Accreditation Process
Overview
There are three major components of the ACGME-I accreditation process:
- Preparation for Accreditation
- Sponsoring Institution Accreditation
- Program Accreditation
Learn more about each and discover the benefits.
Preparation for Accreditation
ACGME International, Inc. (ACGME-I) accredits graduate medical education (GME) programs in selected specialties/subspecialties and the institutions sponsoring those programs, outside of the United States. Accreditation is accomplished through a peer review process and is based upon established international standards and guidelines. Readiness for accreditation is the first step in the process and can take approximately three months to complete. Three key steps occur in the Preparation for Accreditation phase:
- Initial Contact
- Accreditation Preparedness (AP) Visit
- Contract Negotiation
Initial Contact
Initial contact can be made by emailing acgme-i@acgme-i.org. The ACGME-I team will schedule a telephone or video conference to determine if ACGME-I accreditation fits with the contacting entity's goals. If pursuing ACGME-I accreditation makes sense, an Accreditation Preparedness (AP) visit will be scheduled.
Accreditation Preparedness (AP) Visit
The AP visit is initiated by a formal request, approved by the senior leadership of the institution or the Ministry of Health or Education, and sent to the President and Chief Executive Officer of ACGME-I by email to acgme-i@acgme-i.org.
The purpose of the AP visit is to gather information about Sponsoring Institution(s) and residency and fellowship program readiness for ACGME-I accreditation. For an institution seeking accreditation, the visit includes meetings with the institution’s senior leadership, the leadership of the GME endeavors (such as the individual providing institutional oversight), residency/fellowship faculty leadership, and residents/fellows. There will also be a guided tour of the facilities used in the education of the residents and fellows.
The meetings and tour usually occur over one to two days, depending on the number of programs and institutions. If a governmental agency, such as a Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education, is seeking country-wide accreditation, the visit might take longer, and in addition to the meetings listed above at each potential Sponsoring Institution, the AP visit would also include meetings with appropriate governmental officials. The assessment team includes an accreditation specialist and a member of ACGME-I Senior Leadership.
After the visit, the team will prepare a report that describes the proposed steps to apply for ACGME-I accreditation for the institution(s) and residency/fellowship programs.
Contract Negotiation
ACGME-I operates on a contractual basis. Following the AP visit, if the Sponsoring Institution wishes to pursue ACGME-I accreditation, a contract is negotiated. The contract is individualized based on the findings of the AP visit and the Sponsoring Institution’s goals for accreditation. Contracts are between ACGME-I and the entity that is administratively and financially responsible for the GME programs, such as a teaching hospital, medical school, health system, or government agency. The contract outlines accreditation costs and each party’s responsibilities related to accreditation of the Sponsoring Institution and the residency and/or fellowship program(s). Once the contract has been finalized and signed by the responsible parties, the Sponsoring Institution can apply for ACGME-I accreditation.
Sponsoring Institution Accreditation
Institutions are evaluated against international institutional standards that require institutional responsibility and oversight of sponsored programs, as well as set resident/fellow eligibility requirements and institutional infrastructure expectations. The International Institutional Requirements are composed of the most important elements that define and support the required GME learning environment, as well as ensure the safety of both residents/fellows and patients on the part of the institution. Sponsoring Institutions must achieve Institutional Accreditation prior to applying for accreditation for any residency or fellowship program.
Application
After a contract has been finalized and signed by the responsible parties, the Sponsoring Institution’s designated institutional official (DIO) will be granted access to the ACGME-I Accrediation Data System (ADS). The institutional application materials that are submitted through ADS include general data entered directly online and an application form that must be downloaded, completed, and uploaded with several attachments. More detailed information, including the institutional application form, is available here.
Accreditation Decision
The application materials will be forwarded to the Review Committee-International to assess the Sponsoring Institution’s compliance with International Institutional Requirements. If the Sponsoring Institution is determined to be in substantial compliance with the Requirements, it will receive Initial Accreditation, and its GME programs are then eligible to submit accreditation applications.
Site Visit
One to two years after receiving Initial Accreditation, the Sponsoring Institution will complete an updated application in preparation for an accreditation site visit by an ACGME-I Accreditation Field Representative. The Accreditation Field Representative's Site Visit Report and the updated application materials will be forwarded to the Review Committee-International to assess the Sponsoring Institution’s compliance with ACGME-I Institutional Requirements. If found to be in substantial compliance, the Sponsoring Institution will receive a status of Continued Accreditation.
Program Accreditation
Following a Sponsoring Institution's achievement of Initial Accreditation, it's GME programs can begin the accreditation application process. Residency and fellowship program accreditation is assessed on compliance with two sets of standards: the International Foundational Requirements and the International Advanced Specialty Requirements. Following a Sponsoring Institution's achievement of Initial Accreditation, it's GME programs can begin the accreditation application process.
Both Foundational and Advanced Specialty Accreditation can be attained at the same time, however a program must first achieve International Foundational Accreditation. It is possible for a program to receive International Foundational Accreditation but not Advanced Specialty Accreditation.
Application
A program application is initiated through the ACGME-I Accreditation Data System (ADS) by the Sponsoring Institution's designated institutional official (DIO) or institutional coordinator, which grants the program director access to ADS. The program application materials are submitted through ADS and include general data entered directly online and an application form that must be downloaded, completed, and uploaded with several attachments.
Site Visit
A site visit is also required as part of the application process. An ACGME-I Accreditation Field Representative will review the application materials during the visit with program and institutional personnel, in order to verify and clarify the information. The resulting Site Visit Report and the program’s completed application will then be forwarded to the Review Committee-International to assess the program’s compliance with the ACGME-I Foundational and Advanced Specialty Requirements.
Accreditation Decision
If the program is determined to be in substantial compliance with the Requirements, it will receive Initial Accreditation. Another follow-up site visit will be scheduled in one to two years.
Note: Site visits are not part of the initial application process for subspecialty (fellowship) applications; these reviews are based exclusively on the application materials submitted by the program.