Accreditation and Approvals
Recognized Accreditation
St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (SMUSOM) has been continuously accredited since 2002, enabling our students to be eligible to practice in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Accreditation is a comprehensive assessment process by which educational institutions undergo external evaluations conducted by a panel of experts. The accreditors for medical schools must be favorably evaluated by federations and commissions in order for students to be eligible for residency placement, USMLE Step exams, and U.S. clinical rotations.
Navigating Accreditation – A Guide for Prospective Students Exploring International Medical Schools
SMUSOM’s accreditation and approvals ensure that students have:
- Access to US Federal Loans
- Access to take licensing exams, including the USMLE
- Access to clinical rotations
- Opportunity to participate in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) and apply for licensure to practice in the United States
Our Approvals
Our accreditor, the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and its standards have been deemed comparable to the standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). As a result, the ACCM provides “Recognized Accreditation” to SMUSOM, which is required for international medical graduates to enter the U.S. health care system.
St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine is one of the select international medical schools approved to participate in U.S. Federal Student Aid program.
St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine is one of the few international medical schools both approved by the State of New York and licensed in the state of Florida. These states mandate institutional review and approval prior to granting access to clerkship opportunities in their states. Additional information regarding SMUSOM may be obtained by contacting the Florida Department of Education Commission for Independent Education at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400, toll-free telephone number (888) 224-6684.
In addition to clerkship opportunities, New York approval provides its graduates access to residencies in the state. SMUSOM’s approval is for a period of seven years, which is the longest term of approval that can be granted to an international medical school.
In January 2020, The Medical Board of California determined that foreign medical schools must meet the following requirements to be recognized:
(1) The foreign medical school has been evaluated by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or one of the ECFMG-authorized foreign medical school accreditation agencies and deemed to meet the minimum requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
(2) The foreign medical school is listed on the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) World Directory of Medical Schools joint directory or the World Directory of Medical Schools.
SMUSOM satisfies these requirements and is recognized in California as of January 2020. For more than 20 years we have been accredited by ACCM which is an ECFMG authorized foreign medical school accreditation agency. ACCM is also recognized by the US Department of Education through NCFMEA. SMUSOM is listed with WFME and the World Directory. As such, we are in full compliance with California’s requirements. Therefore, current and future SMUSOM students qualify for clinical rotations, residencies, and licensure in California.
The United States Department of Education, via the NCFMEA, has determined that the accreditation standards used by the ACCM to accredit SMUSOM are comparable to those used by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body that accredits M.D. granting medical programs in the United States.
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) identifies SMUSOM as an approved school in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
SMUSOM is an international training center for the American Heart Association.
SMUSOM is a member of the IAMSE.
SMUSOM is an FMEC member institution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accreditation
Yes. SMUSOM is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM). ACCM has been recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and its standards have been deemed comparable to the standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA).
Yes. SMUSOM students who fulfill their academic requirements are eligible to sit for the United States Medical License Examinations (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2. SMUSOM’s inclusion in the World Directory of Medicine as an institution that meets Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements affords our students access to the USMLE.
Yes. Eligible students at SMUSOM can receive Federal Direct Student Loans. SMUSOM is one of the select international medical schools approved to participate in the U.S. Federal Student Aid program.
Yes. SMUSOM graduates are eligible to apply for licensure to practice medicine in the U.S. SMUSOM is certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), fulfilling a requirement of all state licensing authorities.