WFME (World Federation for Medical Education) is an agency that aspires to improve standards for medical education around the world. WFME’s “recognition” became significant when the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Medical Medical Graduates) declared that, starting 2024, only those graduating from a medical school that is accredited by an authority “recognized” by WFME will be entitled to obtain ECFMG Certification – allowing them to enter the US medical profession. Thus, any physician wishing to pursue postgraduate education in the US will be required to have graduated from a medical school that is accredited by an authority “recognized” by WFME. Without such “recognition” the US medical profession will be inaccessible to such physicians. (Update: As of October 2022, ECFMG also accepting NCFMEA recognition.)
NCFMEA (National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation) is a committee of the US Education Department. Its role is to assess the application of standards of medical education of “Foreign” medical schools (those situated outside the United States). If NCFMEA “recognizes” a non-US authority’s accreditation process, it will grant “comparability” status to that agency. The effect of this is that US nationals studying medicine in that foreign country will be entitled to apply for and receive US Federal Student Loans.
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