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How to evaluate a Caribbean medical school

Five practical lenses — accreditation, pathway eligibility, clinical training, cost, and outcomes transparency — before you shortlist.

Page last reviewed 2026-11-02

Short answer: Do not start with "best schools" lists. Start with accreditation status from the agency, then pathway fit (ECFMG / state rules), clinical geography, real COA, and how honestly the school defines outcomes.

Last reviewed: 2026-11-02.

Lens 1: Accreditation (exact status)

Open the primary list — CAAM-HP, ACCM, NVAO, or GMDC when relevant — and read the exact label:

  • Accredited
  • Accredited with conditions
  • Provisional accreditation
  • Candidacy / applicant status
  • Not accredited
  • Voluntarily withdrawn
  • Denied
  • On probation

"Assessed" ≠ accredited. Use the master accreditation table as a dated cross-check, then click through to the source URL on each school page. See also: methodology.

Lens 2: Pathway eligibility

Accreditation alone is not a U.S. license or a residency seat. Check:

  • Is the accreditor WFME-recognized? See WFME Recognition Status.
  • Is the school listed in WDOMS with an appropriate sponsor note?
  • Does the school meet ECFMG eligibility for your projected graduation year?
  • Are there state-specific clerkship approval requirements you need?

Guide: ECFMG / U.S. pathway.

Lens 3: Clinical training geography

Ask where core clerkships actually happen (US / UK / Canada / local) and which hospitals are currently affiliated. Questions to put to the admissions office:

  • Which states have approved your clinical affiliates?
  • Which hospitals are currently affiliated (not 3 years ago)?
  • What proportion of students complete clerkships in the US vs elsewhere?
  • What is the school's definition of "Match rate" — who is in the denominator?

Our entity pages summarize what we could verify; hospital lists change — confirm with the school directly.

Lens 4: Cost of attendance

Tuition ≠ COA. Use the school's official schedule for your entry year, then a rough worksheet: cost calculator and cost guide.

Key line items to total:

  • Basic sciences tuition × semesters
  • Clinical tuition × semesters (often higher)
  • Mandatory fees (technology, insurance, lab)
  • Housing: island + U.S. city
  • Travel between campuses
  • USMLE and ERAS fees

We refuse undated invented tuition in the registry. U.S. Dept of Education foreign school aid — for Title IV confirmation.

Lens 5: Outcomes transparency

If a school publishes Match or USMLE figures, demand the definition — who is in the denominator? Consider:

  • Matched / total applicants? Or matched / active candidates who applied to the Match?
  • Which years are included?
  • Is the Step 1 pass rate first-attempt?

Treat marketing percentages without methodology as unverified data. No external agency independently audits Caribbean school Match statistics.

Tools on this site

Primary external sources for evaluation

  1. CAAM-HP assessed programs
  2. ACCM assessed programmes
  3. NVAO public decisions
  4. WFME Recognition Status
  5. ECFMG eligibility
  6. WDOMS — World Directory of Medical Schools
  7. U.S. Department of Education foreign school resources

See also

All guides · Methodology · Corrections