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Q&A: What organization accredits medical schools worldwide?

Credentialing & Verification Update, February 27, 2008

A: If you haven't already verified international training or work experience on an application, chances are that you will do so in the future. As more international applicants apply for domestic medical staff memberships, it is increasingly important for MSPs to learn how to verify information from around the globe.

There are many international medical schools, but no single organization is responsible for accrediting all medical schools worldwide.

In addition, no organizations publish a list of the international medical schools that graduate the greatest number of physicians who eventually study or practice in the U.S. or Canada. The American Medical Association, the Federation of State Medical Boards, and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)--the agencies that are most likely to compile a listing of international schools that graduate the greatest number of physicians who go on to practice in the U.S. or Canada--unfortunately do not record such information.

Notably, the World Health Organization publishes the World Directory of Medical Schools, an economical, comprehensive listing of international schools.

For more information about the ECFMG, which assesses the readiness of international medical graduates to enter Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency or fellowship programs in the U.S., contact the organization at:

3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
Telephone: 215/386-5900
Fax:   215/386-9196
Email:   info@ecfmg.org
Web Site:  www.ecfmg.org

Editor's note: Subscribers to the Credentialing and Privileging Desktop Reference online have easy access to thousands of directory listings for primary source verification. If you don't yet subscribe and would like to take a free trial, go to http://online-cpdr.com/free_trial.cfm

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