In 2010, ECFMG instituted medical school accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency as a future requirement for ECFMG Certification. individuals should contact the agency directly regarding the However, the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS) is currently working jointly with interested accrediting agencies on a project to include accreditation information on medical schools accredited by WFME recognised agencies. 28. or that graduates of the school are currently eligible for ECFMG The WFME Recognition Programme is designed to provide an independent, transparent and rigorous method of ensuring that the accreditation of medical schools worldwide is at an internationally accepted and high standard. 5. To meet the requirements for Pathway 6, the applicants clinical skills must be evaluated by licensed physicians using ECFMGs Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX). World Federation for Medical Education stream ECFMGs program of certification assesses whether international medical graduates are ready to enter post-graduate training programs in the United States. If the agency does not apply for a second evaluation within two years, it needs to re-apply for the full process again. endobj WFME is reviewing all extra-territorial activities of accrediting agencies and the next edition of this list will include complete information on all accrediting agencies that are recognised by WFME for operation outside their home country or region. Thus, beginning in 2024, medical schools will need to be accredited by a WFME-recognized accrediting agency if they wish to ensure their students and graduates are eligible for ECFMG Certification. This objective is met through the development of standards in medical education, by the promotion of accreditation of medical schools, with the development of databases on medical education, through projects on the future of medicine and medical education, and through other publications and partnerships. The goal of this initiative, now known as the Recognized Accreditation Policy, is to stimulate accreditation efforts worldwide and promote global standards for the evaluation of undergraduate medical education. Please monitor this web page for the latest information. ECFMG has acknowledged that many countries have been forced to suspend or limit their accreditation efforts due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). WFME can provide a list of independent experts who can be approached by an accrediting agency that seeks advice. The current WFME Recognition Criteria can be found at http://wfme.org/accreditation/recognition-criteria/. Intended for applicants who have not yet obtained a license/registration to practice medicine without supervision (Pathway 1) and who have not already passed an acceptable standardized clinical skills exam for medical licensure (Pathway 2). Registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. 1. The World Directory of Medical Schools has been developed through a partnership between the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), a member of Intealth. Applicant's medical school is currently accredited by an agency that has received a determination of comparability by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). You should take into consideration the following activities that the WFME recognition team will observe: a [] education programs. Medical schools accredited by agencies recognized by the WFME are eligible to be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, and qualified graduates of those schools are eligible to seek certification from the USA Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The World Federation for Medical Education, Enhancing the quality of medical education worldwide, Download: List of Agencies with Recognition Status or Applying. WFME Recognition Programme The Recognition Programme delivers an independent, transparent and rigorous method of ensuring that accreditation of medical schools worldwide is at an internationally accepted and high standard. The WFME Recognition Programme is the only program accepted by ECFMG at the current time for the recognition of medical school accrediting agencies. The status of all agencies, including those with Recognition Status and those which have formally started their application to the WFME Recognition Programme, is published here. WFME offers the Recognition Programme to support quality improvement and the maintenance of quality of medical education, world-wide. b) an independent professional body that is authorised or recognised by the relevant national or state/provincial government (Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education or both), or the legislator (parliament), or Agencies currently applying for recognition to be accurate, it does not encompass all organizations that have Unfortunately, as a result of COVID-19, there are a lot of countries that have been forced to suspend or limit their accreditation process. The assessment procedure is rigorous, and it is likely that to be successful, an accrediting agency will meet a very high proportion of the criteria. ECFMG has announced that, starting in 2024 (previously 2023), individuals applying for ECFMG Certification must be a student or graduate of a medical school that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). info@wdoms.org, Copyright 2023 World Federation for Medical Education Terms and Conditions Privacy, Countries served by agencies with Recognition Status (Map), Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, Guidelines for Accreditation of Basic Medical Education, 2013 WHO policy briefing on medical accreditation. Recognition Status is awarded by WFME to an accrediting agency working to an internationally accepted high standard, and confers the understanding that the quality of accreditation of undergraduate medical schools is to an appropriate and rigorous standard. What types of accrediting agencies are eligible for WFME recognition? organizations are often responsible for the establishment of Initial implementation will involve reporting of a medical schools recognized accreditation status. WFME explicitly values transparency and has recognition criteria that relate to agencies making information publicly