Canada Needs Homegrown Medical School Accreditation

In April, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order revoking federal recognition of any medical schools in the country “engaging in unlawful discrimination” through diversity, equity and inclusion policies. This move led to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) removing its diversity programs and partnerships standard for accreditation.

For Canadian physicians, this news may have seemed like another example of challenges faced by the medical profession in the U.S. However, it’s worth noting that Canada’s medical school accreditation process has become fully separate from the U.S. as of July 2025.

The body responsible for Canadian accreditation includes members of the medical profession and the public appointed by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). This committee has been working towards a sovereign undergraduate medical school accreditation process.

Accreditation is a voluntary process to ensure MD programs meet 12 prescribed standards for quality assurance and continuous improvement of medical education. These standards touch on curricula, student selection and support, faculty productivity and preparation, conflict of interest policies, and school resources.

All 18 medical schools in Canada are currently accredited. Graduates of accredited medical education programs have an advantage over others when getting residency positions.

Accreditation is determined by peer review, with medical school students, faculty, practicing physicians, and members of the public all represented in the process.

Until 1979, Canadian medical schools were accredited solely by the LCME. After that, the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) was established, but it still accredited programs jointly with the LCME according to U.S. standards.

In 2013, CACMS introduced social accountability as a new standard for accreditation, marking a shift towards independence from the U.S.

The decision to fully separate Canadian accreditation from the U.S. was made in 2021, but it had been in the works for years. Lisa Graves, CACMS secretary, notes that the Canadian approach to medical education has differences that warrant a separate accreditation process.

The social accountability standard is defined by CACMS as a commitment by every accredited medical school to address the priority health concerns of the populations it serves. This standard is fulfilled through admissions, curricula, and educational experiences.

Graves also mentions that developing standards for 18 Canadian medical schools is more practical than trying to move 160 American medical schools in the same direction.

They have been a co-sponsor of CACMS for over 45 years, appointing half of its voting members. The CMA’s participation ensures ongoing input from practicing physicians into the undergraduate medical education system.

As Canada’s medical school accreditation process continues to evolve, it’s clear that the separation from U.S. accreditation is a significant step towards establishing a unique approach to medical education in Canada.

Canada’s medical education system is distinct.

The CMA has been instrumental in shaping this system. It has worked to ensure that medical schools are accountable to the populations they serve, which is reflected in the social accountability standard.