About LCME Accreditation
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is the accrediting authority for medical education programs granting in the United States. LCME accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed process that ensures medical education programs meet established standards for function, structure, and performance.
Medical education programs typically undergo the self-study process, and a full survey visit every eight years. During this process, programs conduct a detailed self-assessment to identify strengths and areas for improvement, followed by a thorough peer review conducted by the LCME. This cycle of evaluation helps institutions maintain high educational standards.
Why is LCME Accreditation Important?
- LCME accreditation assures that graduates exhibit the general professional competencies appropriate for entry to the next stage of their training and that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and proficient medical care.
- Most state boards of licensure require accreditation as a condition for licensure of a school’s graduates. A school must be accredited for students to be eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and for their graduates to be eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
The UW School of Medicine (UWSOM) remains fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which means UWSOM graduates are eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
For more detailed information about the LCME accreditation process and standards, or to verify the accreditation status of a medical education program, please contact the LCME Secretariat at lcmesubmissions@aamc.org or visit www.lcme.org/contact.