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This free online PDF to DOC converter allows you to save a PDF file as an editable document in Microsoft Word DOC format, ensuring better quality than many other converters.

Click the UPLOAD FILES button and select up to 20 PDF files you wish to convert. Wait for the conversion process to finish.

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PDF to DOC Conversion

A PDF file — which stands for Portable Document Format — is a document that usually contains text, hyperlinks, and sometimes images. PDFs are great because they look the same on any screen. For example, if someone created a PDF document on a MacBook, it would look the same on a Windows laptop, a smartphone, or even a TV.

However, the downside of this versatility is that PDF files cannot be edited without special software. Adobe Acrobat is the most popular software for this, but it usually costs a lot of money.

Unlike PDF files, DOC files can be easily edited with many programs. Microsoft Word is the most popular, which has a free web-based version with Office Online, but you can also use Google Docs, OpenOffice, LibreOffice, and plenty of other totally free pieces of software.

Why should you convert PDF to DOC?

PDF files cannot be easily edited for free, but DOC files can. With pdf2doc.com, you can edit PDF files for free by converting them to DOC. It can save you time and money!

You also might want files in DOC format for backing up. Additionally, it is sometimes easier to share DOC files in certain programs, such as Google Docs. There are tons of reasons for converting PDFs to DOC!

How to convert PDF to DOC?

To get started converting your PDF to DOC, you first need to upload your file(s) into the form above. Hit the “UPLOAD FILES” button and find the PDF file(s) you wish to convert. You can convert up to 20 files in one session.

Once you have your PDF files uploaded, they will appear in the queue for downloading. You can hit the “DOWNLOAD” button under each file to download them individually. You can also hit the “DOWNLOAD ALL” button which will create a ZIP file with all of your converted files. If you go that route, you just need to unzip the files to see them.

If you need to convert more than 20 files, hit the “CLEAR QUEUE” button and repeat the process. You can only convert 20 files at one time, but you can use the tool as many times as you need.

Now that you’ve converted your files, you can edit them in pretty much any document editor. You can then share them as DOCs or even convert them back to PDF if needed.

Is it safe to convert PDF to DOC?

Our tool converts an uploaded copy of your original file. The original file stays on your computer and is unaffected by the process. There is no risk of data loss by conversion.

Also, your data is safe with us. We delete all uploads from our servers after one hour. In other words, an hour after you upload your files, those files are purged from our servers forever. You don’t need to worry about your content being stored on the server.

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PDF to Word Converter

CloudConvert offers the most advanced, industry leading PDF to DOC conversions. We do preserve layouts, formatting and tables. Unlike our competitors, you get an actual usable, clean Word document. This saves you hours of re-typing!

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PDF is a document file format that contains text, images, data etc. This document type is Operating System independent. It is an open standard that compresses a document and vector graphics. It can be viewed in web browsers if the PDF plug-in is installed on the browser.

DOC is a word processing file created by Microsoft. This files format turns a plain-text format into a formatted document. It supports almost all the Operating Systems. It can contain large amount of text, data, charts, table, image etc. It can contain rich text format (RTF) and HTML texts also.

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Turning a Microsoft Word document into a PDF is a fairly easy task – the other way around, converting PDF to Word , is not.

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PDF is short for Portable Document Format. PDF documents can contain formatted text, different fonts, hyperlinks, images, and even media such as sounds and videos.

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PDF to DOCX Conversion

When it comes to document formats, there are two that are widely used: PDF and DOC. Both have pros and cons, and under certain situations, no doubt that one may be better than the other.

What is PDF?

PDF, or Portable Document Format, is a popular file format as it allows documents to be exchanged regardless of the end user's software, hardware, or operating system. Simply put, PDF is device and OS-agnostic. This is why PDFs are often used when sending a document electronically since they preserve the original document's formatting, including links, images, fonts, and styles. This ensures that said document is displayed the way you want regardless of the device it is opened on.

Typical use cases for PDF are eBooks, brochures, legal documents, and documents you want to print or display while preserving a specific style and format. On top of the features mentioned, PDFs also offer the possibility of being password protected, something valuable in cases when you want to add an additional layer of security to prevent changes to the original document. Additionally, the PDF format is intentionally difficult to edit unless you use specialized software.

Pros and cons of PDF

• PDFs preserve the formatting of the original document.
• PDFs can be password protected for security.
• Due to the above, they can be a good option for exchanging documents that need to be printed on paper.
• PDFs can be difficult to edit.
• PDF documents created in portrait orientation and A4 sheet size can be challenging to view on small screens.
• PDFs were not designed for real-time collaboration.
• PDF files are usually bigger in size than DOC format since they need to store a lot of data for proper viewing.

What is DOCX?

A DOCX file is a Microsoft Word Open XML Format Document file. DOCX files are used by Microsoft Word 2007 and later. They are an XML-based document file format that is designed to be easy to read and write, so they can be easily opened in Microsoft Word and other word processors such as OpenOffice and LibreOffice. Moreover, DOCX documents can be opened and used in Google Docs and Office 365, facilitating real-time collaboration with other team members or clients.

Pros and cons of DOCX file format

• DOCX files can be easily edited.
• DOCX files are smaller in size than PDFs.
• DOCX files enable real-time collaboration.
• Older DOC files can only be read by Microsoft Word or other compatible word-processing software.
• There is no guarantee that formatting will be preserved when sharing DOCX documents. This is most noticeable when you use fonts that other users do not have installed on their computers.

When to use DOCX over PDF

• When you need hassle-free editing of a document.
• When you need to collaborate with team members or clients on a document, especially if it's in real-time.
• When you want to save a copy of a document that doesn't take up too much space, either locally or in the cloud.

How to convert PDF to DOCX?

Fortunately, converting PDF to DOCX is very easy. Whether you need to convert one document or several, pdf2docx.com makes it easy for you to do it. Just hit the “UPLOAD FILES” button and find the PDF file(s) you wish to convert. You can convert up to 20 files in one session.

Why do a predoc?

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The Academic Pipeline

Until recently, the typical academic pipeline in the quantitative social sciences has solely been a series of degrees: first a Bachelor's degree, then perhaps a Master's before completing a PhD program.

Completing a Master's degree or enrolling directly in a PhD program is an option for some, but presents challenges to those who are still deciding if a PhD is right for them, or need some further development before applying to PhD programs but find a Master's degree prohibitive. Pre-doctoral programs can resolve these difficulties.

At universities, pre-docs work directly for faculty for one to two years, allowing them to gain a deep understanding of the research process. At research institutions, pre-docs typically work with a team of senior researchers. During their tenure, pre-docs:

• hone coding, quantitative, and field work proficiencies;
• develop professional skills like team and project management;
• gain confidence and skill interacting with faculty and senior researchers;
• explore subfields and refine their academic interests;
• ultimately evaluate whether the PhD track is right for them.

