American University of Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) has been granted continued accreditation by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM) for the maximum period of six years through 2027. AUC’s re-accreditation affirms the university’s high standards of quality and excellence and strong outcomes, which are comparable to accredited U.S. and Canadian medical schools.
AUC, an Adtalem Global Education institution, is an international, accredited medical school with a medical sciences campus in Sint Maarten and clinical rotations at hospitals throughout the United States and United Kingdom. The university offers a curriculum aligned with U.S. standards, preparing students for success on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). AUC is committed to expanding access to medical education and increasing diversity within the profession: Approximately 27% of AUC’s student population identifies as Black or Hispanic. In 2021, the university achieved a 92% first-time eligible residency attainment rate, sending 304 graduates into medical residencies in 39 U.S. states and Canada.
“We are pleased to have AUC’s status as an accredited medical school affirmed by the ACCM,” said Pedro L. Delgado, M.D., AUC acting dean. “This renewal supports our ongoing mission to provide access to high-quality education for tomorrow’s physicians, whose service to their patients and communities is enhanced by international learning experiences, a diverse learning community and an emphasis on social accountability and engagement.”
ACCM accreditation is a rigorous, peer-review process that examines all aspects of a medical education program. The ACCM board, an independent and autonomous body of professionals, only certifies medical schools which are operating at the highest levels of industry standards. As the accreditor for the country of Sint Maarten, ACCM is recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) through 2026 and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). ECFMG recognition means that AUC students and graduates, the majority of whom matriculate from the U.S., are eligible to 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), enabling eligible AUC students to access financial support. NCFMEA’s purpose is to review the standards used by foreign countries to accredit medical schools and determine whether those standards are comparable to standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States.
Both Adtalem medical schools, AUC and its affiliate Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM), are accredited institutions and leaders in addressing critical workforce needs for physicians of diverse backgrounds. The combined AUC and RUSM 2020-21 graduating class totaled more than 1,000 graduates. The institutions, which have been established for more than 40 years, are also working to diversify the physician pipeline, and combined they graduate more Black physicians than any U.S. medical school.