American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) has been granted continued accreditation by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM) for the maximum accreditation period of six years through 2027. The notification follows a November 2021 site visit in which the ACCM met with students, faculty and staff in Sint Maarten to review the university’s educational program and offerings.
“We are pleased to have AUC’s status as an accredited medical school affirmed by ACCM,” said Pedro L. Delgado, MD, AUC Acting Dean. "This renewal supports our ongoing mission to train tomorrow’s physicians, whose service to their communities and their patients is enhanced by international learning experiences, a diverse learning community, and an emphasis on social accountability and engagement.”
ACCM accreditation is recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and deemed comparable to accreditation of American medical schools. Accreditation from ACCM allows AUC students to be eligible for U.S. federal student aid as well as post-graduate training and licensure in the 50 United States. Beginning in 2024, international medical graduates seeking certification for the U.S. residency match must be enrolled in or a graduate of a school accredited by a WFME-recognized accrediting agency.
Ongoing accreditation speaks to AUC’s high-quality program and strong student outcomes—further evidenced by the university’s 92% first-time eligible residency attainment rate achieved by the 2020–21 graduating class. More than 300 AUC graduates entered medical residencies in 39 U.S. states and Canada in 2021.
Read: Caribbean Medical School Accreditation Process
About ACCM Accreditation
As the accreditor for the country of Sint Maarten, ACCM is recognized by WFME through 2026 as well as the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). ECFMG recognition means that AUC students and graduates can apply for ECFMG Certification to pursue post-graduate training and licensure in all 50 U.S. states. ACCM is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA), which allows our eligible students to apply for US federal student aid.
As with all accredited medical schools in the world, accreditation is for a certain length of time and formal reaccreditation happens at regular intervals. ACCM accreditation is a rigorous, peer-review process that examines all aspects of a medical program. AUC has been routinely involved in multiple accreditation processes and activities since its last reaccreditation in 2015.
