Society of Quality Assurance
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 the 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 an independent inspection of processes and procedures to ensure that scientific rigor 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 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. The organization supports regional chapters both within and outside of the US. It hosts an annual meeting each Spring, which includes three days of pre and post conference training surrounding three days of concurrent sessions. Each Fall, SQA hosts another week of professional development featuring a special symposium focused on a current hot topic area.
Members participate in specialty sections to address in detail the hot topic areas in our quality universe: Good Clinical Practices (GCP), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), animal health, computer systems validation, bioanalyses, medical devices, scientific archiving and university compliance issues.
SQA is keenly dedicated to the career advancement of professionals in the field. There is a professional registration system for individuals practicing quality assurance in GCP and GLP environments. There is a professional mentoring program to support individuals who wish to develop in their current field or move into another area.
In 2014, SQA created a subsidiary Learning Foundation to create educational 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.