Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

1. Field of work and areas of responsibility 

Certified pharmaceutical sales representatives are qualified to

• provide health care professionals with complete information about pharmaceuticals in a competent and critical manner, taking the relevant legislation into account; and to 
• document communications by health care professionals about side-effects, contraindications and other risks of pharmaceuticals and inform their companies accordingly in writing.
  

2. Occupational skills 

Certified pharmaceutical sales representatives are qualified to

• apply basic medical and scientific knowledge to issues of pharmacology and pharmacotherapy,
• indicate possible pharmacotherapies for specific clinical syndromes and courses of disease,
• provide information about pharmaceuticals, in particular explain and communicate their effectiveness, therapeutic mechanisms, bioavailability, risks, undesirable effects and interactions as well as recommendations for use,
• act in accordance with German Drug Law and with due regard to other relevant provisions and take up, document and pass on in writing any reference to risks, side-effects, interactions and contraindications, 
• communicate competently and make targeted use of information technologies and media when providing advice,  
• pay attention to the structure and framework conditions of the health sector and the relevant market when providing advice,
• use marketing instruments while taking the special features of the pharmaceuticals market and general legal conditions into account.
  

3. Skills accreditation 

According to the Federal Government regulations of 26 June 2007 (Federal Law Gazette BGBl. Part I p. 1192), the certified pharmaceutical sales representative must have demonstrated the skills listed in section 2 above in an examination administered under public law with a focus on practical application and job-related skills. A certificate is awarded on passing the examination.

4. Examination requirements 

Before sitting the examination for certified pharmaceutical sales representative, the candidates must have completed vocational training in a relevant recognized occupation followed by at least two years' relevant work experience or furnish evidence of a comparable qualification, and must have completed a further training course pursuant to section 3 of the regulations governing further vocational training as a certified pharmaceutical sales representative.

Last modified on: December 15, 2008