Guiding the discovery journey
This Program is Perfect For
- Professionals seeking to build expertise in regulated healthcare industries with strategic impact
- Candidates preparing for RAPS certification and academic progression
- Working professionals requiring flexible, real-world learning formats
Program review underway
As we evolve our programs to reflect today’s technology landscape, the certificate in Regulatory Affairs is under review and is not currently open for new enrollment. If you are enrolled in this certificate and are finishing up your courses, please reach out to us at extension@ucsc.edu. We will help you plan your journey.
After reviewing the current market conditions and engaging with industry, we are now offering new short programs, that are flexible paths to get the skills you need fast. During this time, our certificate programs continue to be under review and we are committed to assisting all enrolled students to finish the certificate programs. To learn more, visit our Short Programs page.
Courses are open to everyone
You are invited to enroll in individual courses to build your knowledge and develop new skills.
Medical discovery and commercialization
Students in the Regulatory Affairs certificate program learn to navigate the intricate regulatory landscape of medical devices. They embark on a journey of discovery that emphasizes patient safety, ethics, and compliance, gaining a thorough understanding of regulatory intelligence, federal regulations, and global regulatory requirements. Students learn:
- Best practices for interacting and negotiating with the FDA.
- Regulatory submission writing.
- Risk management strategies in the product lifecycle.
- A foundation for the Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) exam (administered by the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society).
Join our industry-wide network of instructors and classmates who share your passion for developing regulatory strategies for the global marketplace.
Regulatory Affairs certificate program learning objectives
- Develop a global regulatory strategy for medical devices, drugs, and biologics.
- Identify how regulatory affairs and quality compliance professionals contribute to an organization’s bottom line by keeping up with global regulatory requirements.
- Understand and apply good manufacturing practices (GxPS/cGMPS) and quality system regulation for drugs, biologics, and medical devices to help an organization achieve sustainable compliance.
- Apply risk management principles when conducting post-market surveillance activities such as recalls and market corrections.
- Communicate in writing and verbally with corporate executives.
- Negotiate with regulatory agencies such as the FDA.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the design and development life cycle approach for drugs and biologics medical devices and have knowledge on how to compile a design history.
Courses
Program Requirements
Total: 7 courses (14 quarter units)
- End with certificate of completion review.
1. Required Courses: Minimum 14 quarter units
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 10-01-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-08-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-15-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-22-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-29-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 09-22-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 09-29-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 10-06-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 10-13-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 10-20-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 10-27-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 11-03-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 09-12-2026 | 10:00am | 2:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 09-19-2026 | 10:00am | 2:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 09-26-2026 | 10:00am | 2:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 10-03-2026 | 10:00am | 2:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 10-10-2026 | 10:00am | 2:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 10-17-2026 | 10:00am | 2:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 10-24-2026 | 10:00am | 2:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 10-31-2026 | 10:00am | 2:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
Two “No Meeting” dates TBA. To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Tools & Materials: QMSR Design and Development: https://www.fda.gov/media/189041/download
Students are expected to read the FDA Guidance on Design Control prior to the first class session.
|| Prerequisites:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
- Hybrid Live-Online Some meetings remotely, some self-paced.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 09-09-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Hybrid Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 09-23-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Hybrid Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 10-07-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Hybrid Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 10-21-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Hybrid Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 11-04-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Hybrid Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 11-18-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Hybrid Live-Online | REMOTE |
This is a Hybrid Live-Online class and will use a combination of live-online and online traditional methods. Live-online lectures/meetings are held via Zoom and asynchronous materials/instruction will be available on Canvas per the direction of the instructor.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 07-28-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 08-04-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 08-11-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 08-18-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 08-25-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 09-01-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 09-08-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 09-15-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Tue, 09-22-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
Students may still enroll if they missed the 1st class session. However, they need to communicate with the instructor via Canvas and catch up on all missed work prior to the 2nd class meeting.
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text:
https://www.ecfr.gov
2. Certificate Review:
Please enroll in the Regulatory Affairs Certificate Completion Fee only once all of the certificate requirements have been met and your final grades are posted.
Recommended course sequence
Begin with Quality Management Systems for Medical Devices: ISO 13485 and FDA QMSR (formerly Quality Systems for Medical Devices FDA QSR and ISO 13485) or Foundations in Medical Devices: Developing Regulatory Strategies (formerly Foundations of Medical Devices: Developing Premarket U.S. Regulatory Strategies and Working in a Regulated Environment), followed by Global Medical Device Submissions and Strategy.
After that, courses may be taken in any order provided the prerequisites are met.
Requisite knowledge
Please review the course descriptions to ensure that you have taken necessary prerequisites or meet the requirements through job experience or previous education. Students with a basic understanding of the life sciences and strong written and oral communication skills will gain the most from this program.
Substitutions
To receive your certificate
Complete the course sequence before requesting your Regulatory Affairs Certificate Completion Review.
Professional development
Transfer your Regulatory Affairs certificate units to a master's program
Completion of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Regulatory Affairs certificate program counts toward a maximum of 12 graduate credits to the Northeastern University College of Professional Studies Master's Degree in Regulatory Affairs for Drugs, Biologics, and Medical Devices program. The Northeastern program is 100 percent online, requires 45 semester hours, and includes concentrations in seven high-demand fields.
Licensure and certification
Courses in the Regulatory Affairs program help prepare professionals (with three to five years in the regulatory field) for the Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) exam. It is an optional exam for the industry.
Please see our Licensure and Certification Policy to learn more.
Establish Candidacy
Grade requirements
Please note that only letter grades of C or higher may be applied to a certificate, and in some programs, students may have more stringent requirements. Students in most employer- and government-sponsored payment programs, such as workforce development, as well as international students on F-1 visas, need to maintain a B average to meet their requirements.
See Grading and Credits Policy for further information.
Instructors
Certificate Program Advisory Committee
TONY DELIZZA, MS
Principal, First Light, LLC
KIRAN GULATI, RAB-LA, M.B.A.
Management Consultant
Program Chair | Instructor, Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension
SURINA GULATI, MBEE
Quality Systems Engineering Lead | iRhythm Technologies Inc
Instructor, Medical Device Quality and Design Program, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension
RITAM PRIYA, MBA
Medical Devices, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Meta
DINESH PUPPALA, MS
Regulatory Affairs Manager, Google LLC
JAY VAISHNAV, Ph.D
Director Regulatory Affairs, Canon Medical Informatics
Instructor, Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension
That next person you say hello to at the class in Extension may give you a lead to your next job. People in my classes all worked at some of the biggest companies in the area, from Gilead to Genentech.