Those who do continue on to top PhD programs do so with a highly developed toolkit, and hit the ground running. Those who decide to go on to non-PhD opportunities are well-positioned for a variety of careers, including non-PhD research positions and other industry roles. All leave with a network of aspiring researchers who could well become future colleagues and collaborators.

There are two career outcomes: either an assistant professor position or a career in Research, Data Science, consulting in the public or private sector. All degrees can get a position in the latter. To become an assistant professor, you must have a Bachelor's degree, either a Pre-Doc or a Masters degree, and a PHD.

This flow chart illustrates the new pathway through the academic pipeline. While a pre-doctoral opportunity or Master's degree may add a lot of value, neither is required to apply to the PhD. Pre-docs and Master's programs are not identical, but they can fulfill similar credentialing functions when one is applying to PhD programs. Master's degrees are student-driven and are, of course, costly. Pre-docs are faculty-driven, giving direct experience of the research process, and are paid positions. While pre-docs are not specifically designed to prepare people for non-academic careers, the skills they pre-docs gain through their work are applicable to a wide variety of non-academic occupations.

So why do a pre-doc?

Pre-doctoral research experience can be valuable in several different ways. 

• Gain more experience before a PhD (and get paid for it).  For those who need to flesh out some technical skills or get more research experience, a pre-doc can be a great alternative to a more expensive option like a terminal Master's degree.  A lot of that skill and experience comes directly from the job, but can also be supplemented by coursework and resources specifically created for pre-docs by the hiring institutions. 
• Explore what a research career is, and whether it's right for you.  For those still exploring what a career in research looks like and whether a PhD is right for them, pre-docs give an unparalleled window to the research process.  Supervisors involve pre-docs closely in the research projects they are running.  Pre-docs who have gone on to PhD programs report that this preview helps them hit the ground running for their own graduate studies.  Even for those who never go on to exactly the kind of research they did as a pre-doc, the toolkit developed in these roles is broadly applicable and highly valued.  
• Prepare for a successful career (academic or otherwise).  Most people who complete a pre-doc do go on to PhD study.  We are still sharing data among the PREDOC consortium members to get a clear picture of exactly how many go on to the PhD, but from what we've analyzed so far, it looks to be in excess of 75%.  From our preliminary data, around 40% of applicants accepted to top PhD programs have experience as a pre-doc, so while it's not necessary experience, it's not uncommon, either.  Those who go on to a PhD (which is typically fully funded ) after a pre-doc are generally happy with their placements and report being well prepared.  Those who don't go on to the PhD typically take jobs in research and data science, frequently in policy (e.g., at the Federal Reserve or International Monetary Fund), and also in private industry (e.g., data science consultancy or non-profit work). 

To get a concrete idea of what compensation for a professorial career looks like, the following chart reports the distribution of faculty salaries in business schools as reported by  AACSB :

Check out our FAQ  for PhD graduates  for more information.

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What is difference between PhD and Postdoc?

I am a PhD student in Mathematics. I wanted to know what exactly is the difference between PhD and Postdoc. Is it just the research that one does after PhD(kind of second PhD?)?

• mathematics
• terminology

6 Answers 6

I want to address this question by citing my current Master's advisor when I asked him the same question:

• In the Bachelor's, you learn the basics of the area.
• In the Master's, you learn what people are doing in the field and how to read scientific papers.
• As a PhD, you learn how to develop your own research and start having new ideas on the field.
• As a Post-Doc, you learn how to mentor other people's research while producing your own work without supervision.
• When you reach Professorship you only have to look smart!

• 12 No, when you reach full professorship you only have to look smart. There's still "assistant professor" and "associate professor" to get through. –  JeffE Mar 4, 2018 at 0:19
• 4 True, this was a very simplistic point of view but useful one I think... –  Jsf73 Mar 4, 2018 at 14:13

In mathematics, a "postdoc" is a special kind of faculty job you get just after your Ph.D. It may have a fixed term (not tenure track). It may have reduced teaching, so that you can concentrate on your research. You may have a "mentor" assigned to advise you on doing research.

But (unlike some other fields like experimental physics) you are probably not working in someone else's "lab" on someone else's research program that someone else got the funding for.

I have always understood a postdoc to be a "post doctoral" position, that is a paid post. The idea of a postdoc position is to do research roughly in the area of the PhD, with the person gaining experience that would possibly be of help in gaining a full time position.

• 5 Around here, PhD students also earn wages (unless they support themselves with a grant). –  Tommi Mar 5, 2018 at 13:09

The first and foremost difference between the two is that a PhD is "awarded" after defending a thesis (plus additional duties depending on the department). On the other hand, a PostDoc is a temporary working position that is assigned by some institution, whose completion does not require any defence.

What people do or do not do, researchwise, in their PhD and PostDocs is very much dependent on the area and on the department (you may look at other answers that go more in details on this and that I do not want to overwrite, as I would just copy and paste them).

• Yes, please copypaste or give the link. –  Philosopher of science Oct 22, 2020 at 11:22

A postdoc is expected to know what they are doing, and to be productive researchers with minimal supervision. PhD students are learning how to be researchers: by the end of the process, they should be on par with a postdoc, but it will take time to get there

Edit: This comment has been copied from Barbara Robson's answer here .

This is akin to asking what's the difference between research master's and PhD, or Assistant to associate professor.

A postdoc, is the next level after PhD (though not a necessary one). This is the main point.

Practically, it is different, in that it is less formal, with less specific requirements, and you are paid for it, as you are employed, not a student, as other answers here explained well.

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From PhD to Professor: Advice for Landing Your First Academic Position

I am living the dream.

At least, my professional dream, that is. I have the perfect job for me. And I’m going to share with you how I got it.

First, a little about me. This August, I started my second year of being a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the School of Social Policy & Practice, a program that is consistently ranked in the Top 15 in the country by U.S. News & World Report  and one of only two Ivy League social work programs.

As new junior faculty member, I only teach one course each semester so that I have the time to launch my independent program of research. No dumping major course loads on the new assistant professors here! And as with all faculty at my school, I will only ever be required to teach two courses per semester at most, with the option of “buying out” of teaching when I have grant funding.

Additionally, as a new assistant professor, I am given priority selection for the courses I teach, having the school try its best to accommodate my expertise and interest. As soon as I started last year, my dean set up “meet and greets” with key players in my research area in Philadelphia and supported the development and submission of my application for a small, internal grant from the Provost’s Office for the first study in my research portfolio.

