Medical Representatives are field sales representatives who act as the link between pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and Doctors. Medical representatives or MR’s provides their services in terms of selling and marketing a company’s medicines with doctors. At present India has more than 6,00,000 medical representatives of which one-sixth of them hold a background in management education.
In order to become a medical representative, candidates should have basic knowledge of drugs, medical equipment, and medicines. Students aspiring to become medical representatives can also pursue undergraduate or postgraduate Pharmacy Courses or Medical Courses from some of the top Pharmacy Colleges across the country. Admissions to these colleges are done on the basis of Pharmacy Entrance Exams such as GPAT, DIPSAR, MHT CET etc. Also Read: Medical Representative Qualifications
Many pharmaceutical companies hire and train medical representatives on their own terms so there is no cost incurred by the candidate. Some of the top pharmaceutical companies that hire medical representatives are Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Abbott, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Cipla, etc.
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Table of Contents
- How to Become a Medical Representative: Quick Facts
- Role of Medical Representatives
- How to Become Medical Representative in India
2.1 How to Become a Medical Representative After 12th
3.1 B.Sc.
3.2 M.Sc.
3.3 B.Pharm
4.1 Australia
4.2 UK
4.3 USA
4.3 Canada
- Benefits of Becoming Medical Representative
- Skills Required to Become a Medical Representative
- Salary of Medical Representative
8.2 Experience Wise
Medical Representatives: Quick Facts
| Industry | Healthcare |
| Eligibility | Graduation in any Discipline with at least 50% in Graduation. |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 1,80,000 |
| Job Opportunity | Area Manager, Regional Manager, Divisional Sales Manager, Deputy Sales Manager, Product Manager, Marketing Manager |
Role of Medical Representatives
- Role of Medical representative is to serve as a link between the Pharmaceutical Company and Doctors.
- They inform doctors about the products of their company and recommend them to doctors. MR provides their services in terms of selling and marketing a company’s medicines with doctors.
- Apart from Selling Medicines, an MR can also prescribe Drugs and Medical Equipment to Doctors, Hospitals, Laboratories, etc.
- In order to be qualified for the Medical Representative role, a candidate should have basic knowledge of Drugs, Medical Equipment, and Medicines.
How to Become a Medical Representative in India
To be a Medical Representative one should have basic knowledge of the Medical Representative profession. A person can choose to be in the Medical Representative field after Graduation or Post-Graduation.
- School Level Preparation: To become a Medical representative there is no set of syllabus or subjects to be chosen from but the candidates having a background with Biology and Chemistry as a subject are always considered.
How to Become a Medical Representative After 12th
The steps that are essentially to be followed to become a Medical Representative after clearing class 12th board exams are listed below,
- UG Preperation: A candidate can become Medical Representative after completing Graduation. to get in, a Medical Representative candidate should have basic knowledge of the field.
- PG Preparation: A candidate can choose to become Medical Representative after completing his Post-Graduation in Healthcare, Life Sciences, Management, or any relevant field.
Pharmacy Courses
Anyone with UG Degree in any field can become MR but students with medical background are preferred.
BSc
B.Sc is a 3-year UG course that contains varied fields such as Physics, Zoology, B.Sc., Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, etc. B.Sc. is an ideal choice for most of the students and is a gateway to many careers.
Admission Process
Admission to B.Sc. Courses are done via Merit based as well as Entrance Exam Based and that depends on colleges. Some colleges offer admission on the basis of marks obtained in 10+2.
Entrance Exam
Though there is no single national level entrance exam for B.Sc. however some colleges take their own entrance exam. Some of which are GITAM SAT, BHU UET, AMUEE. Let’s see the details of GITAM GAT and BHU UET.
GITAM GAT
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Date | December 5, 2022 – March 26, 2023 |
| Date of Exam | March 31 – April 3, 2023 |
| Date of Result | To be Notified |
B.Sc. Eligibility
- Candidates must have completed 10+2 with at least 50% marks in 10+2.
- Candidates should have studied Chemistry, Physics, and Biology in their 10+2.
M.Sc.
M.Sc. is a 2-year PG course that contains varied fields such as Physics, Zoology, B.Sc., Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, etc. M.Sc. is an ideal choice for most of the students and is a gateway to many careers.
