Short course · 15 hours · Live online
MedDRA Coding Training
Learn to code side effects, medical history and indications correctly with MedDRA. This 15-hour live online course covers the hierarchy, how to choose the right term, SMQs and lots of practice cases.
- Duration
- 15 hours
- Mode
- Live Online
- Next batch
- Ask an advisor
- Certificate
- BCRI certificate
Course feeOn request — ask an advisor
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At a glance
What is MedDRA coding — and why learn it?
BCRI’s MedDRA coding training is a 15-hour live online course for drug safety and clinical research learners. It explains the five-level hierarchy, how to pick the right Lowest Level Term and Preferred Term from a reporter’s words, coding conventions, Standardised MedDRA Queries (SMQs) and common coding errors. You practise on real-style case examples with a trainer and receive a BCRI certificate. Ask an advisor for the fee and next batch.
MedDRA is the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities, a standard medical terminology developed under ICH. It holds terms for symptoms, diseases, diagnoses, procedures, investigations, medication errors and medical and social history.
Coding means turning what a doctor or patient wrote — the “verbatim” — into the right MedDRA term. MedDRA is required for safety reporting in the European Union and Japan and is used by the US FDA, so almost every drug safety team uses it every day.
Coding looks simple but is full of judgement calls: diagnosis or symptoms, provisional or confirmed, one term or several. This course trains that judgement through guided practice.
Last updated
Why BCRI
Why choose BCRI for your MedDRA training?
Short and focused
Fifteen hours on one skill, not a full PV course.
Live trainer-led classes
Ask questions and work through coding decisions in real time.
Practice-heavy
Coding exercises built around case reports and clinical trial data.
Useful across PV roles
Relevant for ICSR processing, aggregate reports, literature review and signal teams.
Recordings for 3 months
Revisit sessions on the BCRI app.
BCRI certificate
A BCRI certificate on completion.
Skills you will gain
- Explain MedDRA’s structure, scope and five hierarchy levels
- Choose the most accurate Lowest Level Term for a reporter’s verbatim text
- Apply MedDRA conventions and the Points to Consider documents
- Code diagnoses vs signs and symptoms, and provisional vs definitive diagnoses
- Use Standardised MedDRA Queries (SMQs) with narrow and broad searches
- Handle non-current terms and MedDRA version updates
- Spot and avoid common coding errors in case reports and trial data
Curriculum
MedDRA coding syllabus
Three units over 15 hours, moving from structure to real coding decisions.
- Modules
- 3
- Topics
- 20
- Duration
- 15 hours
Want the detailed syllabus?
An advisor will share the full module plan on WhatsApp or email.
Get the syllabus1
Unit 1 — Understanding MedDRA
7 topicsWhat MedDRA is and the rules for using it.
- Background, scope, structure and characteristics
- The five levels: SOC, HLGT, HLT, PT and LLT
- MedDRA conventions and requirements
- Standardised MedDRA Queries (SMQs)
- Non-current terms and why they exist
- MedDRA versions and why updates matter
- Points to Consider documents and the Important Medical Event list
2
Unit 2 — Coding practice
7 topicsTurning case reports into MedDRA terms.
- How to choose coding terms
- Translating a case report into MedDRA
- Coding exercises and practice
- Narrow and broad SMQ searches with case practice
- Coding clinical trial data
- Diagnosis vs signs and symptoms
- Avoiding coding errors and handling difficult verbatims
3
Unit 3 — Advanced coding decisions
6 topicsExploring the hierarchy and making confident choices.
- Exploring the MedDRA structure in depth
- Building and using SMQs
- Finding the best LLT, with examples
- Definitive and provisional diagnosis coding
- Which term to select — practice session
- Coding different case types — practice session
Fees & batches
MedDRA Coding Training fees and upcoming batches
Course fee
On request
15 hours · Live online
What’s included
- 15 hours of live, trainer-led online classes
- Coding exercises on case reports and trial data
- Recordings for 3 months
- BCRI certificate
Ask an advisor for the current fee and next batch. Classes run Monday to Friday.
