Medical Schools in the News: California Northstate University College of Medicine accreditation

California Northstate University College of Medicine: CNUCOM remains in provisional status after being denied full accreditation after a site visit in March 2021; they will have a reconsideration hearing on February 17th. CNUCOM’s initial preliminary accreditation from the LCME was in June 2015 after which it seated its first class of 60 students. Unlike most medical schools, CNUCOM started as a for-profit institution. CNUCOM converted to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure in 2019 to seek approval for bonds to support building a teaching hospital. The LCME had a requirement established in a court ruling in 1996 that medical schools be not for profit but this was overturned in 2013.

Understanding LCME accreditation: All new medical schools start their accreditation status with the LCME as Preliminary accreditation in order to take on students. The LCME then conducts a survey before the charter class M2 year to determine approval for Provisional Status. Once a school has moved to Provisional status the LCME conducts a survey visit early in the charter class M4 year after which the school is denied or given Full accreditation. If accreditation is denied the school can continue in Provisional status or the LCME can withdraw their Provisional accreditation. Once a school has Full accreditation the LCME conducts survey visits five years after initial accreditation and then every 8 years thereafter to maintain a school’s accreditation.

Want to check the accreditation status of current medical schools? Look here.