NOAH Certificate of Animal Health
(formerly AMTRA Marketing Authorisation Holders Representatives Scheme)
Background to the NOAH
Certificate of Animal Health
The Animal Medicines Industry has long recognised the
need to train those people that work within it. Since 1974, NOAH's
Code of Practice has required staff to be
trained.
In addition to manufacturing companies' own training
scheme for their sales teams, it was decided that an independent industry
qualification be established to reassure their customers, regulatory
authorities and the government that animal medicines were being sold in a
responsible way.
Therefore, in 1991, NOAH and
AMTRA launched the
qualification - The Animal Medicine Manufacturers' Sales Staff Register.
This was drawn up to ensure that all manufacturing companies'
representatives undergo thorough training and possess sufficient veterinary
and technical knowledge to present information on the company's products in
an accurate and responsible manner. This was later renamed as the Marketing
Authorisation Holders (MAH) Representatives Scheme.
It is a requirement of NOAH membership and participation
in the NOAH
Compendium that all companies' sales representatives involved in the
direct technical selling of medicines (other than those on free sale) are on
the Register and take the examination within two years of joining the
industry.
There is a training manual, the content of which is
relevant to all classes of product for large and companion animal use. This
Training Manual provides information on animal production and physiology,
animal health, and animal medicine legislation with the facility for some
specialisation towards the detail of relevant sectors.
From November 2010 maintenance of the register of
animal health representatives previously registered with AMTRA under the MAH
scheme switched to NOAH, who co-ordinate the register and
arrangements for training courses and examinations.
All holders of an MAH qualification automatically qualify
for the NOAH Certificate of Animal Health (NCAH).
This change has no impact on AMTRA's activities in
relation to SQPs,
(Suitably Qualified Persons) including accreditation of CPD for SQPs which will continue to be done by
AMTRA.
Rules and fee structure for NOAH Certificate
of Animal Health
(i)
All persons
employed in the direct technical selling of veterinary medicines are
required to acquire the NOAH Certificate of Animal Health as detailed in
clause 14.1 of the NOAH Code of Practice for the promotion of animal
medicines. Individuals who hold a degree in veterinary medicine and who are
eligible to enter the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons register are not
required to sit the examination to remain on the register. Holders of other
relevant degrees will not receive exemptions from sitting the examination as
a result of having these qualifications.
(ii)
In normal
circumstances, representatives are required to attempt the examination
within 2 years of joining the animal medicines industry. They must pass the
examination within 3 years of joining the animal medicines industry.
(iii)
If a
grandfather qualified representative, allows their register entry to lapse,
by not paying the annual registration fee, they are not required to sit and
pass the NCAH examination in order to re-join and remain on the NOAH
register of representatives.
(iv)
If an individual
who has passed the examination (under the auspices of AMTRA or under the
NCAH scheme), or a grandfather qualified representative, allows their
qualification to lapse, they will not be required to re-sit the examination
in order to rejoin the register. They will be required to pay a‘re-registration’
fee. This fee will be double the registration fee for the calendar year in
question. This rule will be enforced from 01/01/2012 onwards.
(v)
NOAH will not
release information to member companies on whether an individual has
obtained the NOAH Certificate of Animal Health without first receiving the
written (or e-mail consent) of the individual to this information being
released. Data protection rules will be fully applied to the information
that NOAH holds in relation to the NCAH.
(vi)
Fee structure
(based on fees at the time of writing in December 2011)
a.
Enrolment fee:
£275. This will cover entry on the register until the end of the calendar
year in which the enrolment is made, the examination fee and the cost of the
training manual and access to the Harper Adams ‘moodle’.
b.
Annual
registration fee- payable by both students and representatives who have
passed the examination. At the time of writing this fee is £51 per annum.
c.
Examination
re-sit fee: Should an individual fail the NCAH examination and wishes to
re-sit the exam, a re-sit fee of £150 will be payable.