I could actually keeping going with why my job is so awesome, but that’s not the point of this article! Instead, I’m going to share what I learned getting to this point—my advice for other PhDs and aspiring professors out there on how to play the academic job search game and win big. Here are five strategies that really boosted my application and helped me land my dream position.

Related: Go to Grad School Guide: PhD Programs

1. Prioritize Publishing

The same publishing rule that echoes through the halls of academia for professors holds true for emerging scholars and newly minted PhDs: “Publish or perish.” A recent article published in The Conversation confirms what I found as true with my own experience: The best predictor of long-term publication success is your early publication record, or the number of papers you’ve published by the time you receive your PhD. And long-term publication success is at the top of the list for what chairs and deans hope their new assistant professors achieve, as this is what ultimately leads to tenure at places like Penn.

In other words, it’s crucial to prioritize publishing now, long before you graduate. I entered my PhD program in 2005, my first two papers came out in 2007, and I published at least two papers per year through my graduation in 2009. When I visited Penn to interview, I had another four papers on my CV , and I know that this early publication success was critical throughout the steps of my candidacy, from the invitation for the conference interview to the campus interview to the job offer.

Of course, a lot of your early publishing success as a PhD student will depend on your research advisor and mentor. I was very fortunate to have a mentor who took great joy in mentoring doctoral students and prioritized getting them involved in paper-writing early on. If you find yourself with someone who is not prioritizing your publication record, however, I recommend having a serious conversation with him or her about your needs and the importance of publishing early—or finding a new mentor. As you probably already know, you have limited time to publish while pursuing your PhD, and the publication process is notorious for taking a very long time to unfold. Prioritize it now.

2. Have a Mission Statement—and Show it Off

My professional mission is to improve the lives for youth who age out of foster care, and I intend to achieve this mission by working to reform the child welfare system so that no youth leaves foster care without a lifetime connection to a caring adult.

Having this mission—and having it spelled out—is what I believe sold my dean during my conference interview. In fact, I provided him and the other two faculty interviewers with a handout of the image below, a visual depiction of the principles and values that guide my mission and a plan for how I intend to achieve it. I think my colleagues were impressed by the fact that I had a visual plan that I could easily explain for how I imagined achieving my professional mission, and also by my creativity. Although a bulleted list could have accomplished the same thing, I believe the packaging made a difference.

Think about how you can explain your own vision and your tactical goals in a compelling way, and be specific about how you’ll make a difference as an assistant professor. For those of us at research-intensive institutions, this will generally take the form of ideas about how you will fund your research mission with grants. If you’re pursuing teaching-oriented places, you can develop a similar vision and mission statement, but make it oriented toward educating, mentoring, and inspiring students.

3. Know the Game

And a game it is. Up until this moment, my experience, probably like many of you, had been that if you work hard, do the right things, and make good choices, you are rewarded—a meritocracy. However, that’s not how the faculty game works (and no one really tells you this)!

Rather, academic hiring decisions are based on “fit,” and if you’re not the right fit, for whatever reason, you won’t receive the offer no matter how impressive your CV is. “Fit” can mean everything from your area of research to what you teach to what a given school may need with respect to faculty demographics and diversity to such mercurial things as faculty personality. Although job postings do tend to detail the research or teaching areas a given school may be looking for, these are often broad, and there can be more than one in a given announcement.

You might think the answer here is to try to be what any particular program wants you to be in order to “fit” in, but I think the real lesson is to take the game for what it is: It’s about them—not about you. Although demonstrating how you see yourself fitting in to a particular program—for example, by showing how your research would complement or add value to a department—is very important to do, in the end, you can’t make a square peg fit a round hole. All you can do is to apply, give it your best shot, and realize that in the end, it’s about them.

4. Have a Plan B

The first time I went on the job market, despite several conference interviews with an array of schools and a successful campus visit and job talk at Michigan, I received no offers. My colleague and fellow new assistant professor Antonio Garcia identified with my experience: “I, too, completed several successful interviews, but to no avail. I did not receive any offers for a tenure track position during my last year of dissertation work.”

So what happened? We both fell back on Plan B: post-doc positions. Although I didn’t want to do a post-doc, it bought me some time and allowed me to further build my CV and professional identity. I went on the market a second time following the first year of my two-year post-doc and was then in an even stronger position than the first time. Professor Garcia also landed his tenure track position following the first year of his post-doc. “Although my first choice was not to delay the tenure clock, it has since worked to my advantage,” he explains. “I benefitted from having time to a meticulously develop my research agenda, publish manuscripts, and develop and maintain long-lasting inter-disciplinary relationships. I strongly believe the two-year post-doc will ultimately provide me with better odds of receiving tenure.”

Fact is, you may not land the assistant professor job of your dreams—or even an assistant professor job—the first time you try. So, it’s incredibly important to have a Plan B, whether that’s a post-doc or a job with a private research firm that still allows you to build your publication record and gain other worthwhile experience that can translate to academia, like presenting your work at professional conferences.

Related: 3 Steps to Turn Any Setback Into a Success

5. Swallow Your Pride

I actually applied to Penn twice—the first time I went on the market I was unsuccessful, but after the first year of my post-doc, I saw another job posting and as best I could tell, I was a good “fit.” I had a bit of a pride issue about knocking on Penn’s door again, but I also realized that if I didn’t, only one thing was certain: I would never work there. So I swallowed my pride, I knocked again, and I landed the job of my dreams. In fact, as I was leaving the hotel suite where I had my conference interview, one of the faculty interviewers said, “I’m so glad you decided to apply again.”

Finding your first professorship isn’t an easy road, but it’s important to persevere and to stay focused on your long-term goals. Penn psychology professor and recently named MacArthur “genius” Fellow Angela Duckworth defines this philosophy as “grit.”

I liken it to surfing. In fact, during my job talk at Penn, while sharing my vision with the hiring committee, I also shared this: “When considering a research-oriented career, a particular quote comes to mind, ‘You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.’ If we think of a research career as the surface of a lake or ocean, there are always waves, sometimes big, sometimes small. Nothing we do can stop the waves, but we can learn to surf.”

There are no guarantees that, even if you do all these things, you will land your dream faculty job. But I hope these tips will help you feel perhaps a little more in control while the waves splash over. Try to have fun with this process, at least as much as you can, and may you, too, soon find yourself living the dream.

How to Correctly Use the Titles Dr. & PhD With a Name

How to Reference a Person With a PhD

When someone has earned a Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., degree, that person is subsequently referred to as “doctor” in formal speech. The same is true of a person who is a medical doctor, psychologist, dentist or veterinarian. In formal speech, that person should be referred to as “doctor.” However, the rules are different in written form when addressing someone who is called “doctor” in formal speech. In written form, the titles “Dr.” and “Ph.D.” are not interchangeable.

