Schools

Directory of Caribbean Medical Schools

There are two types of medical schools in the Caribbean: regional medical schools and offshore medical schools. Regional medical schools train local Caribbean students to practice in their respective country or region in which the school is located. On the other hand, offshore medical schools train mainly American or Canadian students to be licensed to practice in the United States or Canada.

Students of offshore medical schools spend their first two years of school in the Caribbean studying Basic Sciences (didactics). The remaining two years are then spent in clinical rotations mainly in US teaching hospitals alongside other US medical students. As many, if not most, offshore medical schools are owned and run by US-based organizations or companies, their administrative offices are also usually located in the US (with a few exceptions). Generally, they follow an American curriculum and function as American medical schools that are off-shore in the Caribbean, hence the name.

Of the off-shore medical schools in the Caribbean, only six produce graduates who can be licensed to practice in all 50 states, are accredited by WFME-recognized and NCFMEA-recognized agencies, and offer Title IV US federal student loans. These six schools are: American University of Antigua (AUA), American University of the Caribbean (AUC), Medical University of the Americas (MUA), Ross University, Saba University, and St. George’s University (SGU).

If you haven’t already, please read The Accreditation Process of Caribbean Medical Schools first as a primer on accreditation standards used to evaluate these schools. It’s a long post but an important one that should be read by everyone considering medical school in the Caribbean, and key in understanding the school profiles I’ve presented below.

Disclaimer: This is a list of off-shore Caribbean medical schools only. I have not included regional schools such as University of West Indies, nor domestic US schools like Ponce School of Medicine or University of Puerto Rico. An inclusion of a school in this list does not mean I endorse it. This list is simply informational.

All American Institute of Medical Sciences (AAIMS)

Main Campus: Black River, Jamaica
Administrative Office: Kingston, Jamaica
Began: 2011
Charter: Government of Jamaica
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited – had a provisional accreditation by CAAM-HP that was withdrawn in 2016.
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

All Saints University School of Medicine (ASUSM)

Main Campus: Roseau, Dominica
Administrative Office: Chicago, Illinois
Began: 2006
Charter: Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited – failed accreditation by CAAM-HP in 2017
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

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American International Medical University (AIMU)

Main Campus: Gros Islet, St. Lucia
Administrative Office: Silver Spring, Maryland
Began: 2007
Charter: Government of St. Lucia
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Accredited by the Ministry of Education and Culture/Government of Saint Lucia, according to website. Denied CAAM-HP accreditation in 2018.
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

American University of Antigua (AUA)

Main Campus: Coolidge, Antigua and Barbuda
Administrative Office: New York, New York
Began: 2004
Charter: Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: Yes
New York Approval: Yes
Title IV Loans: Yes

American University of Barbados 

Main Campus: Wildey, Barbados
Administrative Office: Springfield, Massachusetts
Began: 2011
Charter: Government of Barbados
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Provisionally accredited by CAAM-HP (2018-2020)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

American University of Integrative Sciences (AUIS)

Main Campus: Cole Bay, St. Maarten
Administrative Office: Tucker, Georgia
Began: 1999
Charter: Government of Sint Maarten (2014), Government of Barbados (2017)
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited – applying for CAAM-HP accreditation.
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

American University of St. Vincent

Main Campus: Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Administrative Office: Dallas, Texas
Began: 2012
Charter: Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

American University of the Caribbean (AUC)

Main Campus: Cupecoy, Sint Maarten
Administrative Office: Coral Gables, Florida
Began: 1978
Charter: Government of Sint Maarten
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: Yes
New York Approval: Yes
Title IV Loans: Yes

Atlantic University School of Medicine (AUSOM) – NO LONGER IN OPERATION

Main Campus: Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
Administrative Office: Island Park, New York
Began: 2010
Charter: Government of St. Lucia
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Ministry of Education, according to WHO/AVICENNA
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

Aureus University School of Medicine

Main Campus: Oranjestad, Aruba
Administrative Office: Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Began: 2004
Charter: Government of Aruba
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited – applying for ACCM accreditation
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

Avalon University School of Medicine

Main Campus: Willemstad, Curaçao
Administrative Office: Girard, Ohio
Began: 2003
Charter: Ministry of Education in Curacao
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited – accreditation denied by CAAM-HP in 2016.
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

Caribbean Medical University (CMU)

Main Campus: Willemstad, Curaçao
Administrative Office: Chicago, Illinois
Began: 2007
Charter: Government of Curaçao
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited – accreditation denied by CAAM-HP in 2018.
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

