Frequently Asked Questions

Who accredits medical schools? What standards are used to accredit schools?
In the United States, the accreditation status of programs leading to the M.D. degree is determined solely by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). In cooperation with the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS), the LCME also accredits M.D. programs in Canada. To be accredited, programs must meet the national standards described in the document, Functions and Structure of  a Medical School. For further information, refer to the Overview and Accreditation Procedures sections of this site.

Why are there two LCME offices? Which one should I contact?
The LCME is jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association (AMA). The AAMC and the AMA each appoint an LCME Secretary and maintain accreditation offices in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, respectively. Primary responsibility for coordinating survey visits, hosting LCME meetings, and serving as LCME spokesman (the "principal Secretary") alternates between the offices each academic year. In even-numbered years beginning each July 1, the principal Secretary is at the AAMC. In odd-numbered years beginning each July 1, the principal Secretary is at the AMA. Contacts to either office should provide answers to any questions.

How many medical schools are accredited by the LCME? Is (a particular medical school) accredited by the LCME? Is a list of accredited schools available?
Currently, the LCME accredits 125 programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States; and, together with the Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS), accredits 17 M.D. programs in Canada. See the Directory of Accredited Medical Education Programs for a complete list. Lists of accredited schools in the U.S. and Canada also are published each fall in the Medical Education Issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation signifies that national standards for structure, function, and performance are met by a medical school's education program leading to the M.D. degree. LCME accreditation is required for schools to receive federal grants for medical education and to participate in federal loan programs. Students and graduates of LCME-accredited medical schools are eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). These graduates also have eligibility to enter residencies approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Graduating from an LCME-accredited U.S. school and passing the national licensing examinations are accepted as prerequisities for medical licensure in most states.

How can I order LCME publications?
All LCME publications are available as downloadable as PDF files.

Does the LCME accredit international medical schools? If not, who does?
The LCME accredits only M.D. programs in the U.S. and Canada. There is no single authority accrediting medical education programs abroad. Certain countries have their own processes for educational quality assurance or accreditation, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, and others.

Does the LCME accredit osteopathic medical schools?
No. Osteopathic medical schools are accredited by the American Osteopathic Association, Chicago, Illinois, 312-280-5842.

Does the LCME rank medical schools according to quality?
Medical schools are not ranked. The LCME evaluates educational programs according to standards for organization, function, and performance, but does not attempt to stratify institutions according to their characteristics. Medical schools differ greatly: whether they are private or state-supported, free-standing, or part of a parent university. They differ in their dependence on state appropriations, tuition, and income from clinical services and research; their relative emphasis on teaching, research, and medical practice; the size of their faculties and enrollments; the scope of their research and production of future scientists and teachers; and their emphasis on primary care and the training of future community physicians. While the quality of education is partly determined by the organization of programs and adequacy of resources, it also depends on the dedication of the faculty to teaching and to creating an environment conducive to learning. These and other important attributes may be obscured by efforts to rank schools by such variables as their size and the reputation of the faculty, level of research funding, or clinical facilities.

How can I register a complaint about a medical school to the LCME?
You should contact the office of the "principal LCME Secretary" and request a copy of the LCME's policy for handling complaints. The statement of policy and procedures will explain the grounds and procedures for filing a compliant. The policy and procedures are published as Appendix D in the LCME's Rules of Procedure. Copies of the policy are available from either LCME office.

What does accreditation cost? How is the LCME funded?
The LCME does not collect dues or charge fees for accreditation services, except for schools requesting initial, provisional accreditation. The operating funds for the LCME are allocated by the AAMC and AMA sponsors from their dues and other income. Costs related to accreditation are equally split between the AAMC and AMA Secretariats of the LCME.

Where can I find information about LCME requirements for new medical schools?
The document, LCME Accreditation Guidelines for New and Developing Medical Schools describes the minimum requirements for consideration by the LCME for granting intitial, provisional accreditation of a new program leading to the M.D. degree.

Questions Addressing LCME Pre-survey Preparation

When is my medical school due for its next full LCME accreditation survey?
Refer to the Directory of Accredited Medical Education Programs which lists the academic year of the next survey for each U.S. and Canadian medical school. Schedules for full LCME surveys in the current and following years are available online or contact either LCME office.

When will our school receive materials and instructions for preparing the medical education database and conducting the institutional self-study in preparation for our next LCME accreditation survey?
Pre-survey materials--database materials and instructions for completion, copies of LCME standards and rules of procedure, and guidebooks about the self-study, role of students, and preparation of the survey report--are shipped to medical school deans approximately 18 months prior to the scheduled date of the next full accreditation survey.

Now that our school's on-site visit date has been set, when will we receive information about developing the visit schedule, hotel arrangements, and visit logistics? Who will serve on the survey team visiting my school?
The principal LCME Secretary will send the dean a package of information approximately three months prior to the survey visit. This mailing will include the Guidelines for the Conduct of an Accreditation Survey, which describes the dean's responsibilities and includes a suggested schedule for the visit. A complete list of team members will be provided at that time.

Whom can I contact with questions about completing the medical education database, or if we're having trouble with the database on diskette?
Questions about the medical education database can be directed to either LCME office, though it's usually best to contact the LCME Secretary designated as the "principal" Secretary for the academic year of your survey. For assistance with the computer diskette version of the database, contact Susan Mortensen, Manager, Accreditation Services, AAMC.

Related Sites

What are some sources for further information on the following subjects:
AMA member services | AAMC member services | Canadian medical schools | Applying to medical school | USMLE exams | Residency programs | Certification of foreign medical graduates | Medical licensure, by state | International medical schools

American Medical Association  (AMA)
515 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Telephone: 312-464-5000

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
2450 N Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: 202-828-0400

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (formerly the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges)
774 Echo Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5P2 Canada
Telephone: 613-730-0687
Fax: 613-730-1196

Residency programs/graduate medical education:
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
515 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Telephone: 312-755-5000

Certification of foreign medical graduates:
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
Telephone: 215-386-5900

Medical licensure for each state:
Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
400 Fuller Wiser Road, Suite 300
Euless, TX 76039
Telephone: 817-868-4000

Administration of USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3:
National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
3750 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3190
Telephone: 215-590-9500

International medical schools (outside U.S. and Canada):
World Health Organization (WHO)
525 23rd Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: 202-974-3000