Compare all course fees →Upcoming batches
New batches start every month — online and at HSR Layout.
Classes run Monday to Friday. Ask an advisor for the next start date.
- Monday–Friday classes
- Recordings for online batches
- Online or HSR Layout, Bengaluru
- Instalment options available
Certification
MedDRA coding certificate
On completion you receive a BCRI certificate in MedDRA Coding. MedDRA itself is maintained by the MSSO for ICH. Our certificate shows you have completed structured, trainer-led training.
This course is not part of BCRI’s Dual Certification. Want a wider drug safety qualification? Pair it with our pharmacovigilance training.
What your certificate shows
- Certificate of CompletionIssued by Bangalore Clinical Research Institute
- Core modules completedMedDRA hierarchy & conventions · Coding practice · SMQs
- Registration numberUnique to you and verifiable online
Recognition marksISO 9001:2015
Careers & salary
Careers that use MedDRA skills
Coding with MedDRA is a core skill in drug safety and clinical data teams. It strengthens your profile for these roles:
Job roles you can apply for
- Drug Safety Associate
- Pharmacovigilance Associate
- MedDRA Coder
- Literature Search Associate
- Clinical Data Coder
- Aggregate Report Associate
Where you can work
- Contract research organisations (CROs)
- Pharmaceutical and biotech companies
- PV service providers
- Clinical data management teams
Hiring locations
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Pune
- Mumbai
- Chennai
- Remote roles
Typical career progression
- 1
Entry
Drug Safety Associate · Coder
- 2
2–4 years
Senior DSA · Coding Reviewer
- 3
4–7 years
Aggregate Report Specialist · Coding Lead
- 4
Leadership
PV Manager · Signal Lead
Salary range — market data
| Role | Experience | Typical salary | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Safety Associate · India | 0–4 years | ₹3.8 – 4.2 lakh per year | AmbitionBox, 3.5k salaries, updated 8 Oct 2026 |
Figures are third-party market data for these roles, not BCRI placement outcomes. Actual pay depends on the employer, skills, certification and interview performance.
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MedDRA training reviews, placements and student stories
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Is this course right for you?
Talk to a BCRI advisor about eligibility, batches, fees and career paths. It’s free and there’s no obligation.
FAQs
MedDRA Coding Training — frequently asked questions
What is MedDRA coding?
It is the process of converting the words a reporter uses to describe an adverse event, medical history or indication into the correct term in MedDRA, the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities.
What are the five levels of the MedDRA hierarchy?
System Organ Class (SOC), High Level Group Term (HLGT), High Level Term (HLT), Preferred Term (PT) and Lowest Level Term (LLT). Coders usually select the LLT, which links to one PT used for analysis.
How long is BCRI’s MedDRA course?
15 hours of live online classes, run Monday to Friday, with recordings available for 3 months.
What is the fee for the MedDRA coding course?
Please ask an advisor for the current fee and the next batch date.
Do I get a MedDRA coding certificate?
Yes. You receive a BCRI certificate in MedDRA Coding when you complete the course. It is not part of BCRI’s Dual Certification.
Who should join this course?
Pharmacovigilance students and professionals, people joining ICSR, aggregate, literature or signal teams, and life science or pharmacy graduates who want to move into drug safety.
Do I need pharmacovigilance knowledge first?
It helps. Basic PV knowledge makes the coding examples easier to follow. If you are new to drug safety, consider our pharmacovigilance training first or alongside.
Is MedDRA used worldwide?
Yes. MedDRA is required for safety reporting in the European Union and Japan, is used by the US FDA, and is used by pharma companies and CROs around the world.
Is there a free MedDRA coding course?
MedDRA itself is licensed through the MSSO, which offers training to subscribers. BCRI’s course is a structured, trainer-led programme with coding practice — ask an advisor about the fee.