LCME — FAQs

LCME - FAQs

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  • What is the scope and purpose of accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)?

    Medical education programs leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME’s scope is limited to complete and independent medical education programs whose students are geographically located in the United States or Canada for their education and that are operated by universities or medical schools chartered in the United States or Canada.

    LCME accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed process of quality assurance that determines whether the medical education program meets established standards. This process also fosters institutional and programmatic improvement. To achieve and maintain accreditation, a medical education program leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada must meet the LCME accreditation standards contained in the LCME document Functions and Structure of a Medical School. Programs are required to demonstrate that their graduates exhibit general professional competencies that are appropriate for entry to the next stage of their training and that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and proficient medical care. While recognizing the existence and appropriateness of diverse institutional missions and educational objectives, the LCME subscribes to the proposition that local circumstances do not justify accreditation of a substandard program of medical education leading to the MD degree.

    For medical education programs located in the United States, accreditation by the LCME establishes eligibility for selected federal grants and programs, including Title VII funding administered by the U.S. Public Health Service. Most state boards of licensure require that U.S. medical schools granting the MD degree be accredited by the LCME as a condition for licensure of their graduates. Eligibility of U.S. students in MD-granting schools to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination ( USMLE) requires LCME accreditation of their school. Graduates of LCME-accredited schools are eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

  • What are the key components in the accreditation preparation?

    Standards and Elements – Twelve Standards each with 6-12 Elements 

    Independent Student Analysis (ISA) – A student driven analysis of the institutional strengths and areas for improvement 

    Data Collection Instrument (DCI) – A quantitative account of the school’s data, policies and procedures 

    Institutional Self-Study (ISS) – Internal evaluative review involving faculty, staff and students concluding in a report to the LCME

  • What are the Standards for accreditation?

    The Functions and Structure of a Medical School is organized according to 12 accreditation standards, each with an accompanying set of elements. The language of each of the 12 LCME accreditation standards is a concise statement of the expectations of that standard. The elements within a standard specify the components that collectively constitute the standard; they are statements that identify the variables that need to be examined in evaluating a medical education program’s compliance with the standard. The LCME will consider performance in all the elements associated with a specific standard in the determination of the program’s compliance with that standard. 

    1. Mission, Planning, Organization, and Integrity 
    2. Leadership and Administration 
    3. Academic and Learning Environments 
    4. Faculty Preparation, Productivity, Participation and Policies 
    5. Educational Resources and Infrastructure 
    6. Competencies, Curricular Objectives, and Curricular Design 
    7. Curricular Content 
    8. Curricular Management, Evaluation, and Enhancement 
    9. Teaching Supervision, Assessment, and Student and Patient Safety 
    10. Medical Student Selection, Assignment, and Progress 
    11. Medical Student Academic Support, Career Advising and Educational Records 
    12. Medical Student Health Services, Personal Counseling and Financial Aid Services
  • When will UTMB submit documentation to LCME for review and what documents are submitted?

    UTMB’s documents are due to the LCME on Monday October 31st, 2022. The completed survey package will include: the Data Collection Instrument (DCI), Appendix of Supporting Documents, the Self-Study Summary Report, the Independent Student Analysis (ISA), and an AAMC Medical School Graduation Questionnaire (AAMC GQ) Individual School Report.

  • When will UTMB have their full survey site visit and what does that entail?

    The survey team will be on site January 23-25, 2023.

  • When will we expect to hear the results of our visit?

    • LCME members will review the final survey report and team findings document at a regularly scheduled LCME meeting.

    • LCME members will determine whether the medical education program’s performance of accreditation elements is satisfactory, satisfactory with a need for monitoring, or unsatisfactory, and whether the program is in compliance, in compliance with a need for monitoring, or in noncompliance with accreditation standards.

    • The LCME will determine an accreditation status for the program and any required follow-up. For existing, fully accredited medical education programs, the LCME may take one of the following actions: continue accreditation for an eight-year term; continue accreditation for an undetermined term; continue accreditation, but place the program on warning; continue accreditation, but place the program on probation (this action is subject to reconsideration); or withdraw accreditation (this action is subject to appeal).

    • The LCME Secretariat will communicate the LCME’s findings related to elements and accreditation standards and its accreditation action within 30 days to the president/chief executive officer of the institution sponsoring the medical education program, with a copy of the letter of accreditation to the dean. The school’s accreditation status along with the date of the next survey visit will be updated on the Directory page of lcme.org.

    https://lcme.org/accreditation-preparation/schools/2022-23-academic-year/2022-23-full-survey-visit-preparation/#Notification-of-LCME-Action