Issue 420 – November 21, 2024
Intealth Implements Recognized Accreditation Policy
Intealth™ is pleased to announce that implementation of its Recognized Accreditation Policy has begun by reporting which medical schools currently meet the policy. Originally announced in 2010, the policy is designed to foster global accreditation efforts, promote harmonized standards for evaluating undergraduate medical education, and provide valuable information about the accreditation of medical schools worldwide.
What’s New
With the implementation of the Recognized Accreditation Policy, information is now being reported as described below.
- Notation in World Directory: If a medical school currently meets the requirements of the Recognized Accreditation Policy, a notation stating this will be included on the Sponsor Notes tab in the school’s listing in the World Directory of Medical Schools (World Directory).
This reporting will provide valuable information to current and future medical students, medical regulatory authorities, and others around the world. It also serves as an additional data point for U.S. program directors on the educational background of international medical students and graduates (IMGs) applying to U.S. graduate medical education (GME).
- General Information in ERAS®: A general statement about the policy will be added to the ECFMG® Status Reports for students and graduates applying to U.S. GME positions through the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS) and similar services, starting with the 2026 application season (beginning fall 2025). The statement will provide an overview of the policy; it will not be applicant or school specific.
What Has Not Changed
Implementation of the policy does not impact:
- An individual’s eligibility for ECFMG Certification. IMGs can continue to apply for and pursue ECFMG Certification, even if their medical school currently does not meet the requirements of the Recognized Accreditation Policy. IMGs can pursue ECFMG Certification as long as their medical school meets ECFMG’s current requirements.
- Medical school eligibility for an ECFMG Sponsor Note.
- Users of other ECFMG services, such as EPIC℠.
About Recognized Accreditation
“Recognized accreditation” means that the accrediting agency of a medical school has itself been reviewed and recognized by an external quality assurance organization. This organization, in turn, has been reviewed and approved by Intealth.
To date, Intealth has approved two such organizations – the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). More than 50 accrediting agencies worldwide are recognized by either WFME or NCFMEA. Medical schools that are currently accredited by one of these agencies meet the requirements of the Recognized Accreditation Policy.
In addition to the above, the school must have met ECFMG’s Medical School Requirements, as indicated by the ECFMG Sponsor Note in the school’s World Directory listing.
More Information
Detailed information about Intealth’s Recognized Accreditation Policy, including frequently asked questions, is available at www.intealth.org/accreditation. Specific questions regarding the policy may be sent to [email protected].
Certain Accreditation Data Also Now Available in World Directory
WFME operates the World Directory in partnership with FAIMER®, a division of Intealth. For medical schools accredited by an agency recognized by WFME, WFME has begun including specific information about the medical school’s accreditation on the Program Details tab in the school’s World Directory listing. More information is available on the WFME website.