Determine the Type of Doctor

First, you should identify what type of doctor you are addressing. Doctors of medicine and psychology, doctors of dentistry and doctors of veterinary medicine must be addressed differently in comparison to academic doctors who have earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. Be advised that there are different types of doctoral degrees. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is just one kind of doctoral degree. There’s also, for example, a Doctor of Education doctoral degree and a Doctor of Psychology doctoral degree. The titles associated with the various doctoral degrees are not interchangeable. Only a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree should be addressed as Ph.D.

Addressing a Doctor in Writing

Place the title of “Dr.” before the name of a person who is a doctor of medicine or psychology, doctor of dentistry, or doctor of veterinary medicine. For example Dr. George Ross. Always write the word “doctor” in its abbreviated form when it goes before the person’s name. Never write, for example, Doctor George Ross. Do not combine the title of “Dr.” with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. Never write, for example, “Dr. George Ross, Ph.D.,” even if the person is a medical doctor who has also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Pick one title. Do not use the “Dr.” title when referring to someone who is solely an academic doctor.

Put a comma followed by the title “Ph.D.” after the name of a person who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree. For example Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Do not combine the title of “Ph.D.” with any other title even if the person could appropriately be addressed by a different title. For instance, even if the person being addressed is a doctor of medicine who has also earned a Ph.D., never write, for example, Dr. Stacey Childs, Ph.D. Pick one title. Do not use the “Ph.D.” title when referring to someone who not earned a Doctor of Philosophy doctoral degree.

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Maya Austen began freelance writing in 2009. She has written for many online publications on a wide variety of topics ranging from physical fitness to amateur astronomy. She's also an author and e-book publisher. Austen has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the New England Institute of Art and currently lives in Boston, Mass.

• Postdocs: The Definitive Guide
• After a PhD

As soon as you step outside the world of academia, the number of people who know what a postdoctorate is, what they involve and how to secure one quickly plummets. Given that a postdoctorate can be a popular option, especially for Science and Technology-related PhD graduates, it’s essential to address this current gap in knowledge.

What Is a Postdoc?

A postdoc is only one of many paths you can take after having completed your PhD. A postdoc (also referred to as a postdoc or postdoctoral) can be best thought as a temporary position designed to refine your research and teaching skills while undertaking practical research work. Because of this, most regard a postdoc position as a temporary stepping stone for developing a career in a more permanent position.

There’s a common misconception that a postdoctorate is an advanced doctoral degree that is undertaken after having completed a PhD. This misconception arises from individuals associating the word “post” in “postdoctorate” with the word “after”. While you will learn a lot during your time in a postdoc position, it is nothing like a degree. There are no fees, coursework, exams or vivas to deliver (thankfully!). A postdoc is, in fact, a job, and as someone in a postdoc position, you will be considered an ‘employee’. And just like any other job, the position will come with its own salary, responsibilities, training and employers.

Most postdocs are awarded by universities or research institutes as temporary contracts. However, they can also be undertaken in private companies, non-profit charities or government bodies.

What Is The Purpose Of A Postdoc?

As mentioned above, the primary purpose of a postdoc is to help bridge the gap between your current skills and your current level of experience. Due to this, postdoctoral positions are popular amongst those who have recently obtained their PhD. This is especially true for individuals who which to pursue a career in academia or research but don’t yet have adequate experience in teaching or publishing.

For the ‘learning’ nature of this role, postdocs provide an excellent option for those to continue their self-development while pursuing research in a field they’re interested in.

What Does a Postdoc Do?

A postdoc works under the supervision of an experienced researcher known as a postdoctoral advisor. What you will do on a day-to-day basis will, therefore, depend on what they require support on at any given time.

While your responsibilities will depend on your postdoctoral advisor, you can expect the following duties as part of your role:

• Contribute to the supervision of PhD students who are undertaking research projects in a closely related field.
• Supporting the research team in managerial tasks related to planning, organisation and administration.
• Undertake research, including but not limited to: qualitative data collection, data analysis and data and lab management.
• Contribute to the production, review and dissemination of academic and non-academic writing, including publications.

Your responsibilities will also depend on who your postdoc position is with. Positions offered by universities will often place a high emphasis on the academic aspects of the role. This involves aspects such as working more independently, developing your supervisory and teaching capabilities, and improving your communication skills through participation in seminars and conferences. In doing so, they’re helping you to become an individual capable of both conducting research and transferring knowledge – in other words, a university lecturer!

The opposite is true for postdoc positions held in industry, such as a private organisation or government body. As you can expect, these roles will place almost all of its emphasis on conducting research and advancing projects forward, with little focus on anything that falls outside of this.

How Long Should I Be A Postdoc For?

There is no set rule for how long you should remain in a postdoc position. Regardless of this, most individuals stay within a postdoc position for between 2 to 4 years. During this period, it’s not uncommon to move between one or two postdoc positions, with one position being abroad for a more rounded experience.

The time you may choose to spend in a given postdoctoral position will depend on several factors. The most influential of these will be:

• The size of the research project’s scope,
• The support needs of the principal investigator/postdoc advisor,
• The amount of funding available.

Although you could undertake a postdoctorate for a year or less, most will advise against this. This is simply because you will likely not have enough time to gain valuable experience associated with producing publications, writing research grant proposals and speaking at conferences. Although it may be possible to complete these within a single year, most researchers will opt for a minimum of two years for a single position. This will provide them with ample opportunity to contribute a significant amount to a project, publish a handful of papers and attend several conferences. On top of this, it will allow you to develop a deeper relationship with the students you help teach or supervise. This will prove invaluable experience should you plan on becoming a university lecturer .

How Are Postdoc Positions Funded?

Postdocs are usually funded in one of three ways:

• The postdoc secures the funding themselves . This can be achieved in several ways, with the most common being applying to opportunities put out by government, research or charity bodies. Examples of these opportunities include the  NWO Talent Programme Veni  and the  Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship . Securing funding under any of these schemes will provide you with a ‘stipend’ (which acts as your salary), and ‘’research funds’ for enabling the project. It’s worth noting that if you secure funding in this way, you won’t typically be restricted to any one university. Although when applying to these opportunities you’ll be required to indicate where you intended to undertake your research, if successful, you can take your funding and associated research project to any university or research institution of your choice.
• A Principal Investigator (PI) secures a research grant  for a project, part of which will go towards hiring one or more postdoctoral assistants. In these scenarios, the university will employ you to work on the project they gained funding for.
• A research body hires postdoctoral assistants irrespective of any new funding . In these scenarios, the researching body, who could be anyone from universities to research centres, charities and private organisations, may put aside their own funds to secure a postdoc assistant as a regular salaried employee.

What is the Average Postdoc Salary?

