The Impact of Quality Assurance: Licensing Examination Performance by Medical School Accreditation Status

• In Event: Cross-National Perspective on Personal and Professional Training and Development

Abstract

Despite global perception of the importance of quality assurance activities, limited research links accreditation to improved outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate USMLE performance of students and graduates of international medical schools who did or did not attend medical schools accredited by a recognized agency.
During the 2018-2020 study period, 39,650 individuals took one or more licensure examinations. We cross-tabulated examination performance and medical school accreditation status.
Individuals who attended international medical schools accredited by a recognized agency had higher USMLE first-attempt pass rates compared to individuals who attended medical schools that did not meet this criterion.
These results provide positive evidence that robust accreditation of educational programs is associated, on average, with better educational outcomes.

Authors

• Marta van Zanten, Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research

• John R. Boulet, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

• Christine Shiffer, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates