Duke University School of Medicine is preparing for an upcoming Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation visit scheduled from October 27 to October 30, 2024. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is an accrediting body for educational programs at schools of medicine in the United States and Canada The LCME is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.

What is the LCME?

The LCME is responsible for evaluating medical education programs leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada. The LCME publishes many guides and standards, including the Directory of Accredited Medical Education Programs. The LCME currently accredits 155 U.S. schools, which includes 4 in Puerto Rico, as well as 17 others in Canada. Graduates of LCME-accredited schools are eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

It is important to note that LCME accreditation is required in most states for licensing students and obtaining federal financial aid and professional education services in the United States and Canada leading to an MD degree. Graduates of LCME-accredited schools are considered to have an educational experience sufficient to prepare them for internship programs that are approved for the purposes of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education as well as allowing them access to selected federal grants and programs and medical licensure by state boards 

For more information about the LCME, visit their official website.