It goes without saying that the average salary for a postdoc will vary from role to role, with factors such as your country, your employer and your level of experience being influential factors.

If working as a university employee, your salary as a postdoc will be determined via a set pay scale known as the “ HE single pay spine “. Under this pay spine, a postdoc can expect to earn an average of £31,000 per year, though, in reality, a postdoc’s salary can range between £29,000 to £34,800.

On the other hand, the stipend (which will act as your postdoc salary) associated with the funding you have secured yourself will directly depend on the opportunity you acquire. Because of the wide range of possibilities, your potential stipend can vary considerably. As well as having a high variance, they also tend to have a higher ceiling compared to the salaries associated with a PI’s research grant or a research body’s employment. For example, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship can be worth over £50,000 per year. However, these types of fellowships are not only highly competitive but are also not an entirely fair comparison to postdoc assistant roles. This is due to the fact that a research fellow will be expected to have a greater amount of experience and to assume a higher level of responsibility than a regular postdoctoral researcher.

In case you’re thinking of working abroad, it would be useful to know that the median salary of a postdoctoral researcher in the United States is approximately $42,000 (£33,000 at the time of writing) per year.

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Doctor of Education Leadership

Additional Information

• Download the Doctoral Viewbook
• Admissions & Aid

America needs transformative leaders in preK–12 education whose passion for education quality and equity is matched by a knowledge of learning and development, the organizational management skills to translate visionary ideas into practical success, and a firm grasp of the role of context and politics in shaping leadership. Graduates of the three-year, multidisciplinary Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education will be prepared to become those leaders.

The Ed.L.D Program — taught by faculty from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Business School, and the Harvard Kennedy School — will train you for system-level leadership positions in school systems, state and federal departments of education, and national nonprofit organizations. Ed.L.D. is a full-time, three-year program built on a cohort learning model. Cohorts consist of up to 25 students from diverse professional backgrounds (including district/charter management leaders, nonprofit directors, principals, teachers, and policy researchers) who progress through the program together.

All Ed.L.D. students receive a full tuition funding package plus stipends, work opportunities, and a paid third-year residency at a partner organization.

The Ed.L.D. Program prepares graduates to do work for the public good in the American public education sector, whether that be at the system or state level. Specifically, the program is designed to accelerate the progress graduates make toward achieving meaningful impact in influential roles and/or crossing boundaries in the following spaces in the public education sector:

• PreK–12 district or CMO leadership roles : superintendent of schools, chief academic officer, and/or deputy superintendent
• Foundation/philanthropy roles:  director, president and CEO, senior fellow
• Education nonprofit roles : president or executive director of backbone or collective impact organizations which support preK–12 schools. Ed.L.D. graduates will lead education nonprofits that explicitly focus on improving outcomes and opportunities for children, families, and communities.
• State or federal education leadership roles : commissioner or deputy commissioner roles. Could also include public education advocacy or education policy advisers to senior government officials.
• Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation roles:  Founder, CEO, president

Curriculum Information

The Ed.L.D. curriculum is a balance of multidisciplinary coursework and practice-based learning. Core courses and electives are taught by recognized leaders from across Harvard’s graduate programs in fields like data-based education reform, organizational change and innovation, and effective leadership strategies for urban schools. You will develop and test your leadership skills through team projects and an immersive third-year residency.

All students in the cohort take the same classes in four foundational content areas: learning and teaching, leadership and organizational change, politics and policy, adult development, and leadership inside and out (including one-on-one executive coaching). Courses taken during the first-year focus on practice-based learning and serve as the framework of your first-year experience.

Sample HGSE Courses

• Leading Change
• How People Learn
• Ed.L.D. Proseminar
• Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Learning
• Race, Equity, and Leadership
• Practicing Leadership Inside and Out
• Sector Change
• The Workplace Lab for System-Level Leaders

View  all courses  in the Academic Catalog.

Each cohort member works with program advisers to choose an individualized sequence of electives from any of the Harvard graduate schools. You will work closely with the program faculty and staff during your second year to determine the best match with a partner organization for your third-year residency. Matches are driven by mutual interest between the resident and the partner organization, and each student's career and learning goals and geographic preferences.

• Second Year Practicing Leadership Inside and Out
• Driving Change 
• Education Sector Nonprofits
• Negotiation Workshop
• Coaching with Equity in Mind
• Ethnic Studies and Education
• Deeper Learning for All:  Designing a 21st Century School System
• Institutional Change in School Organizations, Systems, and Sectors

You will take part in a 10-month paid residency at one of our partner organizations. There, you will work on a strategic project which synthesizes your experience and learning into a written Capstone project. You will stay connected to your Ed.L.D. cohort and HGSE through technology and by returning to Harvard periodically for intensive workshops.

Paid Residency 

Our partner organizations include school systems and departments of education, as well as some of the nation's most influential and dynamic nonprofit, mission-based for-profit, and philanthropic organizations.

You will be intentionally pushed out of your comfort zones and asked to work systemically and make a significant contribution to the partner organization. In addition, the residency will provide you with the professional mentoring, practical experiences, and network of connections they need to position themselves as future leaders in the education sector. 

Strategic Project 

You will define (with supervisors from your partner organization) a strategic project on which to focus. You will have the opportunity to lead one or two major efforts on behalf of the organization, such as the creation or implementation of current initiatives. The project allows you to practice and improve leadership skills, add important value to the mission and strategy of the partner organization, work systemically, and hold high-level accountability.

During the residency period, you will produce a written Capstone. The Capstone is a descriptive, analytic, and reflective account of your third-year leadership contributions to a strategic project within an Ed.L.D. partner organization. It is a demonstration of your ability to engage others, develop strategy to successfully address and diagnose challenges, work toward a vision and goals, and learn from the results.

Sample Topics

• Accountability, Coherence, and Improvement: Leadership Reflection and Growth in the Los Angeles Unified School District
• Leadership Development for Entrepreneurial Education Leaders Working to Build Public & Private Sector Support
• Disrupting Teacher Preparation: Lessons in Collaboration and Innovation Across the Learning to Teach Community of Practice
• Pursuing Educational Equality for English Language Learners

Sample Summaries 

• Breaking Down Silos in a School District: Findings from an Ed.L.D. Project in Montgomery County
• Expanding Students' Access to Meaningful STEM Learning Opportunities Through Strategic Community Partnerships
• Developing a New Teacher Leadership and Compensation System in Iowa: A Consensus-Based Process
• Finding Great Teachers for Blended-Learning Schools

GSE Theses and Dissertations from Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH)

Program Faculty

Ed.L.D. students learn with renowned faculty from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Kennedy School. Faculty from the three schools share their individual expertise in the Ed.L.D. Program and work collaboratively to provide a challenging and coherent experience for students. Faculty who teach in the Ed.L.D. core curriculum and advise Ed.L.D. students include:

Faculty Director

Frank D. Barnes

Frank Barnes is faculty director of the Doctor of Education Leadership Program. He has over 30 years experience as an educator, researcher, and organizer. As a chief accountability officer, he led turnaround efforts for large public school districts, including Boston Public Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Kathryn Parker Boudett

Ebony N. Bridwell-Mitchell

Jennifer Perry Cheatham

Elizabeth City

Candice Crawford-Zakian

Marshall Ganz

Adria D. Goodson

Deborah helsing.

