Medical Science Liaison Society

What Medical Science Liaison Society does

The Medical Science Liaison Society (MSL Society) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to advancing the global Medical Science Liaison profession. Operating out of Miami, Florida, the organization serves two interlocking audiences: individual MSL professionals (aspiring, current, and in leadership roles) and the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies that employ them. As of the available data, it has trained MSL teams for 80+ life-sciences companies across 20+ countries and its CEO reports operations spanning 60+ countries; the organization itself is small (1–10 employees) and runs on a content- and event-driven operating model.

The Society's product surface centers on the MSL-BC (Medical Science Liaison – Board Certification) — the only board certification credential for MSLs — plus a deep catalog of IACET-accredited training programs delivered live virtually via Zoom and asynchronously through a CrowdWisdom-powered eLearning platform. Training topics span MSL onboarding, presentation and communication skills, KOL engagement and objection management, HEOR, research-paper evaluation, executive presence, and AI fluency. Adjacent products include the MSL Journal, annual global salary and benchmarking surveys, COVID-19 impact research, the MSL Mentor Program, an MSL Career Center job board, an Annual Conference (with MSL of the Year Awards), International MSL Day, books authored by CEO Dr. Samuel Dyer, and merchandise sold through a dedicated online store.

The business model is a multi-stream professional-society revenue mix. Recurring annual membership (multiple tiers for professionals and emerging-country users) provides a subscription base; customized enterprise team training generates professional-services revenue; MSL-BC certification exam fees ($300–$550 depending on membership status) and a triennial recertification cycle yield one-time-but-recurring testing income; and conference attendance, merchandise, and book sales contribute supplementary one-time revenue. Pricing is geographically tiered between Established and Emerging Countries, and team discounts are available for groups of 2+. Go-to-market is dual-channel: self-serve enrollment for individuals (eLearning, membership, certification, store) and direct sales for enterprise customized training, supported by an event- and content-led marketing apparatus spanning LinkedIn, the MSL Journal, webinars, and the annual conference.

Name

Medical Science Liaison Society

Legal name

Medical Science Liaison Society

Website

https://themsls.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Medical Science Liaison Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit exclusively advancing the global MSL profession through IACET-accredited training, the MSL-BC Board Certification, original research, and the MSL Journal, serving MSL professionals and pharmaceutical/biotech/medical device companies across 60+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Affairs Professional Training and Certification

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Affairs Scientific Communications (MSL Support/Scientific Response) (HLAGALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI), Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC)

Keywords

• Professional training programs
• Board certification services
• Membership association services
• Medical affairs education
• Pharmaceutical industry research

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to exclusive resources, global member directory, benchmarking reports, webinar recordings, and conference presentations. Multiple membership levels including professional and emerging country tiers.
2. Training Programs: Revenue from open-enrollment and customized team training programs. Pricing varies by region (Established vs Emerging Countries) and membership status. Includes live virtual training via Zoom and in-person programs.
3. MSL-BC Certification Exam: Certification exam fees. Non-members pay $550 USD first attempt, $400 USD retake. Members pay $450 USD first attempt, $300 USD retake. Certification is valid for 3 years.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of MSL Society merchandise and professional development books through the online store, including the MSL Career Guide and Job Tracking Journal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Medical Science Liaison Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sells IACET-accredited MSL and Medical Affairs training programs (customized corporate engagements and open-enrollment virtual courses), the MSL-BC Board Certification exam, and annual membership subscriptions. It also publishes the MSL Journal, annual salary and compensation surveys, benchmarking reports, mentor matching, a job board, and career guide books authored by its CEO, Dr. Samuel Dyer. Offerings are targeted at individual MSLs, aspiring MSLs, MSL managers, and pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies across more than 60 countries.

