Medical Device Sales, Professional Certificate

The UNC Charlotte Medical Device Sales certificate offers a fast track to a high-earning, flexible career, with graduates achieving an 84% job placement rate and an average entry compensation of $95,057. In just 12 weeks, you’ll gain hands-on training through our partnership with the Medical Sales Institute (MSI), emphasizing experiential learning to build adaptability and problem-solving skills.

Delivered at The Dubois Center, you’ll learn from industry-experienced, university-approved instructors and collaborate with peers in a supportive environment. Aligned with industry standards, this certificate equips you with marketable skills and confidence to excel in medical device sales from day one.

  • Delivery
    Hybrid & In Person
  • Duration
    12 Weeks
  • Next Cohort Starts
    January 13, 2025
Curriculum

The job market for medical device sales in the spine and orthopaedic reconstruction & trauma sectors is experiencing significant growth and offers strong opportunities. This market is driven by increasing healthcare expenditures, technological advancements and a rising number of spinal surgeries. Students learn from an industry-first curriculum built specifically for the spine and orthopaedic reconstruction & trauma device community.

Professional Representative Certification (Week 1)

Professional Representative Certification (PRC)

As a requirement, all medical sales representatives must complete industry credentialing prior to entering an operating room. Knowing hospital protocol and operating room etiquette is a must. Most company sponsored training programs spend less than a day covering this subject matter. At the Medical Sales College, we offer the best-trained professional representatives for the benefit of the employer, hospital and patient safety. In addition, as a selling representative, you work with several departments at the hospital. In our PRC certification, a student of the Medical Sales College takes it a step further. A typical representative learns by trial and error. At the Medical Sales College we want to give you every advantage to succeed. We take no chances. Outside of hospital protocol and operating room etiquette, we also cover industry regulations.

  • Fire Safety; Laser; Radiation; Electrical Biomedical
  • National Patient Safety Goals
  • How the FDA Regulates Medical Device Manufacturers
  • Regulations of Adverse Events & Complaint Handling
  • HIPAA
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Infection Control
  • Aseptic Principles & Techniques
  • AdvaMed
  • Code of Ethics
  • O.R. Conduct for the Sales Rep
  • SPD, Decontamination & Instrument Processing
  • Compliance & the Sunshine Act
  • Off Label Awareness
  • General Surgical Instrumentation

Medical Sales Method Introduction

Medical Sales is unlike any other type of sales or territory management. As such, our training process is unique. 

In 2023, the Medical Sales College upgraded its Territory Business Planning training to include a student effort-centric, sales-forward, territory planning process. 

This process begins in week 1 and continues through to graduation week. Our territory business planning process does the following:

  1. It helps students understand the intricacies of business planning through comprehensive territory profiling.
  2. It makes the graduates of Medical Sales College more prepared for an interview as highly differentiated candidates, giving them a leg up on other candidates, to help them land their dream job.
  3. It generates a portfolio of student work that can be leveraged during the interview process and has vast utility, especially for their first 30-60-90 days on the job.
  4. It can integrate with any CRM system or can live as a stand-alone system; it is simple and portable which will assist in the early and sustained successes of medical sales representatives.

Your Territory Business Plan works double time as…

  • An essential resource throughout your program but especially in Sales and Career Development weeks.
  • An Interviewing Tool after graduation.
  • A field Sales Portfolio to promote early sales successes.

Your comprehensive Territory Business Plan will include the following:

  1. Surgeon Profiles
  2. Facility Profiles
  3. Problem Profiles
  4. Procedure Profiles
  5. Product Profiles
  6. Company Profiles
  7. Industry Professional Profile

Together, these resources and other insights make for a game-changing plan for your future territory.

Anatomy & Vocabulary (Weeks 2 & 7)

Anatomy and vocabulary is vital to understanding pathology and procedures as well as the devices themselves.

Orthopaedic Reconstruction & Trauma (Weeks 3-5)

Students develop a comprehensive understanding of the Orthopaedic Reconstruction & Trauma (ORT) concepts and treatment options. ORT is a three week program that breaks out into knee week, hip week, and trauma week. 