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November 2011- new NCAH syllabus
A new study framework has been developed in conjunction
with Harper Adams University College. This framework is comprised of a suite
of eight modules, with candidates having the opportunity to select which
modules they wish to study in addition to the core NCAH: Foundation module.
It is hoped that by using this approach, the studies undertaken by
candidates can be more focused towards the work they undertake on a day to
day basis. The new modules will be examined for the first time in May 2012.
The current, ‘old’ syllabus will be examined for the last time at the
January 2012 examination session.
1. Enrolling with NOAH:
When a candidate enrols on the NCAH, they need to
complete a NCAH enrolment form and pay the enrolment fee to NOAH. This
completed form must then be sent to the NOAH office. On completion of this
form, they will be entered on to the NCAH Register of representatives (with
a ‘student’ status) and they will be sent the full set of the training
manual syllabus, consisting of all 8 modules and an (ID) card with their
Register entry number. Harper Adams will also provide you with access to
their Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) known as ‘The Learning Hub’. This
interactive online resource will contain additional tools to assist you with
your studies.
2. Choosing modules:
Candidates are required to consider the module options
and decide which of them they aim to achieve. Each module has been allocated
a credit value and all students must achieve a minimum of 30 credits
(including NCAH: Foundation module) to be awarded the professional NCAH. The
options are outlined as follows;
Group A- Compulsory (15 credits at Higher Education
level 5)
Group B- All candidates must select 1 module only
to study and be assessed in (each worth 10 credits at Higher Education level
5)
-
NCAH: Farm Animal Health Module NCAH
-
Equine Management & Health Module NCAH
-
Companion Animal Management & Health Module
Group C- All candidates must select 1 module only
to study and be assessed in (each worth 5 credits at Higher Education level
5)
-
NCAH: Anaesthesiology Module
-
NCAH Equine Parasitology Module
-
NCAH: Exotic Species and Small Mammal Management & Health
Module
-
NCAH: The Use of Antimicrobials in Veterinary Medicine
The total NCAH qualification is worth 30 academic
credits. Candidates are required to obtain these 30 credits by sitting and
passing the foundation module (15), one module from group B (10) and 1
module from Group C (5).
A diagram demonstrating the structure of the new syllabus
can be accessed here.
3. Assessment:
Assessment on all of the modules will be by way of
written examinations. The written examinations will take place at Harper
Adams University College, which is in Newport, Shropshire. The dates for
2012 are listed below.
The pass mark for the written examinations will be 40%.
Candidates will be required to achieve the required pass mark of 40% in each
module they are being examined to achieve the NCAH. If a candidate is
unsuccessful in one module and passes the other two, they will be
re-assessed in that module only.
Candidates will also be required to pass a professional ‘viva
voce’ verbal examination. This examination will be based on the modules
that candidates have studied. Candidates may be asked questions about any
aspect of the modules they have been examined on. The questions in the
viva may be based on the sections in the written papers that candidates
did not perform well in and may also have an emphasis on legislative and
Code of Practice requirements e.g. pharmacovigilance requirements, standards
in promotion of medicines, authorisation process for medicines.
4. Training:
Professional short courses will take place at Harper
Adams University College. The details of the training courses for 2012 can
be accessed here. Attendance at the
training course is not a mandatory requirement i.e. a candidate can choose
to prepare for the examination entirely by self-study if they wish. The
training and examination dates for all modules including optional modules
can be accessed here.
Training will be run on the basis that group sizes meet
or exceed minimum numbers, therefore be demand led. An overview of the
frequency of the training courses is as follows;
-
NCAH: Foundation Module - 3 day course will take place 4
times per year
-
NCAH: Farm Animal Health Module - 2 day course will take
place 2 times per year
-
NCAH: Equine Management & Health Module -2 day course
will take place 2 times per year
-
NCAH: Companion Animal Management & Health Module - 2 day
course will take place 4 times per year
-
NCAH: Anaesthesiology Module - 1 day course will take
place if there is sufficient interest
-
NCAH: Equine Parasitology Module - 1 day course will take
place if there is sufficient interest
-
NCAH: Exotic Species and Small Mammal Management & Health
Module - 1 day course will take place if there is sufficient interest
-
NCAH: The Use of Antimicrobials in Veterinary Medicine - 1
day course will take place if there is sufficient interest.
