Accreditation and Approvals

Saba University School of Medicine Accreditation

Saba University School of Medicine has obtained recognized accreditation, granting our students eligibility to practice in all 50 states of the United States (U.S.), Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

Navigating Accreditation – A Guide for Prospective Students Exploring International Medical Schools

Accreditation in medicine involves a thorough evaluation process where educational institutions undergo expert external assessments. Accrediting bodies for medical schools must receive favorable evaluations from federations and commissions to ensure that students are qualified for residency placement, USMLE Step exams, and U.S. clinical rotations.

Saba’s accreditation and approvals ensure that our students have:

  • Access to U.S. Federal Loans
  • Access to take licensing exams, including the USMLE
  • Access to clinical rotations
  • Opportunity to participate in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) and apply for licensure to practice in the United States

Our Approvals

Our accrediting body, the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO), holds recognition from the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME). The standards set by NVAO have been acknowledged as comparable to those utilized in accrediting medical schools in the United States by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). As a result, the NVAO provides “Recognized Accreditation” to Saba, a crucial credential for international medical graduates seeking entry into the U.S. healthcare system. Notably, NVAO serves as the accrediting authority for the Netherlands and Flanders, and Saba is the only Caribbean medical school to meet the rigorous standards of European accreditation.

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

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Accreditation

Yes. Saba is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO). 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.  Saba students who fulfill their academic requirements are eligible to sit for the United States Medical License Examinations (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2. Saba’s inclusion in the World Directory of Medicine as an institution that meets Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements affords our students access to the USMLE.

Yes. Eligible students at Saba can receive Federal Direct Student Loans. Saba is one of the select international medical schools approved to participate in the U.S. Federal Student Aid program.

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