Monica C. Higgins

Deborah Jewell-Sherman

Lisa Laskow Lahey

Mary Grassa O'Neill

Irvin Leon Scott

Catherine Snow

Michael L. Tushman

Martin west.

Introduce Yourself

Tell us about yourself so that we can tailor our communication to best fit your interests and provide you with relevant information about our programs, events, and other opportunities to connect with us.

Program Highlights

Explore examples of the Doctor of Education Leadership experience and the impact its community is making on the field:

Do We Need Happiness Teachers?

After a trip to meet with the Dalai Lama, an Ed.L.D. student says we do

Combatting Chronic Absenteeism with Family Engagement 

As post-COVID absenteeism rates continue unabated, a look at how strong family-school engagement can help

How to Write a Consulting Proposal [Templates & Examples]

Published: April 24, 2024

You’ve just wrapped up a call with a prospective consulting client. They’re interested in working with you. Congratulations! If you’ve found your way to this blog post, it’s safe to assume you now need to develop a consulting proposal for this client — and you need help doing so. That’s why I’m here.

In this post, I’ll explain what a consulting proposal is, and how to write one that your prospective clients can’t resist.

Table of Contents

What is a consulting proposal?

How to write a consulting proposal, parts of a consulting proposal, consulting proposal template for sales, consulting proposal template for marketing.

• Sample Consulting Proposal

Consulting Proposal Tools

A consulting proposal is a document that outlines the nature, scope, and timeline of a specific consulting project. Like a salesperson’s pitch to a prospect, a consulting proposal highlights the problem your prospective client is experiencing and positions you, the consultant, as the solution.

Many prospective clients request proposals before officially signing on the dotted line. Why? In short, a consulting proposal outlines your working relationship so both parties can stay aligned and understand the other’s expectations. Proposals aren’t paper formalities — they signify the start of an important client-consultant relationship.

This document will effectively take your conversations with the prospect into an active working relationship. That’s why it’s important to write a good proposal.

A good consulting proposal must have the following information:

• A summary of the problems or challenges that your prospect is facing.
• A detailed account of how you’ll solve those problems.
• A list of the results you’ll seek to achieve for their business.

It also includes contractual information such as fees and terms.

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Before You Create a Consulting Proposal

Writing a consulting proposal will require a bit of pre-work. You’ll want to get to know your client’s needs and goals.

1. Chat with your client in person or over the phone.

You can’t write an effective consulting proposal without chatting with your prospective client first. Do your best to set up a phone call for this conversation; if you can, meet in person. An email will suffice for getting to know your client and their consulting needs, but letting them see your face and/or hear your voice will help you build trust with them.

2. Understand their challenges and needs.

The better you understand your prospective client’s challenges and pain points, the more impactful your proposal can be.

While a consulting proposal template can help get the job done, the details in your proposals should not be one-size-fits-all; they should be tailored to each client and their needs. Don’t hesitate to follow up with additional phone calls or meetings to better understand your client and what they need from you.

3. Highlight your value proposition.

Hiring a consultant is not a cheap investment, and you want your client to understand that they’re investing in you because you’ll deliver results. You don’t necessarily need to include a section titled “Value Proposition,” either.

Instead, get specific on how you’ll deliver. For example, you could mention how you’ll be increasing X metric, reducing Y negative outcome, or driving Z results for their business.

4. Ask about the details.

A successful proposal reflects the project scope and details to keep both parties aligned. Don’t forget to ask about your client’s ideal timeline, budget, expectations, and outcomes. These details are important for selling a prospective client on your services as well as giving your client a better understanding of how exactly you two will work together.

Knowing how to write a clear, concise consulting proposal can make or break your ability to convert prospective clients. Let’s review how to put together a winning proposal.

Consulting Scope Template

In consulting, a scope of work document ensures that the consultant and client are on the same page from the start regarding the precise work to be completed, by when, and for what investment.

Here’s what I typically see a scope of work document contain:

Client Details

Consultant Details

Project Summary

Milestones, Tasks, Process, and Timeline

Project Exclusions

Investment and Payment Terms

• Communications, Reporting, and Approval Details

Other Terms

Here’s a consulting scope of work template that you can draw inspiration from.

Scope of Work

Company Name:

Company Representative:

Designation:

Alternate Company Representative (and Contact Details):

Consulting Representative:

This project will entail (enter details here in two to three paragraphs).

Here’s an overview of the project’s tasks along with the corresponding deadlines:

Milestone 1
Milestone 2
Milestone 3

The scope of work defines the parameters of the project. Any tasks or services not explicitly specified within this document are considered outside the scope of the project.

In consideration of the milestones described above, (Client Company) shall pay (Consulting Company) the following fee structure for the project:

	$00.00

Sample Invoice (Attach a sample invoice template for reference)

The payment terms are as follows:

• $X will be paid within (insert number of days) days after signing of this scope of work as an initial deposit.
• Invoices will be submitted every (insert frequency) which will include the price for completed milestones.
• Payment should be made within X days of the invoice receipt.
• Late payment will result in a fee of $X per day.
• List other payment terms.

Communication, Reporting, and Approval

General Contact Details

Client Company

• Primary Contact Person for the Project:
• Contact Information:

Consulting Company

Communication Channels

This subsection outlines the communication guidelines for this project, which will take place via:

• (Add general guidelines)
• (Add availability/timing/frequency details)

Periodic updates regarding the project progress will be given via:

• What it Includes:

The guidelines for milestone/task approval and final sign-off for the project are as follows:

• (List guidelines here)
• (List and explain other important terms and conditions)

Each party acknowledges that it has read this scope of work, understands it, and agrees to the terms and conditions.

Client Representative (On Behalf of ‘Client Company’):

Client Company:

Consulting Representative (On Behalf of ‘Consulting Company’):

Consulting Company:

Please read, approve, and sign this document by (insert date here). Once the scope of work is accepted, (Consulting Company Name) shall get in touch within two business days to set up an introductory call for the project.

Note : This template doesn’t constitute legal advice and is for general information purposes only. Before entering into a legal agreement, ask a lawyer to review your scope of work document prior to sending it to a client. This will help prevent issues from arising down the line.