5. Informing Harper Adams about your choice of
modules and registering for training courses
Each candidate will receive a hard copy of the entire
training manual, containing all 8 modules i.e. the entire syllabus,
including the sections they do not intend to study. Candidates will be
required to select 1 module from both Group B and Group C. Candidates are
required to complete a form
advising Harper Adams of their module choices. When completed, this form should be sent to Harper Adams, not the NOAH
office.
Key contact at Harper Adams: Hannah Williams, Project
Officer; telephone 01952 815485 or 815042 and e-mail
hwilliams@harper-adams.ac.uk
The same form will also allow you to register for face to face
professional short courses at Harper Adams for any of the modules you intend
to study. The registration, payment and all arrangements for these courses
are handled by the Short Courses office at Harper Adams.
Queries can be directed to Donal Murphy (d.murphy@noah.co.uk
) or Jenny Townsend (j.townsend@noah.co.uk ).
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Online Virtual
Learning Environment (Moodle)
Harper Adams has a Virtual Learning Environment called
The Learning Hub which is a web based learning resource used to support the
academic programmes.
The pre-requisites in order to gain access to The
Learning Hub are:
-
professional registration with NOAH, and
-
a completed student registration form submitted to
Harper Adams as detailed above.
Access is by means of a username and password issued by
Harper Adams and on first log in to the system, users will be required to
read and agree to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy before they can view
any learning materials.
As with other similar programmes, students will be
notified by Harper Adams of their login details by letter (that could
alternatively be sent by e-mail).
If you have any queries, please contact Hannah Williams,
Project Officer, Harper Adams University; telephone 01952 815485 or 815042,
e-mail
hwilliams@harper-adams.ac.uk
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Enrolment and exam booking forms
Candidates are required to register with NOAH in order
to receive a training manual and to be registered as students on the NOAH
Marketing Authorisation Holders’ representatives database. Please use the
above form and submit this to the NOAH office.
Candidates are now required to register for courses
and examinations with Harper Adams University College. They can do this using the above
form.
When registering using this form, candidates are also required to select
which optional modules they wish to be examined on. The
deadline for registering for examinations is 1 month before the examination
takes place. Please note that this form must be sent to Harper Adams and not
the NOAH office.
Key contact at Harper Adams: Hannah Williams, Project
Officer; telephone 01952 815485 or 815042 and e-mail
hwilliams@harper-adams.ac.uk
For more information on the NCAH, to enrol individuals or
to book exams, please contact Jenny Townsend at NOAH on 020 8367 3131, fax
020 8363 1155, or email
j.townsend@noah.co.uk
2012 exam and course dates
- Training: 9-13th January 2012, Assessment: 26-27th January 2012
- Training: 26-30th March 2012, Assessment: 3-4th May 2012
- Training: 16-20th July 2012, Assessment: 30-31st July 2012
- Training: 10-14th September 2012, Assessment: 24-25th September 2012
Harper Adams University College currently run training
courses on the syllabus as well as hosting the examinations. The training
course usually takes place 10-14 days before the examination takes place.
The training and examination dates for all modules
including optional modules can be
accessed here.
PLEASE NOTE THAT CANDIDATES WISHING TO ATTEND THE
TRAINING COURSE MUST REGISTER ON THE COURSE CONTACTING HARPER ADAMS DIRECT.
PLEASE CONTACT THE HARPER ADAMS SHORT COURSES OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION;
http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/shortcourses/
Telephone: +44 (0)1952 815 324
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Press releases
3 January 2012 -
'NOAH launches syllabus for animal
health sales staff exam'
15 April 2011 - 'NOAH Silver
Anniversary Dinner awards for top MAH students'
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