MUA Students in the Library

Accreditation and Approvals

Accreditation at MUA ensures our students can practice in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, the UK, and other countries.

Recognized Accreditation

Medical University of the Americas (MUA) has earned recognized accreditation, enabling our students to be eligible to practice in all 50 states of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries. 

Accreditation is a comprehensive assessment process by which educational institutions undergo external evaluations conducted by a panel of experts. The accreditors for medical schools must be favorably evaluated by federations and commissions in order for students to be eligible for residency placement, USMLE Step exams, and U.S. clinical rotations.

Navigating MUA Accreditation – A Guide for Prospective Students Exploring International Medical Schools

Medical University of the Americas’ accreditation and approvals ensure that our students have:

  • Access to U.S. Federal Loans
  • Access to take licensing exams, including the USMLE 
  • Access to clinical rotations
  • Opportunity to participate in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) and apply for licensure to practice in the United States

Our Approvals

Our accreditor, the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and its standards have been deemed comparable to the standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). As a result, the ACCM provides “Recognized Accreditation” to MUA, which is required for international medical graduates to enter the U.S. healthcare system.

Medical University of the Americas is one of only seven Caribbean medical schools approved to participate in U.S. Federal Student Aid programs. U.S. federal loans are typically preferred over private student loans due to the availability of loans that do not require co-signers, lower fixed interest rates, and various forgiveness and repayment options that are not available via private loans.

Medical University of the Americas is one of the few accredited Caribbean medical schools with approvals in the key states of New York, California, and Florida. These states mandate institutional review and approval prior to granting access to clerkship opportunities in their respective states. Medical University of the Americas’ students who successfully complete the requisite licensing examinations are eligible to practice medicine in Canada, Puerto Rico, and all 50 U.S. states. Specifically, the following bodies have approved, recognized, or licensed Medical University of the Americas:

  • Approved by the New York State Education Department: In addition to clerkship opportunities, New York approval provides access to residencies in the state.
  • Recognized by the Medical Board of California: Recognition is also necessary for licensure. Additionally, other states follow California’s recognition for the purposes of licensure.
  • Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education:
    Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting:
    • Florida Department of Education
      Commission for Independent Education
      325 West Gaines Street
      Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
      (888) 224-6684 (toll-free)
      www.fldoe.org/cie

The United States Department of Education, via the NCFMEA, has determined that the accreditation standards used by the ACCM to accredit MUA are comparable to those used by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body that accredits MD granting medical programs in the United States.

The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) identifies MUA as an approved school in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

Frequently Asked Questions About Accreditation

Yes. MUA is accredited by the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM). ACCM has been recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME), and its standards have been deemed comparable to the standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA).

Yes. MUA students who fulfill their academic requirements are eligible to sit for the United States Medical License Examinations (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2. MUA’s inclusion in the World Directory of Medicine as an institution that meets Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements affords our students access to the USMLE.

Yes. Eligible students at MUA can receive Federal Direct Student Loans. MUA is one of the select international medical schools approved to participate in the U.S. Federal Student Aid program.

Yes. MUA graduates are eligible to apply for licensure to practice medicine in the U.S. MUA is certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), fulfilling a requirement of all state licensing authorities.