Getting into medical school is competitive. Year after year, many countries have more applications submitted to their medical schools than they have slots available.
As a result, many prospective medical students apply to and attend medical schools in another country. There are many fine medical schools throughout the world, so how should an applicant make his or her decision? Begin by choosing an accredited medical school which has met well-established medical education standards.
Why Medical School Accreditation Matters for Future Doctors
An accredited medical school has met the criteria of an objective accrediting body, one either appointed by the medical school’s host country or one within the school’s geographic region.
Meeting accreditation standards demonstrates that an institution has gone through a competitive analysis of global medical school standards, providing confidence that its curriculum is comparable to other well-established programs. This means that faculty have met certain qualifications, the curriculum has been fully vetted, and medical students have resources available to help them succeed in medical school and to prepare them for practice.
In addition to being an important quality indicator, many countries require that medical graduates applying for licensure in their jurisdictions/states earn their degrees from institutions with recognized medical school accreditation — which together with other factors, may improve a graduate’s chances of getting a better internship or residency training position.
OUM Is An Internationally Accredited Medical School
OUM’s accreditation is granted by the Philippine Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), a respected international accrediting agency.
OUM was first accredited by PAASCU in 2010, with renewals in 2015, 2020, and most recently in 2025. The latest certificate of accreditation, awarded on 30 May 2025, remains valid through May 2030.
PAASCU’s accreditation means that OUM’s MD program is also recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), which enables graduates to apply to practice medicine in many countries throughout the world.
In April 2024, the WFME granted PAASCU Recognition Status for its accreditation of OUM in Samoa. This recognition ensures OUM’s global standing and retains opportunities for its graduates, ensuring their degree is internationally recognized.
PAASCU and the Samoa Qualifications Authority (SQA) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement indicating that SQA, likewise, recognizes PAASCU’s accreditation of OUM.
In addition, OUM’s accreditation satisfies the United States requirement that graduates of international medical schools who plan to practice in the US must earn their degree from a medical school whose accrediting body is recognized by WFME, such as PAASCU.
How to Verify a Medical School’s Accreditation
A medical school’s website generally will have accreditation information. But how do you verify its claims?
Some medical school websites may claim that the school is accredited by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is not an accrediting body. It does not grant accreditation or recognition to medical schools or their programs.
Others may claim to be accredited by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER). Neither of these organizations is an accrediting body, though both are committed to promoting excellence in international medical education. Among other activities, FAIMER and WFME have jointly maintained the World Directory of Medical Schools since 2014. The ECFMG certifies international medical graduates (IMGs) for entry into US graduate medical education and participates in the evaluation and certification of other physicians and healthcare professionals. For more information, visit www.faimer.org and www.ecfmg.org.