LCME Accreditation: Achieving Excellence Together

The following toolkits provide summaries of important policies and include links to the full versions. These resources will be updated regularly as policies are revised. 

Content pending – updates coming soon.

Content pending – updates coming soon.

Content pending – updates coming soon.

The following flyers provide summaries of student spaces available at each campus.

 

Countdown to 2026 Site Visit!

Date: March 2-4

This page will highlight our school’s preparation for the upcoming LCME site visit on March 2–4, 2026. We are currently in the self-study phase, with over 150 faculty, staff, and students across the WWAMI region engaged in a comprehensive review of how well we meet LCME standards.

Over the next 10 months, this page will feature regularly updated content on important policies, the learning environment, student services, curriculum, and student spaces. It will also track progress on our continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts and serve as an ongoing resource for our community.

Together, we are achieving excellence.

As of May 2025, the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) remains fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the official accrediting body for MD-granting programs in the U.S. 

About LCME Accreditation 

LCME accreditation is a peer-reviewed process that ensures medical schools meet high standards in structure, function, and educational outcomes. Schools participate in a detailed self-study and peer review every eight years. 

Why It Matters 

  • LCME accreditation assures that graduates exhibit the general professional competencies appropriate for entry to the next stage of their training and that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and proficient medical care. 
  • Required for USMLE eligibility, state licensure, and ACGME-accredited residency programs. 

To learn more, visit www.lcme.org or contact lcmesubmissions@aamc.org. 

The University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) underwent its last LCME accreditation site visit in March 2018. During this visit, the LCME identified numerous strengths in our regional medical education program and highlighted areas for improvement. Currently, we’re fully accredited. We’re also pleased to share the LCME’s most recent determinations on three previously cited areas:  

  • Element 3.2 Community of Scholars/Research Opportunities: Satisfactory  
  • Element 5.11 Study/Lounge/Call Space: Satisfactory  
  • Element 12.4 Access to Healthcare Services: Satisfactory with a Need for Monitoring  

The “Satisfactory” ratings for 3.2 and 5.11 reflect the positive impact of our ongoing improvement efforts. The “Satisfactory with a Need for Monitoring” status for 12.4 highlights an area where further work is needed to improve students’ access to healthcare during clerkships. In response, the school is working closely with university leadership to provide a health insurance option that functions across the entire WWAMI region. We aim to finalize this plan for academic year 2026–27.  

To keep the UWSOM community informed about ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) efforts, the Educational Quality Improvement (EQI) team has been sharing progress updates through the CQI Spotlight Series. These updates provide detailed information on the CQI initiatives implemented based on data from student surveys. Please read the CQI Spotlight Series for more information about our ongoing improvement efforts.

Below is an overview of the 12 LCME Standards and UWSOM’s current compliance status as of May 2025.

LCME StandardCompliance Status
Standard 1: Mission, Planning, Organization & Integrity
C
Standard 2: Leadership & Administration
C
Standard 3: Academic & Learning EnvironmentC
Standard 4: Faculty Preparation, Productivity, Participation, & PoliciesC
Standard 5: Educational Resources & InfrastructureC
Standard 6: Competencies, Curricular Objectives, & Curricular DesignC
Standard 7: Curricular ContentC
Standard 8: Curricular Management, Evaluation & EnhancementC
Standard 9: Teaching, Supervision, Assessment, & Student & Patient SafetyC
Standard 10: Medical Student Selection, Assignment, & ProgressC
Standard 11: Medical Student Academic Support, Career Advising, & Academic RecordsC
Standard 12: Medical Student Health Services, Personal Counseling, & Financial Aid ServicesCM
*C=Compliance, CM=Compliance with Need for Monitoring, NC=Noncompliance

Important Building Blocks for a Successful Accreditation Visit in 2026

Data Collection Instrument (DCI):

The Data Collection Instrument is a comprehensive tool that gathers detailed information about the medical school’s programs, policies, and outcomes. It includes data from various sources such as the Independent Student Analysis survey, Graduate Questionnaires by AAMC, End-of-Phase surveys, and End-of-Block/Clerkship evaluations.

Independent Student Analysis (ISA):

  • The ISA Committee successfully conducted the Independent Student Analysis survey in October 2024, following LCME guidelines. The committee promoted the survey to their peers, analyzed student responses, and compiled a comprehensive final report. This report is a key component of the self-study process and will be submitted to the LCME as part of our accreditation materials. The committee has completed their work, and we extend our sincere thanks for their contributions. 

Self-Study Phase: September 2024- September 2025

The accreditation process aims to promote institutional self-evaluation and continuous quality improvement, and to determine whether the medical education program meets LCME standards and expectations. During the self-study phase, seven self-study committees will collect, review, and analyze data as requested by the LCME and found in the DCI.

  • Self-Study Committees: Seven self-study committees, consisting of faculty, staff, and students, will be launched in September 2024. These committees will examine data to identify institutional strengths and areas for improvement, allowing for continuous quality improvement initiatives to maintain or enhance the programs to meet LCME standards.
  • Committee Descriptions: To review the descriptions of the seven self-study committees, please visit here.

Ongoing Community Involvement

Successful accreditation requires the involvement of the entire UWSOM community. Active student engagement, both in the ISA survey and through participation in self-study committees, is critical. Faculty and staff participation in reviewing student data, examining current programs, and implementing continuous quality improvement initiatives is equally important. Together, the community’s collaborative efforts will ensure the medical education program meets the highest standards.

For more information about a timeline, please see the following roadmap illustrating the milestones toward successful accreditation in 2026.

The timeline below illustrates a roadmap for the next accreditation visit in March 2026.