Accreditation and Approvals

Saba University School of Medicine (SUSOM) is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), which is recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). The standards set by NVAO have been deemed comparable to U.S. medical school accreditation standards by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). 

NVAO is the accrediting authority for the Netherlands and Flanders, and SUSOM is the only Caribbean medical school to meet the rigorous standards of European accreditation.

SUSOM’s accreditation and approvals help ensure that our MD program students have:

  • Access to U.S. federal and Canadian provincial (excluding ON, BC and NL) loans 
  • Eligibility to take licensing exams, including the USMLE
  • Access to clinical rotation opportunities in the United States and Canada
  • The opportunity to participate in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) and apply for licensure to practice in the United States, Canada and other countries

Approved for Federal Loans by the U.S. Department of Education

Saba University School of Medicine is one of the select accredited Caribbean medical schools approved to participate in U.S. Federal Student Aid programs.

Explore eligibility requirements and loan opportunities for eligible MD program participants on our Financial Aid page.

U.S. State Approvals

Saba University School of Medicine is one of the few international medical schools with approvals in the key states of New York, California, Florida, Indiana and Kansas. These states mandate institutional review and approval prior to granting access to clerkship opportunities in their respective states. 

SUSOM students who successfully complete the requisite licensing examinations are eligible to practice medicine in Canada, Puerto Rico and all 50 U.S. states. Specifically, the following bodies have approved, recognized or licensed Saba University School of Medicine:

  • Approved by the New York State Education Department: In addition to clerkship opportunities, New York approval provides access to residencies in the state.
  • Recognized by the Medical Board of California: Recognition is also necessary for licensure. Additionally, other states follow California’s recognition for the purposes of licensure.
  • Licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education: Additional information regarding this institution may be obtained by contacting:
    Florida Department of Education
    Commission for Independent Education
    325 West Gaines Street
    Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
    (888) 224-6684 (toll-free)
    www.fldoe.org/cie
  • Approved by the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts
  • Approved by the Indiana Medical Licensing Board

Comparability to U.S. Medical School Requirements

The United States Department of Education, via the NCFMEA, has determined that the accreditation standards used by the NVAO to accredit SUSOM are comparable to those used by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body that accredits MD granting medical programs in the United States.

World Directory of Medical Schools

Saba University School of Medicine is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

The World Directory lists all of the medical schools in the world and provides comprehensive information on each institution. Their goal is to inform future students, researchers and members of the public about the characteristics of current and past medical education programs.

FAQs About Accreditation

Yes, SUSOM is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). The NVAO has been recognized by the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and its standards have been deemed comparable to the standards used to accredit medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA).

Yes, SUSOM MD program students who fulfill their academic requirements are eligible to sit for the United States Medical License Examinations (USMLE) Step 1 (after Basic Science) and Step 2 CK (after Clinical Medicine rotations). SUSOM’s inclusion in the World Directory of Medical Schools as an institution that meets Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements affords our students access to the USMLE.

Yes, MD program participants from the United States are eligible for relevant federal student loans. SUSOM is one of the select international medical schools approved to participate in the U.S. Federal Student Aid program.

Yes, SUSOM MD program graduates are eligible to apply for licensure to practice medicine in the United States. SUSOM is certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), fulfilling this requirement of all state licensing authorities.

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