• Write an executive summary.
• Briefly describe why you’re the best for the job.
• Specify what the client can expect from the project.
• Establish what your deliverables will be.
• Confirm and outline the costs.
• Specify any other contract terms and conditions.
• Keep the proposal concise.
• Ask for feedback

1. Write an executive summary.

Get started by writing an executive summary or introduction (also called a project summary). This section will include your client’s challenges or obstacles and how you intend to solve them. Simply put, this section summarizes the entire project.

2. Briefly describe why you’re the best for the job.

There’s a good chance your client may be receiving proposals from other companies. You’ll need to show them that you’re the right person for the job and assure them they’re in great hands. Briefly describe how your experience will help the client achieve their goals.

While it may be tempting to hone in on your qualifications and experience, your consulting proposal should focus on what your client will get from working with you. You can add this information as a short (1-2 sentences) paragraph in your introduction.

3. Specify what the client can expect from the project.

Be as specific as possible about the value and outcomes your client can expect. For example, if your main objective is to increase traffic, say that and outline how. This will help you draft your project scope.

Avoid buzzwords and generic jargon. In fact, do your best to use the same words they did in your meetings — this will resonate with them and show you were listening.

4. Establish what your deliverables will be.

Go back to your client conversation notes. Do they need a new marketing strategy, a new website, or advertising plan? What tangible products will they have once the project is completed? These will be your “deliverables” and you’ll want to include them in your proposal so the client knows exactly what they are getting out of the project. I’ll describe deliverables in more detail in the next section.

5. Confirm and outline the costs.

You’ll want to be up front with the client about how much the project will cost. Be clear about your fees and what they include. If you require specific payment structures like a deposit or installments on certain dates, explicitly explain them in this section of your proposal.

6. Specify any other contract terms and conditions.

This section will specify exactly what terms and conditions the client is agreeing to should they decide to proceed. In addition to rates, this can include a timeframe for the project (start and end date), payment types accepted or any other terms you require.

7. Keep the proposal concise.

When it comes to consulting proposals, quality matters much more than quantity. Keep your proposal as brief as possible to accurately describe the project scope and expectations. Don’t give your client a reason to stop reading your proposal and potentially view another consultant’s — instead, keep your proposal concise and engaging.

8. Ask for feedback.

A consulting proposal is a two-way document, meaning both parties should have a say in the content it includes. As you develop your proposal, clarify any questions or concerns you have with your prospective client. When finished, send it to your client for review and feedback.

Consider building your proposal in Google Docs or a similar word processor in which your client can collaborate and leave comments or suggestions.

Now that I’ve covered how to write a consulting proposal more broadly, let’s break it down into parts.

The most effective consulting proposals follow an engaging and logical structure. In this section, I’ll discuss the anatomy of a well-written consulting proposal.

1. Salutation

Begin your document by greeting your client.

A personalized greeting sets apart your consulting proposals from a generic proposal. When you treat your proposal as a personal letter, prospective clients are more likely to trust you and want to build a relationship with you. Use the client’s formal name (e.g., “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” or “Dr.”) unless you’re on a first-name basis.

2. Introduction

In this section, write three to four sentences describing the nature of the project and the issues you want to solve.

Consider this section the introduction, or hook, of your proposal. Summarize the challenges your prospective client is facing and what value you can provide through your consulting services. In this section, you should also thank your client for considering you and give them a brief overview of what they can expect from the rest of the proposal.

You can also include one to two sentences introducing yourself and your business. While the proposal shouldn’t be focused on your work as a consultant, it never hurts to include a short section in which you explain why the client should choose you. Even if you pitched yourself during your initial prospective call, you can reiterate your key strengths and qualifications here.

3. Project Scope

Next, add three to five bullet points giving insight into the exact action items (or tasks) you’ll undertake to achieve the desired result.

This section is all about what you’ll be doing to carry out the project you outlined above. For example, if you’re being hired to review and analyze a client’s marketing strategies, this section would outline how long your phone calls or office visits will be, how many calls or visits you commit to each week, the length of each visit, etc. You can never be too detailed in the project scope section; it’ll only save you and your client a headache later.

4. Objectives

In this section, you’ll want to list out three to five objectives for the project.

Now that you’ve covered both the purpose and scope of the project, it’s time to convince the client of the project’s value. What sort of results do you want your client to see after they’re done working with you?

Unlike the deliverables section below, which focuses on the actual “final products” you’ll be delivering, the objectives section focuses on the end result after those products are delivered. It’s important to put this as early as possible in your document so that your client is convinced they’re making a good investment.

5. Deliverables

Next, list out the concrete deliverable(s) the client will have once they’re finished working with you. Will it be a revamped website? A redesigned collection of brochures?

This section outlines the tangible, identifiable end “products” you will be providing your client as a result of the project. If the project scope describes “how,” the deliverables are the “what.”

Following the example above, while your project scope would be reviewing and analyzing marketing strategies, your deliverables may be a detailed analysis document, a presentation of proposed changes, or even a brand-new marketing plan (the specific details will vary depending on your client and their preferences and needs).

6. Timeline

In this section, give a timeline for each specific action item you listed in the “Scope” section.

This section is incredibly important for setting expectations and creating boundaries with clients. If the project scope describes “how” and the deliverables outline the “what,” can you guess what the timeline section is? Ding, ding — it’s the “when.”

The timeline part of the proposal should outline specific project dates and deadlines for different parts of your project. Whether you’re making office visits, creating documents, or simply sending follow-up emails, try to detail every possible date in your proposal. At the very least, make sure you include the project start, final project deadlines, and any milestones in between.

7. Investment

Next, list out your consulting fees and what they include, as well as how and when you prefer to get paid.

If you recommend using a certain payment portal, include that information here. Similarly, if you require a down payment or staggered fee structure, don’t forget that information, too.

Here are some other tips to consider when creating this section of your proposal.

8. Signature

In this section, you’ll immediately ask for a signature from your prospective client. Include space for them to write the day’s date, their name, and their signature.

You’ll want to include this straight in the proposal, even if they’re still in the consideration stage, so that it’s easier to get approval. If you add the additional step of having to send a “finalized contract,” you risk unnecessarily elongating the process.

9. Next Steps

Last, include a strong call-to-action in your proposal. Leave your email for them to contact you as well. Give clear instructions in this final section so clients know how to move forward.

While each proposal should be tailored to each prospective client, it can be tedious to write out the entire document every time. This is where a consulting proposal template can come in handy.

Below you’ll find two consulting proposal templates: one for sales and one for marketing.

You can use this free consulting proposal template in Word or PDF format. The sections match up with what I covered above, but are worded a little differently to better align with sales.

Pro tip : If you use a template, don’t forget to double-check that all client-specific details are updated and correct.