Knee and hip week curriculum will focus on students gaining an understanding of anatomy, pathology, biomechanics, device design, and history as it relates to total knee and total hip arthroplasty. Students will also get an understanding of UNI knee’s, Bi-Polar hips vs total vs revision vs oncology.

During trauma week, we focus on fracture classifications. We discuss primary and secondary healing of bones. We set up fracture conference workshops looking at X-Rays, identifying the fracture, and learning how to discuss solutions. Students will build their confidence so that they are a confident asset to the surgeon’s team.

Regenerative Medicine/Biologics (Week 6)

With the introduction of new technologies like stem cells, growth factors, amniotic tissue membranes, and extensive portfolios of allograft and autograft tissue types, there is a lot to learn in the field of regenerative medicine and biologics.

Spine (Weeks 8-10)

Students develop a comprehensive understanding of Spine concepts and treatment options. Students will gain knowledge of the most common Spine pathologies as well as current surgical treatment options.

Sales Methodologies & Training (Week 11)

While students receive weekly sales training, week 11 is a sales intensive wherein Medical Sales College students pull together all that they have learned, plus the key elements of their territory business plan, and leverage their sales training, to capstone their medical sales training experience.

In week 11, students will utilize their arsenal of business planning profiles to perfect specific, next-level sales techniques and skillsets, in preparation for entering the industry.

In sales week, students will spend time in various workshops and role-play scenarios to learn and practice needed skills for:

  • Relationship-Focused Sales Meetings
  • Needs-Based Selling
  • Product Focused Sales Meetings
  • Product Value Statements
  • Validation for Impact
  • Validation
Career Development & Placement Services (Week 12)

Prepare for the interview process and connect with our network of hiring managers.

After successfully completing the necessary requirements and education, students will focus on career development & job placement. With the vast amount of industry connections, along with the launch of the ZeroFee Recruiting profile, this is what makes the difference for our students. The following are the specifics learned throughout the final week.

  • Resume building
  • Interview Preparation & Role Play
  • ZeroFee Recruiting video filming
  • Networking Plan & Messaging
  • Hiring Manager Target Sheet
  • LinkedIn InMail Campaign
Faculty

Leah Repsher

Leah has been a successful, top-performing sales representative for over 20 years working in the pharmaceutical, distribution and medical device channels. Her experience includes the sales and marketing of numerous pharmaceuticals, biologicals, regenerative medicine products, as well as medical devices and capital equipment. She has held positions with top medical companies including Biomet, Merck, Eli Lilly, Organogenesis and Bioventus.

Leah’s tenacious personality, exceptional scientific aptitude, and strategic selling skills have contributed to her past success as a medical sales representative. Over the years she has mentored numerous new hires and has launched successful sales training programs and workshops to share with her peers.

leah repsher

Whether it’s teaching fitness or her passion for the medical sciences she has always been recognized as an educational resource. Leah is dedicated and enthused at the prospect of helping future students evolve, grow and achieve their goals as successful medical representatives.


Rich McKillop

Rich Mckillop is a 25+ year veteran in the Medical Device industry with a main focus on corporate management in the field of Orthopedic and General Surgery products. His career has spanned across various companies including Howmedica, Wright Medical, Linvatec, Orthosensor, and Conmed Corporation in progressive roles of responsibility.

During his career with Conmed and Orthosensor, he successfully implemented many structural changes to accommodate for sales force expansion which allowed for organic and new technology product growth in the marketplace.

Rich McKillop

Steve Bishop

Steve graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology in 1998. He also graduated from Grossmont College with an Associate’s of Science in Orthopedic Technology in 2000. From there Steve spent three years working in the operating room and clinics before transitioning to the sales side of orthopaedic surgery with Wright Medical and Microport Orthopaedics. Steve has spent over 18 years as an independent contractor in orthopaedic surgical sales specializing in Biologics, Extremities and Orthopaedic Reconstruction. He was also a company trainer for new reps on the west coast and taught orthopaedic courses at Grossmont College.

