Who accredits Caribbean medical schools?
Three regional accreditors do almost all of the work of reviewing medical schools in the Caribbean:
- CAAM-HP - the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions. Based in Kingston, Jamaica, it accredits schools across CARICOM member states.
- ACCM - the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine, based in Ireland. It reviews several offshore Caribbean medical schools whose students come predominantly from the US and Canada.
- NVAO - the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders. It accredits medical programs in the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten).
A small number of schools list additional or historical recognitions (for example ministries of education, or older accreditors that have been superseded). These do not substitute for a current WFME-recognized accreditation.
What "WFME recognition" means and why it matters
The World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) does not accredit individual medical schools. Instead, it evaluates the accreditors themselves and publishes a list of Recognised Accrediting Agencies. CAAM-HP, ACCM, and NVAO are all on that list.
From 2024, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) requires applicants to hold a degree from a medical school accredited by a WFME-recognized agency. Because the three main Caribbean accreditors are recognized, graduates of schools they accredit remain eligible for ECFMG Certification - which is a prerequisite for the US Match.
How to read an accreditation status
Accreditation status usually falls into one of these categories:
- Accredited - the program meets the accreditor's standards. A term length (for example "5 years, expiring 2029") is normally specified.
- Accredited with conditions - the program meets standards but must address specific findings within a set period.
- Provisional / candidate - an initial or early-stage status while the program builds evidence for full accreditation.
- Probation - the program has significant deficiencies and is at risk of losing accreditation.
- Withdrawn / not accredited - the program is not currently recognized.
These labels vary slightly by accreditor. When you see a school listed on our site as "Accredited" or "Provisional," we link back to the accreditor's own page so you can read the underlying decision.
State approvals in the United States
On top of accreditation, some US states approve foreign medical schools individually for clinical rotations and for licensure of their graduates:
- California (MBC) - the Medical Board of California maintains an approved-schools list.
- New York (NYSED) - the New York State Education Department reviews and approves clerkships.
- Florida (BOM) - the Florida Board of Medicine also runs its own review.
A Caribbean school can be accredited by CAAM-HP or ACCM but not approved in one or more of these states. If you plan to do rotations or practice in California, New York, or Florida, verify state approval separately.
How to verify a school's current status
- Go to the accreditor's own website (CAAM-HP, ACCM, or NVAO) and search for the school by name.
- Confirm the status label, the effective date, and the expiration date.
- Check the WFME World Directory entry to confirm the accreditor is currently recognized.
- If US residency is your goal, cross-check the ECFMG entry for the school.
- If you plan to rotate or practice in California, New York, or Florida, check that state's approved-school list.
Every school profile on this site links to at least the accreditor page and the school's official website so you can complete these checks in a few minutes.