma reps, as they don't consider it selling. However, many WILL hire pharma reps).
I'm not sure of this training however. I've networked with many recruiters and reps in the industry and almost NONE have heard of it. Keep in mind, that NAPR people are on this site and making a lot of these posts to get you to spend your money on the training. Contact hiring managers and people in the industry and ask them for yourself, rather than trust what someone here posts.

I just called Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Novartis human resources and they verified that they have had contracts with the NAPRx. I have also been interviewing and yes it will take an excellent personality or sales experience in addition to the NAPRx training. I found the NAPRx training to very advantageous. The NAPRX was on the cover of PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVE magazine in November 2008, go look yourself at www.pharmrep.com Goes to almost every rep in the industry!!! Also, by the way I do not work for the NAPRX.

I called the NAPRx 800# today to ask a couple questions and the number was disconnected. I also sent an e-mail and received no reply. I was wondering why because I am very interested in the CNPR program but now I am a little sketchy because of the no answers & the disconnected line. Please help.

You got me worried, you obviously called the wrong phone number. There toll free numbers work fine and talked to Anne at extension 106 and Brad at extension 104. They mentioned no phone interruption. I also emailed at questions@napsronline.org and received a response right away.

It seems that there is more misinformation being spread here. Time to set the record straight.

Mike in DC said: “CNPR® Pharmaceutical Sales Certification is the college accredited healthcare industry assurance that an individual has met rigorous, peer-developed and reviewed standards endorsed by a national professional body -- National Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives®.”

Neither NAPSRx (aka NAPRx) nor the CNPR program is accredited by any college or university.

Mike then adds: “The CNPR® program is the only accredited vocational pharmaceutical sales training course in the United States which is dedicated to helping those enter a career in pharmaceutical sales.”

Accredited by who? I am not aware of any accreditation for NAPSRx. Please enlighten us.

Mike also made numerous other dubious claims in his post.

Eric Lopicolo in Ballwin, Missouri stated that, “I am sure that these universities would not over (sic) the program if it was not helping the majority of their students.”

It is unlikely that the universities are aware of the contents of this program. The schools that offer the NAPSR course have contracted with a third-party company named Gatlin Education Services to provide a package of continuing education courses for members of their community. That package includes the NAPSR course. The universities offer them as a service to the community and, face it, as a way to make more money. It implies no approval, accreditation, endorsement, or validation of these courses by said universities. The courses are not even designed by the university faculty.

Lisa Bauer in Marietta, Georgia stated that: “The NAPRX and its programs (CNPR) were on the cover of Pharmaceutical Representative magazine in November 2008.”

This is extreme misinformation. NAPSRx (aka NAPRx) was NOT on the cover of Pharmaceutical Representative magazine. Here is a link to the November 2008 cover:

pharmrep.findpharma.com/pharmrep/issue/issueDetail.jsp?id=16263

I don’t see NAPSRx on the cover. Unless that cover is a metaphor for NAPSRx getting tangled up by all the misinformation posted here.

Lisa then repeated this misinformation later: “The NAPRX was on the cover of PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVE magazine in November 2008, go look yourself at www.pharmrep.com.”

I looked. I did not see.

I have been interviewing with Novartis for a pharmaceutical sales position and the District Manager wants me to get my CNPR to move forward. Should I take it at a university or by correspondence?

Someone emailed these posts, See details from cover article in Pharmaceutical Representative magazine. The article is certainly there:

While pharma sources express distaste for the bill, they also acknowledge that many of its most controversial aspects were taken out of earlier versions. Provisions is some drafts would have required advanced degrees for all new drug reps, or even possible jail time for violators. Aggressive lobbying by NAPRx and other industry groups helped to water down some of the provisions, even as they expressed their dislike of the proposed legislation.

"Sales representatives will soon have to take time away from their jobs to be trained on how to comply with this redundant state regulation," says Brad Sulivan NAPSRx's education compliance director.

NAPRx was not alone in expressing concern. Recently, John Lechleiter, CEO of Eli Lilly & Co., warned a Boston business group that the new law would "scare away" life science investment in research and development, suggesting that pharma companies would move, or decide to locate research facilities elsewhere if some of the law's provisions were enacted.

In the opinion of NAPRx at least, the law is the most "anti-pharma" state legislation to date, although it has yet to be implemented. Among its many provisions, the law requires the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to create a marketing code of conduct that would cover sales reps. The code is required to be at least as restrictive as the PhRMA and AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology) codes of conduct. The Massachusetts law requires pharma companies to adopt the state code, train their employees in compliance with the code and submit an annual compliance audit to state officials.

NAPRx works directly with PhRMA to lobby against federal and state regulations for pharmaceutical sales reps. The NAPRx is the largest trade associaton for pharmaceutical reps in the U.S. with over 51,000 members.

