Skip to Content
Certificate

Quality Assurance and Control

About the Quality Assurance and Control Program

This program is designed for the chemist, bio-chemist or biologist in the pharmaceutical and biologic industry new to quality assurance and control, and is beneficial to senior year undergraduates and graduate students (using concurrent enrollment) interested in a career in QA/QC.

The program focuses on the quality requirements for the production and control of biologics and drugs, and the differences between quality control and quality assurance and their interaction with manufacturing. It highlights the importance of implementing and maintaining a quality system during the early stages of drug development, including the plethora of documents and controls necessary to make such a system effective. Guidelines and regulations from the FDA and the California State food and drug branch regulate the production of drug products. Quality Assurance (QA) monitors the manufacturer's compliance to these guidelines and regulations.

Instruction covers how to write, issue and control SOPs; manufacturing directions; and how to review and archive a batch history and other relevant documents. Emphasis is placed on conducting inspections and vendor audits for compliance to cGMPs to include contract manufacturers, bulk pharmaceutical chemical manufacturers and contract test laboratories. The program covers cGLPs and their applications to audits of facilities that provide toxicological services. Details on compiling, writing and archiving audit reports is provided.

Online
12-18 months
$3,720
does not include textbooks

Conditions for Admission

Complete the online application. UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies programs are designed to best serve college-prepared working professionals. Although programs are open to all adult learners, where program capacity is limited, applicants with this profile will receive preference for admission.

How to Apply

This certificate requires an application before taking any courses. There is no fee when applying to this program. Students will be required to pay a $95 certificate fee upon enrollment into the program after acceptance.

Quality Assurance and Control

Classroom type:
Live Online
In-Person
Online
Hybrid
Download Course List

Required Courses

Electives

Must choose 1

Related Programs

ADMET in Drug Development

The ADMET processes – Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicology – form one of the foundations of all modern drug discovery and development.

Biotechnology Project Management

Explore the key skills needed for project management within the biotech environment from a clinical, technical and regulatory perspective.

Clinical Trials Administration

This program is built on responsiveness to the changing demands of the new clinical trials economy, personal attention, and sound principles.