available. WFME policy is that all eligible accrediting agencies should be able to approach WFME for recognition even if based in a country with low resources. Only if the external evaluator is an acceptable accrediting agency as set out in the answer to FAQ 5 above. Applicants and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to check this web page frequently for updates. . An applicant to Pathway 3, 4, or 5 must be a student or a recent graduate of a medical school that meets eligibility requirements established by ECFMG. For more information about a countrys recognizing/accrediting Many accrediting agencies have sought recognition, enhancing the quality of medical education around the world. The World Directory provides a comprehensive compilation of the information previously contained in the IMED and Avicenna directories. For more information on agencies recognized by WFME, refer to the WFME website at . The ECFMG website is the best source of information on the ECFMG 2024 policy. These applicants must be students or recent graduates and must meet eligibility requirements established by ECFMG. RI*U$Ad`Pn@#~>4~&Wp_cBxSm)}Fxxq=0G&P_Ds$wPR8 Track elected officials, research health conditions, and find news you can use in politics . The WFME Recognition Programme is the only programme accepted by ECFMG at the current time for the recognition of medical school accrediting agencies. Pathway 3: Medical School Accredited by Agency Recognized by World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) Pathway 4: Medical School Accredited by Agency that Has Received a Determination of Comparability by National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA) 2. [2] Later that year, it was renamed Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates. Starting in 2024 only medical schools accredited by agencies recognized by WFME will be accepted. WFME Recognition Programme: Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Recognition The WFME Recognition Programme evaluates agencies against internationally-accepted criteria for accreditation. The country or region must adopt or develop its own set of standards for basic medical education, which must consider the local needs, context and culture of medical education and medical care. Results showed that ECFMG certification rates, a measure of success in meeting stringent application, medical school, and examination requirements, were significantly greater for applicants who attended medical schools in countries with WFME-recognized agencies (16 at the time of the study) compared to applicants from countries without WFME . <> endobj Pathway 4. We are energized by the commitment to quality improvement demonstrated in response to this initiative. The World Federation for Medical Education, Enhancing the quality of medical education worldwide. We will announce an effective date as we approach 2024; we will also continue to reassess this timeline as needed. In conjunction with NBME, The World Federation for Medical Education, Enhancing the quality of medical education worldwide. What types of accrediting agencies are eligible for WFME recognition? Currently, the only Caribbean accrediting agencies recognized by the WFME are CAAM-HP, ACCM and NVAO. As you may know, starting in 2024, the ECFMG will only offer certification to students and graduates of international medical programs that have been accredited by agencies recognized by the WFME. The fee also supports the further development of the recognition programme. Only if the accrediting agency is an acceptable accrediting agency as set out in the answer to FAQ 5 above. accreditation status of specific medical schools. Two accrediting agencies have been awarded Recognition Status by the World Federation of Medical Education - National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) and Eurasian Centre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Health Care (ECAQA). WFME is reviewing all extra-territorial activities of accrediting agencies and the next edition of this list will include complete information on all accrediting agencies that are recognised by WFME for operation outside their home country or region. info@wdoms.org, Copyright 2023 World Federation for Medical Education Terms and Conditions Privacy. Medical schools accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by one of the following organizations satisfy the requirements of the Recognized Accreditation Policy. Certification. Accreditation of medical education is normally carried out by national governments, or by agencies receiving their authority from national governments. Countries served by agencies with Recognition Status (Map). USA Yes, it has. Directory of Organizations that Recognize/Accredit Medical Schools (DORA). info@wdoms.org, Copyright 2023 World Federation for Medical Education Terms and Conditions Privacy, Countries served by agencies with Recognition Status (Map), Note: Agencies with the symbol *** against their country of operation also operate elsewhere, or are considering doing so. WFME can offer general advice on accreditation, but does not provide detailed support in the setting up of accrediting agencies. responsibilities related to approving medical schools and/or medical In the event that examination of the application form shows that the agency is not eligible for recognition by WFME, this fee is non-refundable. Accreditation is the certification of the suitability of medical education programmes, and of the competence of medical schools in the delivery of medical education. Other options may also be possible. To find out whether your medical school is accredited by a recognised agency, first enquire of your school whether or not it is accredited and if so, by which agency. ECFMG was founded in 1956, in response to the increase need for the evaluation of the readiness of international medical graduates entering the physician workforce during the 1950 expansion of US healthcare system. endobj 2 University College London, London, USA. This process will allow medical schools accredited by recognized agencies, and their graduates, to meet ECFMG's accreditation requirement. 15. WFME welcomes this recognition that the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed or restricted the work of some accrediting agencies.