Featured Resource: Free Consulting Proposal Template

Activity

Start Date

Completion Date

Content Audit

January 1

January 14

Technical Audit

January 15

January 31

Usability Tests

February 1

February 7

Content Plan Creation

February 8

February 28

Content Plan Review and Approval

March 1

March 7

Content Creation

March 8

April 30

Website Redesign

April 1

June 1

I charge fees per project based on the estimated time to completion.

You won’t have to worry about hiring freelance writers or finding a web developer. As your consultant, I’ll take care of that for you. All fees are inclusive of phone calls and emails.

Project Activity	Hours	Fee
Content and Technical Audit	30	$900
Usability Tests	N/A	$200
Content Plan Creation	30	$900
Content Creation	100	$3,000
Website Redesign	100	$3,000
		$8,000

Please sign below.

[signature form]

Please return the signed document to me by Wednesday, December 6. I’ll touch base with you on Friday, December 8, to discuss this proposal. You can send me any questions and concerns at [email protected]. I look forward to working with you.

Now that you have an idea of what a sample consulting proposal looks like, I’m going to share some tools that can help with your next draft.

Consulting Proposal Example

For more inspiration on how to write your proposal, I’d like to show you an example of an audio marketing company’s proposal.

Don't forget to share this post!

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New ISPE Guide Provides Support for 503A Compounding Community

A recently released guidance document, the ISPE Guide: 503A Compounding – Regulatory Basis and Industry Good Practices for Pharmacies , summarizes and contextualizes key information from US governmental bodies relevant to 503A pharmacies. The resource is intended to benefit the existing pharmacy compounding industry, those considering entering that space, or third parties working with pharmacy compounders, such as hospitals. The guide is designed to help the compounding community better understand existing requirements and good industry practices, thus enabling them to deliver safer drug products. 1

• 1 ISPE. ISPE Guide: 503A Compounding – Regulatory Basis and Industry Good Practices for Pharmacies. ISPE; 2024. https://ispe.org/publications/guidance-documents/guide-503a-compounding.

Although most US patients receive their medical prescriptions via traditional manufacturers, the role of compounding pharmacies is increasing. The US compounding pharmacies market was estimated to be over $5 billion in 2023, with the 503A segment accounting for almost three-fourths of this. The total market is expected to increase to over $10 billion in the next decade. 2

By law, compounding pharmacies cannot make generics of US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA)-approved and marketed products, except in the case of published drug shortages. Compounding pharmacies can also produce versions of products that have been discontinued by manufacturers, and both drug shortages and discontinuations have led to increased demand for compounded products. 2  Pain management, hormone replacement, dermatology applications, and nutritional supplements have made up a significant portion of the compounding market, but a variety of other drugs would be categorized as compounded products as well. 3

Parties looking to enter the compounding space have sometimes found it challenging to synthesize, interpret, and implement existing guidance on compounding pharmacies, which are regulated differently than mass-produced traditional products.

Under the original US Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), traditional prescription drug manufacturers are required to submit evidence of the safety and efficacy of drugs, e.g., through clinical trials and other requirements. However, individual compounding pharmacies were initially excluded from these federal mandates. 4

To this day, states are the main regulators for most prescription-based drug compounding practices, but the US federal government does play some role in requirements and oversight. In 1997, Congress created an additional section to the FDCA, Section 503A, which applies directly to compounding pharmacies.

In 2013, Congress passed the Drug Quality and Security ACT (DQSA) to further clarify the US FDA’s authority in oversight of the compounded drug market, partly in response to an outbreak of fungal meningitis traced to a large-scale drug compounding facility. The act both amended 503A and added another section to the FDCA, Section 503B, which would apply to larger compounding facilities. 4

503A pharmacies are smaller facilities which compound medications for individual patients based on a doctor’s prescription. In contrast, 503B compounders are registered as outsourcing facilities which must follow additional regulations. They can manufacture large batches of compounded drugs to be sold to healthcare facilities, without necessarily compounding for patient specific prescriptions. 4

The recently released ISPE Guide provides advice and insights pertaining specifically to compounding under FDCA Section 503A. It reviews key details and provides additional context surrounding the criteria set out by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), chapters 795, 797, 800, and 1163, and sections of other chapters to which all 503A pharmacies are expected to adhere. Additionally, although it does not provide individual state-based guidance, it clarifies the authority of State Boards of Pharmacy and their coordination with the US FDA.1

The ISPE Guide: 503A Compounding – Regulatory Basis and Industry Good Practices for Pharmacies provides general background on compounding, sterile and nonsterile drugs, general compounding requirements such as those pertaining to prescriptions and personnel, quality management systems, training, material sourcing, and facilities and equipment. It also includes information on environmental controls, quality, and maintenance, as well as product testing and the handling, storage, and transport of compounded products.1

Another key benefit of the guide is its inclusion of suggested Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) lists. These outline the requirements that need to be performed to satisfy the relevant USP chapters for pharmaceutical compounding. 1

This ISPE 503A compounding guide provides complementary information to the ISPE 503B compounding guide released in 2023: ISPE Guide: 503B Compounding – Regulatory Basis and Industry Good Practices for Outsourcing Facilities . The latter guide provides targeted information for outsourcing facilities, which must follow additional requirements. 5

The information provided in the ISPE guides on compounding are a significant first step in ISPE’s efforts to provide resources for the compounding industry. The Community of Practice (CoP) that ISPE has developed for compounding further emphasizes their recognition of this segment of the pharmaceutical industry as critical to patient care and creates a collaborative space for bringing together individuals and organizations in the compounding industry to share best practices and address the ever-evolving practice of compounding. Rebecca Welton Senior Consultant, Regulatory Affairs Lachman Consultant Services, Inc. Co-secretary of the Pharmaceutical Compacting Community of Practice (CoP), and lead author of the ISPE guides on 503A compounding and 503B compounding

• 2 a b c Biospace. U.S. compounding pharmacies market size, share, CAGR, Report 2024 to 2033. April 15, 2024. https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/u-s-compounding-pharmacies-market-size-share-cagr-report-2024-to-2033/
• 3 Global Market Insights. Compounding pharmacies market size. August 2022. https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/compounding-pharmacies-market
• 4 a b c National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Committee on the Clinical Utility of Treating Patients with Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy; Jackson LM, Parker RM, Mattison DR, editors. 3, Regulatory framework for compounded preparations. The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: A Review of Safety, Effectiveness, and Use. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2020 Jul 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562888/
• 1  
• 5 ISPE. ISPE Guide: 503B Compounding – Regulatory Basis and Industry Good Practices for Outsourcing Facilities. ISPE; 2023. https://ispe.org/publications/guidance-documents/guide-503b-compounding
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