College of Medicine and Health Sciences – NO LONGER IN OPERATION

Main Campus: Rodney Bay, St. Lucia
Administrative Office: Butte, Montana
Began: 2001
Charter: Government of Saint Lucia
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Provisionally Accredited by the Government of Saint Lucia, according to website.
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

International American University (IAU)

Main Campus: Banse, St. Lucia
Administrative Office: Dallas, Texas
Began: 2003
Charter: Government of Saint Lucia
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Provisional accreditation by CAAM-HP (2018-2020)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

International University of the Health Sciences (IUHS)

Main Campus: Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
Administrative Office: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Began: 1998
Charter: Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: St. Kitts and Nevis Accreditation Board
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

Medical University of the Americas (MUA)

Main Campus: Camps, St. Kitts and Nevis
Administrative Office: Devens, Massachusetts
Began: 1998
Charter: Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), St. Kitts and Nevis Accreditation Board
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes (since 4/2012)
California Approval: Yes (for those who matriculate since 2015)
New York Approval: Yes
Title IV Loans: Yes

Ross University

Main Campus: Barbados (Relocated from Portsmouth, Dominica in 2019) Administrative Office: North Brunswick, New Jersey
Began: 1978
Charter: Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Dominica Medical Board, Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: Yes
New York Approval: Yes
Title IV Loans: Yes

Saba University

Main Campus: The Bottom, Saba (Caribbean Netherlands)
Administrative Office: Devens, Massachusetts
Began: 1993
Charter: Federal Government of the Netherlands Antilles
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie (NVAO)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: Yes
New York Approval: Yes
Title IV Loans: Yes

Spartan Health Sciences University

Main Campus: St. Lucia
Administrative Office: Brooklyn, New York
Began: 1980
Charter: Government of St. Lucia
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Provisional Accreditation by Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) extended in 2018
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

St. George’s University (SGU)

Main Campus: True Blue, Grenada
Administrative Office: Great River, New York
Began: 1977
Charter: Parliament of Grenada
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Grenada Ministry of Health, Social Security, The Environment, and Ecclesiastical Relations; Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: Yes
New York Approval: Yes
Title IV Loans: Yes

St. James School of Medicine (SJSM)

Main Campus: The Quarter, Anguilla (United Kingdom) and St. Vincent (formerly in Bonaire)
Administrative Office: Park Ridge, Illinois
Began: 1999
Charter: Government of Anguilla, Government of St. Vincent
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Initial Accreditation as a Developing School by Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), on probation.
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes (St. Vincent campus)
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

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St. Martinus University

Main Campus: Willemstad, Curaçao
Administrative Office: Austin, Texas; Noida, India; Ikeja, Nigeria
Began: 2003
Charter: Government of the Netherlands Antilles
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

St. Matthews University (SMU)

Main Campus: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (United Kingdom)
Administrative Office: Orlando, Florida
Began: 1997
Charter: Government of Cayman Islands
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: No
New York Approval: Yes
Title IV Loans: No

Trinity School of Medicine (TSOM)

Main Campus: St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Administrative Office: Alpharetta, Georgia
Began: 2008
Charter: Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: National Accreditation Board (NAB) of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

University of Health Sciences Antigua (UHSA)

Main Campus: St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda
Administrative Office: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Began: 1983
Charter: Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Not accredited – applying for ACCM accreditation
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

University of Medical Health Sciences (UMHS)

Main Campus: Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
Administrative Office: New York, New York
Began: 2008
Charter: Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM)
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

University of Science, Arts, and Technology (USAT)

Main Campus: Olveston, Montserrat
Administrative Office: Denver, Colorado
Began: 2003
Charter: Government of Montserrat
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ASIC) Not Accredited by CAAM-HP in 2012
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

Windsor University School of Medicine

Main Campus: Cayon, St. Kitts and Nevis
Administrative Office: Monee, Illinois
Began: 2000
Charter: Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: St. Kitts and Nevis Accreditation Board, failed CAAM-HP accreditation in 2018
WFME: No
NCFMEA: No
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

Xavier University School of Medicine

Main Campus: Oranjestad, Aruba
Administrative Office: Woodbury, New York
Began: 2004
Charter: Government of Aruba
Directory Listing: World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)
Accrediting Body: ACCM and CAAM-HP
WFME: Yes
NCFMEA: Yes
California Approval: No
New York Approval: No
Title IV Loans: No

XUSOM

2 thoughts on “Schools”

  1. So drawing my conclusion on accredited schools, American University of Barbados wont be a path in gaining residency in the US or Canada anytime soon. Please i need a confirmation on this

    Reply

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