Admission Process
Admission to M.Sc. Courses are done via Merit based as well as Entrance Exam Based and that depends on colleges. Some colleges offer admission on the basis of marks obtained in B.Sc.
Entrance Exam
Though there is no single national level entrance exam for M.Sc. however some colleges take their own entrance exam. Some of which are IIT JAM, IGNOU Entrance Test, IPU CET, DUET. Let’s see the details of DUET and IIT JAM
DUET
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Date | February 10 – March 12, 2023 |
| Admit Card Release Date | May 2023 |
| Date of Exam | May 21 – 31, 2023 |
| Date of Result | To be Notified |
B.Pharm
BPharm is a 4-year UG course that gives students the knowledge on preparing drugs, Dispensing medicines, etc. Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry, Physiology, Human Anatomy, etc. are some of the subjects taught in B.Pharm.
Admission Process
Admission to B.Pharm. Courses are done via Merit based as well as Entrance Exam Based (which is followed by Personal Interview) and that depends on colleges. Some colleges offer admission on the basis of marks obtained in 10+2.
Entrance Exam
Though there is no single national level entrance exam for B.Pharm. However, some colleges take their own entrance exam. Some of which are BIT SAT, IPU CET, MET, etc. Let’s see the details of BIT SAT and IPU CET.
BIT SAT
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Date | January 31 – April 9, 2023 |
| Admit Card Release Date |
May 10, 2023 Onwards |
| Date of Exam |
May 22 – 26, 2023 |
| Date of Result | To be Notified |
How to become a Medical Representative Abroad
As there is no prescribed course for Medical Representative, Students from any background can become Medical representative but students from Medical Background are always preferred.
Australia
Australia provides unique teaching style and educational experience which focuses on creativity and innovative thinking to its students.
- Admission Process: Admission in B.Sc. courses of an Australian university are done on the basis of IELTS score which should be greater than 7.
- Educational Requirement: For the UG course a candidate should have completed 10+2 from a recognized board with at least 70% in 10+2. PG candidates should have completed graduation in B.Sc. with at least 65% in Graduation.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| The University of Melbourne | INR 43.70 L |
| The University of Sydney | INR 40 L |
| RMIT University | INR 17.30 L |
| The University of Queensland, | INR 38.50 L |
| Monash University | INR 33.33 L |
| Deakin University | INR 27.80 L |
| Macquarie University | INR 21.10 L |
| The University of Adelaide | INR 32.60 L |
| Griffith University | INR 24.60 L |
| La Trobe University | INR 32.30 L |
UK
The UK is the second most popular destination worldwide for international students. It provides modern facilities found in the universities to add up to the complete study experience for the international students.
- Admission Process: BBB to AAA are the requirements for entry into B.Sc. courses of UK
- Educational Requirement: For the UG course a candidate should have completed 10+2 from a recognized board with at least 70% in 10+2. PG candidates should have completed graduation in B.Sc. with at least 65% in Graduation.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| University of Greenwich | INR 18.80 L |
| Teesside University | INR 15.50 L |
| University of East London | INR 18.70 L |
| University of Manchester | INR 34.30 L |
| King's College London | INR 34.60 L |
| University of Leeds | INR 30.80 L |
| University College London | INR 36.70 L |
| University of Birmingham | INR 32.50 L |
| Imperial College London | INR 40.70 L |
| Anglia Ruskin University | INR 20.60 L |
USA
The BSc course in the USA is also referred to as a pre-medical course. After completion, students have to apply for a residency program based on their choice of specialization.
- Admission Process: Admission in B.Sc. courses of US university are done on the basis of IELTS score which should be greater than 6.5.
- Educational Requirement: For the UG course a candidate should have completed 10+2 from a recognized board with at least 70% in 10+2. PG candidates should have completed graduation in B.Sc. with at least 65% in Graduation.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| Harvard University | INR 59.80 L |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | INR 56.50 L |
| Stanford University | INR 61.60 L |
| California State University Los Angeles Campus | INR 25.10 L |
| New York University | INR 52.80 L |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | INR 29.10 L |
| University of California - Berkeley Campus | INR 34.70 L |
| Columbia University | INR 63.10 L |
| University of Texas at Arlington | INR 32.10 L |
| Texas A & M University, | INR 42.20 L |
Canada
Canada offers admissions to students on the basis of their academic capabilities. They are less concerned with personal characteristics and more concerned with grades and test scores.