Product overview

The Medical Science Liaison Society operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services for MSL professionals. The core offerings include the MSL-BC (Medical Science Liaison - Board Certification), the only board certification for MSLs, alongside extensive training programs covering executive presence, AI relevance, KOL engagement, presentation skills, onboarding, and more. The organization publishes The MSL Journal, conducts annual Salary & Compensation Surveys, and provides membership services including a global directory, mentor program, career center, webinars, conferences, and books. Training programs are available as customized team training or open-enrollment virtual sessions, with IACET accreditation for CEUs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSL-BC Board Certification The only Board Certification program for Medical Science Liaisons, providing professional recognition through a rigorous proctored examination. Open to candidates with a Bachelor's degree and at least 1 year of MSL experience. Certification is valid for 3 years and requires recertification.
• MSL Society Membership Recurring annual professional membership granting access to exclusive resources, the global member directory, benchmarking reports, webinar recordings, conference presentations, and discounted training and certification pricing. Multiple membership levels are available, including professional tiers and emerging-country tiers.
• Customized Medical Affairs Team Training Tailored IACET-accredited MSL and Medical Affairs training engagements delivered for enterprise MSL teams. Programs cover onboarding, KOL engagement, presentation skills, insights gathering, HEOR, virtual engagement, and leadership development, and are delivered virtually or in-person at client locations in established and emerging countries.
• Staying Relevant and Effective as an MSL in the Era of AI Open-enrollment live virtual training program (delivered via Zoom) teaching MSLs how to confidently use AI to work smarter while strengthening human skills that technology cannot replace, including practical AI adoption strategies for MSL professionals.
• Executive Presence for Field Medical Affairs Professionals Live virtual training program equipping MSLs with executive presence skills for effective communication, credibility establishment, and maximizing impact with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs). Content covers gravitas, communication, behavioral presence, and scenario-based practice.
• Breaking Into the MSL Career eLearning Certificate Program Self-paced certificate eLearning program teaching aspiring professionals how to break into the MSL role, covering career transition strategies, industry knowledge, and interview preparation.
• Medical Affairs Foundation Training Program Certificate eLearning foundation training covering essential MSL competencies and Medical Affairs role requirements for new and aspiring field medical professionals.
• Advanced MSL Presentation & Communication Skills Training Open-enrollment training program on building relationships with Key Opinion Leaders, improving communication skills, and maximizing MSL performance during engagements.
• MSL Onboarding Training Program Open-enrollment training program designed for newly hired MSLs to accelerate onboarding and effectiveness in their role, covering essential competencies for new field medical professionals.
• Mastering Email Communications: Persuading KOLs to Meet with MSLs Open-enrollment training program teaching MSLs effective email communication strategies for persuading Key Opinion Leaders to engage and meet with them.
• HEOR for MSLs Training Open-enrollment training program on Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) designed to enhance scientific engagement and KOL discussions for MSL professionals.
• Mastering Conflict and Objection Management to Enhance KOL Relationships Open-enrollment training program equipping MSLs with the skills to manage conflicts and objections effectively during Key Opinion Leader interactions.
• How to Critically Evaluate a Research Paper Training Open-enrollment training program teaching MSLs the skills to critically analyze and evaluate scientific research papers during KOL discussions and scientific exchange.
• Annual Global MSL & Field Medical Affairs Salary & Compensation Survey Report Annual global compensation survey report providing MSL salary data, benefits information, and compensation trends across regions, therapeutic areas, and company types. The 2026 survey was conducted in June 2026 and provides the latest published benchmark.
• The MSL Journal Peer-reviewed professional journal publishing articles on topics impacting the MSL profession, featuring contributions from MSL professionals globally.
• MSL Career Center Job Board Online job board connecting MSL professionals with career opportunities in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies.
• MSL Mentor Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Training delivered to 80+ global MSL teams in 20+ countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO): BIO is a large trade association representing the biotech industry with events, training, and policy advocacy — a broader incumbent association serving many of the same pharmaceutical/biotech enterprise clients.
• International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE): ISPE is a large, established nonprofit association serving pharmaceutical professionals globally with training, conferences, and credentials — a broader incumbent offering a similar member-based training and certification model.
• Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS): RAPS is a global nonprofit offering certification (RAC) and training for regulatory professionals — a broader incumbent in the life sciences professional-certification space, directly comparable on the credentialing model.
• American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS): AAPS is a long-standing professional association for pharmaceutical scientists offering journals, conferences, and training — a broader incumbent operating the same nonprofit member-and-training model.

Direct peers

• CMR Institute: CMR Institute is a for-profit provider of training and certification for life sciences professionals, including Medical Affairs and MSL audiences — a directly comparable commercial training and certification competitor.
• DIA (Drug Information Association): DIA is a neutral, member-based life sciences organization offering training, conferences, and professional development across drug development — directly comparable as a peer professional society with a similar membership, training, and conference model.
• Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS): MAPS is a global professional society dedicated to the Medical Affairs function — the closest direct peer to the MSL Society, with overlapping training, certification, and community programs for Medical Affairs and MSL professionals.
• Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA): HBA is a nonprofit professional association serving women in healthcare with events, recognition, and training — a peer membership-and-events model aimed at life sciences and healthcare professionals.
• Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP): ACRP is a nonprofit professional association offering certification (CCRC, CCRA) and training for clinical research professionals — directly comparable as a nonprofit professional society with a certification-led revenue model.

Emerging players

• Clinical Research Association of Canada (CRAC) / SOCRA: SOCRA is a nonprofit professional membership organization providing certification (CCRP) and training for clinical research professionals — an adjacent emerging player with a comparable nonprofit certification model serving pharma-adjacent professionals.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MSLSociety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MSLSociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/MedicalScienceLiaisonSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/medical-science-liaison-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/mslsociety/?hl=en

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Medical Science Liaison Society