Steve has spent the last 15 years teaching new surgical techniques in cadaver labs to surgeons across the world. He is excited to bring that passion to teach and share his enthusiasm of orthopaedics with students in the UNC Charlotte Medical Device Sales Certificate where he’ll be teaching Orthopaedic Reconstruction & Trauma.

Steve Bishop
Tuition & Fees

Following are the costs to complete the 12-Week program:

  • Tuition paid directly to Medical Sales Institute: $19,495.00
  • Estimated costs for scrubs (3 pair @ $20/pair): $60.00
  • Laptop with the following specifications:
    • A functioning email account
    • High-speed Internet access
    • A supported web browser (Google Chrome – Preferred)
    • Functioning audio input/output (Speakers, Microphone and Camera)
    • Most up-to-date downloaded version of “Lockdown browser”
    • Note: Best practice is to allow application software to update as new versions are released.
  • Total costs to complete the program*: $19,555.00

*The total costs to complete the program include estimated books and equipment/lab costs but do not include transportation, parking fees, lodging or meal expenses for the weeks on campus.

Students are free to stay at any location of their choosing while studying on campus.

Accommodation recommendations are available by request. Keep in mind distance/traffic to Uptown Charlotte while deciding on housing.

Outlook

Your Earning Potential as a Medical Sales Rep

Medical device sales is an exciting and rewarding industry. As a medical device sales rep, you have countless opportunities to improve the quality of life for patients across the nation. Even as an entry-level sales rep, you’ll be able to earn a competitive salary.

The average entry-level compensation for a sales rep with 0-2 years experience is $95,057.

Why become a Medical Sales Representative?

This career places you in a dynamic and rewarding industry where you can enjoy high earning potential, flexible work, and the ability to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives through the products you sell. As a medical sales rep, you have direct control over your career success—your effort directly influences your earnings. It’s a field that not only offers financial rewards but also the personal satisfaction of knowing your work positively impacts healthcare and patient outcomes. If you’re driven, passionate, and ready to take charge of your future, medical sales could be the perfect path for you.

UNC Charlotte’s partnership with Medical Sales Institute (MSI) offers these benefits:

  • Hands-on and Virtual Reality surgical based training
  • Instructors with 500+ years of industry experience
  • Thriving urban location in Uptown Charlotte
How difficult is it to get hired as a medical device sales representative without previous experience?

We specialize in the placement of non-traditional candidates (those without prior device experience) into the industry with a success rate of over 84% for our available graduates. The majority of students secure employment within 90 days post-graduation.

*Job placement rate calculated as of January 1, 2024, by dividing the number of placed graduates by the number of on-campus graduates for all current 12-week on-campus programs.

Does tuition need to be paid up front?

A $500 deposit is needed to secure a spot in most courses. Full tuition payment is due a minimum of 30 days before the start of class.

How are 12-week hybrid classes structured?

The 12-Week Hybrid Programs consist of 3 weeks at home study and 9 weeks on campus. The 440-hour Program provides 60 Distance Learning Hours and 380 Contact Hours and includes comprehensive training of two Program Specialties.

What will I learn in the program?

UNC Charlotte & MSI students graduates prepared to be productive members of the sales team from day one. By the end of a program, students will have acquired skills relating to:

  • Vocabulary
  • Anatomy
  • Biomechanics
  • Pathology
  • Surgical Procedures
  • Surgical Products
  • Operating Room Protocol
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Surgeon Profiling
  • Product Differentiation
  • Mapping the Sales Call
  • Competitive Profiling
  • Initiating Conversations
  • Moving the Sales Forward
  • 30-60-90 Day Business Plans
  • Territory Development
  • Repetitive Role-Play Scenarios

In just weeks, UNC Charlotte & MSI graduates form a comprehensive understanding of their specialization and what it takes to succeed in medical device sales. More importantly, they develop the confidence to have meaningful, high-value conversations with their surgeon customers.

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