Advice from Previous Candidates
This section is based on comments from previous exam candidates in response to the prompt “Please provide any recommendations you would give to future RQAP exam candidates (e.g., study materials, focus regulations, test-taking strategies, etc.).”
The recommendations are not endorsed by CPR and represent only the opinion of post-exam survey respondents.
Top-Rated Advice:
The advice given by candidates was condensed into nine statements of key ideas, and during our survey of 158 active Registrants, they were asked to rate how helpful these statements were.
Overall, the three highest-rated pieces of advice were:
(1) Review areas in which you are not currently working.
(2) Your on-the-job experience will be equally as important or more important than information learned through studying.
(3) Candidates for whom English is a second language should take the accommodations offered.
Selected Quotes:
These comments have been lightly edited for grammar and readability and have been reviewed by the Council on Professional Registration (CPR) to ensure that they do not reveal confidential examination content.
GCP:
“The GCP on-demand training was a very helpful refresher for me. I took it a few times in preparation for the exam.”
“I would encourage carefully reading the detailed content outline.”
“Review all the required materials and review GCP guidelines.”
“The exam was very focused on experience and how to apply the regulations. Simply knowing the regulations was not enough.”
“I think the only way to earn this certification is in "past tense." In other words, if you are already doing the job, you can get the certification, but there is no way to prepare for this exam to get the certification without already doing the job and having the experience.”
“Refer to the regulations in your day-to-day work and know your work thoroughly. If you really know why and what you do as a Quality assurance professional, then you will be confident while giving the RQAP exam.”
“Review your past audit experiences and/or discuss with a colleague. Consider having a colleague (or several) ask you practice questions from their experiences.”
“Time management is very important, especially for the person who has not English as mother language.”
“For non-English-speaking candidates: to take the accommodations, even if you feel that you understand well.”
GLP:
“Listen to the discussion group sessions. Take the practice exams.”
“Candidates should focus on knowing the difference between the OECD, EPA and FDA GLP regulations. Case studies or issues with their resolutions are useful too in providing examples for the categories of "auditing/advising."
“1. Focus on the regulations OECD, FDA, EPA. 2. The comparison table of the three regulations is helpful to note their commons and differences. 3. Read through the Q & A in the study materials for understanding reference, do not spend much time on them 4. Use small reading note or card to help memorize the content.”
“Read the preambles.”
“The practice exam offered by SQA is helpful to estimate the time it will take to answer questions... and how much information some questions have.”
“Don't be confident in passing the practice test. You must read all the suggested study materials. It will take a while to get through, so don't think you can cram for it in one sitting.”
“There are many sites listed for study materials in the RQAP exam on the SQA. If you are going to go through them all, be cautious in how you learn information best (verbal, etc). It is a lot to absorb.”
“Reading and studying the materials and regulations is one thing. Putting them into real-life situations is another. Talk to other people in the field and get their experiences if you can. Working with our French colleagues helped me more than anything to understand the similarities and differences between FDA GLPs and OECD GLPs.”
“Reading of the documents is important, but the use of the concept and logic in day-to-day activity is also important. This exam not only evaluates your knowledge of the regulations but also assesses your capability to resolve the problems that arise in your facility.”
“Make sure to really review areas you are not currently working in; I was very confident in most of the answers, but I do not deal a lot with [area] currently and there were several questions where I really had to think about the answers…”
“Be prepared for applying regulations to real life scenarios and be cognizant of your time - pace yourself!”
“I would recommend reminding yourself on basic test taking skills for multiple choice questions such as how best to eliminate answers and key words to pick up on to help guide you to the answer.”
“Read through all the questions and answer all (or at least most) questions quickly, marking any that are unclear, or for which you are unsure of the answer. Then go back and pay extra attention to those after reading the whole examination.”
“Do not take too long on one question as you go on. Choose the best answer you feel is correct rather than merely skip a question. Chances are you will run out of time to go back and answer any unanswered questions that you skipped.”
“Candidates should make sure they understand how GLP regulation principles are applied OUTSIDE their area of expertise if they work in a narrowly focused GLP setting.”