Society of Quality Assurance

The Society of Quality Assurance (SQA) is a 501(c)(6) professional organisation founded in 1984 that works to organise and promote quality assurance in Good Laboratory Practices regulated non-clinical laboratory environments. As of 2001, it had over 1200 members in 16 countries.[1][2]

Formation Fall 1984
Type Professional Association
Purpose To promote quality in the regulated research community
Headquarters Society of Quality Assurance 154 Hansen Road, Suite 201 Charlottesville, VA 22911 USA Telephone: +1 434.297.4772 Facsimile: +1 434.977.1856
Website sqa.org
Region Served Worldwide
Services Education, training, professional development, Registry of Quality Assurance Professions, mentoring, specialty topic and regional chapter networks, regulatory agency communication, quality topic publications
Membership ~2,000
Executive Director Alison Cockrell
Current President Beth Moulaison

SQA is a member-driven professional association supporting the quality of research conducted in the life-sciences and environmental toxicology fields through quality assurance (QA) principles and practices. SQA offers a wide range of education, mentoring, QA professional registration, publication, web-based information services, career development and networking opportunities. Today, SQA is a global organization with members in more than 11 countries and regional chapters throughout the US and in several international regions, including Canada, India and Nigeria. SQA has established liaison relationships through Memorandums of Understanding with most international associations supporting the quality assurance profession.

History

SQA was established in 1984 as a grassroots gathering of Quality Assurance Professionals interested in implementing the Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). (More history on the GLPs can be found here in landmark cases.) As the Society grew, membership interest expanded to include both EPA and FDA GLPs, Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

Today SQA membership includes over 2,000 professionals working in contract research organizations, academia, industry and consultancies. Membership also includes students who are interested in a career in life or environmental sciences. Members focus on quality issues in both regulated and non-regulated research and manufacturing to support research and manufacturing quality, integrity and continual improvement.[3]

Quality Assurance Professionals

The Society of Quality Assurance (SQA) is a professional membership society dedicated to promoting and advancing the principles and knowledge of quality assurance essential to human, animal and environmental health. SQA is an innovative leader in providing professional development, education and training; creating collaborative relationships with governmental authorities, professional organizations, academia and industry; and participating actively in the regulatory processes related to human, animal and environmental health.

SQA defines quality assurance as the systems and practices in research that ensure that scientific quality is maintained, thereby ensuring scientific integrity, reproducibility and interpretation. The purpose of quality assurance is to ensure a world with safe foods, drugs, chemicals and medical devices for humans, animals and the environment. SQA promotes research quality by providing an organization for Quality Assurance professionals to receive education, training and professional development.

SQA Specialty Sections and Committees

Members participate in specialty sections to address topics of interest.[4] Specialty sections provide a forum to:

  • Encourage interaction between professionals in the industry;
  • Provide members with updates on proposed and/or new regulations, emerging issues and regulatory trends;
  • Develop informative training and educational opportunities on special topics;
  • Provide an opportunity for members to foster liaisons and interactions with professionals, professional organizations and regulatory agencies with related interests to maximize information exchange.

SQA Committees are a combination of volunteer, appointed and elected positions and serve to further the society's mission.[5]

Specialty Sections
Animal Health Specialty Section Beyond Compliance Specialty Section
BioAnalytical Specialty Section Clinical Specialty Section
Computer Validation Specialty Section Early Career Professional Development Specialty Section
Good Laboratory Practice Specialty Section Good Manufacturing Practices Specialty Section
Medical Device Specialty Section Pharmacovigilance Specialty Section
QA Consulting Specialty Section Scientific Archiving Specialty Section
University Specialty Section
Committees
Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws Committee Board of Publication Committee
Education Committee Ethics & Member Credentials
Finance Committee Membership Retention & Development Committee
Mentoring Program Committee Nominating Committee
Program Committee Regional Chapter Presidents Committee
Specialty Section Council

Mentoring Program

There is a professional mentoring program to support individuals who wish to develop in their current or move into another area.

Registered Quality Assurance Professional (RQAP)

SQA is dedicated to the career advancement of professionals in the field and is offers the professional credential Registered Quality Assurance Professional (RQAP). RQAP is a recognized standard in the QA industry and worldwide. SQA offers a professional registration system for individuals practicing quality assurance in GCP and GLP environments.[6] Registration requires both job experience in Quality Assurance and demonstrated knowledge. Exams are offered several times a year both nationally and internationally.

SQA Publications

SQA publishes a newsletter, Quality Matters, and technical articles throughout the year.

SQA Learning Foundation

In 2014, SQA created a subsidiary Learning Foundation to create education offerings in support of furthering the education and careers of quality assurance professionals. SQA Headquarters is in Charlottesville, VA. For more information see www.sqa.org and www.sqa-lf.org.

References
  1. Klahm, Lynn (15 February 2001). "Society of Quality Assurance (SQA)". The Quality Assurance Journal. 5 (1): 49–51. doi:10.1002/qaj.113.
  2. "Articles of Incorporation". Society of Quality Assurance. March 2001. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  3. Benson, Barry W.; Pomerleau O’Brien, Patricia (March 1994). "Looking Back-A History of Progress: Society of Quality Assurance". Quality Assurance Good Practice, Regulation, and Law. v.3 no. 1: 110–116.
  4. "Specialty Sections". Society of Quality Assurance.
  5. "Committees". Society of Quality Assurance.
  6. "RQAP Credential".
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