Pharmaceutical Medical Writing Competency Model

In 2009, members of the Drug Information Association (DIA) Medical Writing (MW) Special Interest Area Community (SIAC) Competency Model Working Group developed a competency model to describe the work functions, activities, knowledge, skills, and behaviors deemed necessary to perform successfully as a medical writer in the pharmaceutical industry. To understand the basis behind the content of the medical writing competency model, it is important to define competency. Competency is the ability of an individual to perform a specific role successfully; a competent professional is one who has a combination of knowledge, skills, and behavior qualifying him or her to perform a particular role or job successfully. (1,2)