To ensure high quality medical education, schools in many countries are required to be periodically examined by their Accrediting Authority. The accreditation process usually requires schools to conduct a thorough Self-Assessment, present data to support their evaluation, perform a meaningful student satisfaction survey, and undergo a site visit by a team of independent medical education professionals appointed by the Accrediting Authority.
The Self-Assessment examines the school against the country’s Standards for Medical Education.
The visiting team will examine the Self-Assessment and supporting data, the student survey, and, following a site visit, will write a report about their findings.
The report is usually submitted to the country’s Accrediting Authority to decide if the school in question is in compliance with each of the required Standards. If the School is not in compliance, or partial compliance, the Accrediting Authority will give the School a period of time to rectify any anomalies.
Continuous Improvement
It is generally acknowledged that the accreditation process is not simply designed to ensure that medical schools are implementing all Standards