Here is the link for the article

pharmrep.findpharma.com/pharmrep/Selling+to+Physicians/Do-sunshine-laws-add-transparency-or-just-red-tape/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/566369

Lisa Bauer said:

"I am making over $125k a year and do not work over 40 hours a week and receive a check every month for all of my business expenses. It is unheard of in this industry to pay for your own expenses. Who did you work for?"

Then Lisa Bauer said:

"I just called Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Novartis human resources and they verified that they have had contracts with the NAPRx. I have also been interviewing and yes it will take an excellent personality or sales experience in addition to the NAPRx training. I found the NAPRx training to very advantageous. The NAPRX was on the cover of PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVE magazine in November 2008, go look yourself at www.pharmrep.com Goes to almost every rep in the industry!!! Also, by the way I do not work for the NAPRX."

Why are you interviewing? Sounds like you have it made.

Editor-Pharm Rep Magazine stated, "Someone emailed these posts, See details from cover article in Pharmaceutical Representative magazine. The article is certainly there:"

(followed by quotes from article)

Yes, there is an article about sunshine laws in that particular issue of PharmRep. And yes, there are a few quotes attributed to NAPSRx (aka NAPRx) within that article. However, the article is not ABOUT NAPSRx. And those few quotes hardly validates Lisa Bauer in Marietta, Georgia saying that "The NAPRX and its programs (CNPR) were on the cover of Pharmaceutical Representative magazine in November 2008."

And I find it hard to believe that the editor of Pharmaceutical Representative magazine (Reid Paul) is on here shilling for NAPSRx, even taking the time to paste in specific quotes from an article. So if it's not really the editor of PharmRep posting, then who would be on here pretending to be the editor of PharmRep posting favorable words about NAPSRx?

I want to obtain my CNPR training at a college here in South Florida. Does anyone know of universities in the area that offer the CNPR Certification.

Abbey in Fort Lauderdale, Florida said: I want to obtain my CNPR training at a college here in South Florida. Does anyone know of universities in the area that offer the CNPR Certification.

Why do you want to go thru a college?

I took this coarse two years ago and subscribed to the magazine. I applied for many jobs and never got a call. I figured the coarse and company was a scam because I have 18 years of Medical experience and almost 18 years of sales. I never got one single response from anyone. I have now sent two e-mails to the company requesting a copy of my certificate and pass word so that I can continue to look for a position and no one is responding. Is this a real company?

Cathy796

I took the coarse two years ago and never did find a job in Pharmacuetical sales. I have e-mailed this company several times and have tried to call and can not get anyone to anwser the phone. It is all automated. I don't know if this company is a scame. Seems that I spent a lot of money for nothing. Has anyone else had any luck with this company placing them in a job after training.?

Cathy

You should have received a certificate when you passed the test. Even though you have this certification you still have to have a great resume and cover letter, maybe that's why you're not hearing from anyone?

Yes, I did receive a certificate, I have just now requested another copy of it and my resume is pretty impressive. Did you take the coarse and were you able to be placed? If so, how long did it take you? Do you have a College Degree? It seems that with the growth in this industry that it would not be so hard to break in. Thanks for your reply and help.

Cathy

Does anyone know if it is better to take the course at an university or through the NAPRx system?I am trying to decide and would love to input. Thanks!

I have not taken the course but have been looking at it for some time. I had a hiring manager from Pfizer tell me it was worthless, but I can't believe that any education in the area is worthless, especially if you don't have a science degree or pharmacology training. There have been others here that have posted that they were requested to get the certification after being offered a job. But I don't know all the details about how they got hired prior to getting the cert.

Yes, I have a degree, but I am moving towards Medical Device sales instead of pharma. There is also a certification you can get for Med Dev sales and I'm going to do that. I have 8 years of sales experience, B2B.

What medical experience do you have?

Where do you get the medical device sales certificate?

I received my CNPR in November 2008 and was successful in landing a position in pharmaceutical sales. I work at Sanofi-Aventis and they were very impressed with my Certification and credentials.

The Medical Device certification is from the National Association of Medical Sales Representatives (NAMSR). It's very similar to the pharma cert, but it does list everything you will have to learn in the course. Very intense, I'd say.

Good luck to you!

I took the CNPR program and passed it in 2008. I received some interviews right away because of having the CNPR on my resume. I was moving quite well through th interview process with 2 pharmaceutical companies. Unfortunately, my mother became ill and I had to move to Florida to help her. I started back up with the interviews in February 2009 and I was just offered a job today with Astellas Pharmaceuticals. I was doing a google search for my CNPR # and found this blog link. I can tell you from experience that I would recommend the CNPR program to anyone who wants to get into pharmaceutical sales and lacks a solid pharmaceutical and/or medical background. I am living proof that it worked for me. See you in the sales field.

Hi Jim,

Thank you for the reply. I did take the coarse but have not had any luck in landing a job. Any Hints to success? I am willing to re-locate as well.

Cathy