- Admission Process: Admission in B.Sc. courses of Canada university are done on the basis of IELTS score which should be greater than 6.5.
- Educational Requirement: For the UG course a candidate should have completed 10+2 from a recognized board with at least 70% in 10+2.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto | INR 33.60 L |
| University of Alberta | INR 22.90 L |
| The University of British Columbia | INR 15.20 L |
| McGill University | INR 21.60 L |
| University of Windsor | INR 22.80 L |
| University of Waterloo | INR 23.60 L |
| University of Calgary | INR 19.90 L |
| University of Manitoba | INR 17.50 L |
| Thompson Rivers University, | INR 14.20 L |
| Dalhousie University | INR 18.40 L |
Benefits of becoming a Medical Representative
Medical Representative can be a cumbersome profession at first but after diving into this field one can experience the benefits of being a Medical Representative. The benefits of being a Medical representative are stated below.
- Salary: The average starting salary of a Medical Representative is INR 1,80,000 per annum. However it will grow as per their capabilities and knowledge.
- Job Security: The job of a Medical Representative does not guarantee any security but candidates showing the desired skills and expertise are always on the safer side.
- Positive Impact of the Career: A Medical Representative is one of the respected professions with having a chance to learn the most innovative and recent medical advances. As Medicines are always in need, the medical representative profession can never be out of the profession.
- Higher Studies: Medical Representatives can choose to pursue higher studies in the field of pharmacy or Management. An MR can choose to do an MBA.
- Unique Experience: While working as an MR can learn the most innovative and recent advances in the field of healthcare.
Skills Required to Become a Medical Representative
Following are some of the skills to be a successful Medical Representative.
| Communication Skills | Patience |
| Medicinal Knowledge | Listening Skills |
| Computer Knowledge | Presentation Skill |
Salary of Medical Representative
The salary of a Medical Representative can be competitive in the initial stages as the salary mainly depends on the performance of the candidate. The average salary can range between INR 2,00,000 to INR 5,00,000.
Average Annual Salary
| Name of Organisation | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Govt | INR 2.20 – 4 L |
| Private | INR 3 – 5 L |
Experience Wise
| Experience | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fresher | INR 1.80 L |
| Experienced | INR 5.75 L |
How to Become a Medical Representative: FAQs
Ques. What are the Qualities of a Medical Representative?
Ans. Product Awareness, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Time Management, Selling Skills are some of the Qualities of a Medical Representative.
Ques. What is the role of MR in Healthcare?
Ans. MR is an Important link between a pharma company and doctors. They are responsible for increasing brand awareness as well as product awareness.
Ques. What are the career Prospects of a Medical Representative?
Ans. On gaining experience candidates can rise to the position of Area Manager, District Manager, Product Manager, Marketing Manager, etc.
Ques. How is the Medical Representative profession?
Ans. If you have the desire and feel like you have the quality of selling and have all skills to be a good medical representative then this field is one of the best fields as this field will never be out of business and will be always in demand as companies will always look for Medical Representatives to marketize their product.
Ques. What are the companies that recruit Medical representatives?
Ans. Some of the top Pharmaceutical companies that hire Medical Representatives are Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Abbott, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Cipla, Lupin, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Mankind Pharma, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, IPCA Laboratories, and Hetero Drugs.
Ques. Which books can I refer to for being a successful Medical Representative?
Ans. Following are the books you can refer to for being a successful Medical Representative
- Mastering the Complex Sale Second Edition by Jeff Thull
- How to Master the Art of Selling by Tommy Hopkins
- The Pharmaceutical Sales Representative Handbook: A Field Handbook for All Current and Future Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives by Todd Bearden and Larry Martin
- Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Ques. What are the advantages of being a Medical Representative?
Ans. Medical Representatives have the potential of earning high. They will get to travel, faster promotions if the performance is good, they will get to know the recent and innovative advances in the medical field.
Ques. What are the subjects taught in the Medical Representation field?
Ans. Candidates are taught about communication, Pharmaceutical Products, Human Anatomy, Pharmacology, Therapeutic Drugs, IT, and Computational Skills.
Ques. What is the duration of the Medical Representative course?
Ans. The duration of the course depends on the type of course chosen. Certificate course can be of 3 to 6 Months while a diploma can be of 6 months to 1 Year.
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