Accreditation

As a stand-alone medical school that is not part of a university or other sponsoring organization, the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) plans to achieve both institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation. Institutional accreditation evaluates the school as a higher educational organization, and that accreditation is necessary in order for students to be eligible for federal student loan programs, especially under Title IV of the Higher Education Acts. Programmatic accreditation evaluates an institution’s educational programs, rather than the institution itself.

Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE)

AWSOM is certified as an institution of higher education in the state of Arkansas and is authorized to provide degree instruction leading to a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in the state of Arkansas through the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE). This certification is not considered to be accreditation, but it is required to operate as a higher education institution in the state.

Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)

Programmatic accreditation for the MD educational program is provided by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. LCME accreditation for a new medical school involves three stages: preliminary accreditation, provisional accreditation, and full accreditation. Alice L. Walton School of Medicine has already achieved preliminary accreditation with the LCME. Medical schools with preliminary accreditation are considered to be accredited for their MD programs, and that status ensures that students enrolled at AWSOM are eligible to sit for licensure examinations. The school’s review for provisional accreditation will take place  in January 2027. If granted provisional accreditation by the LCME, the school will be reviewed for full accreditation when the charter class is in its final year of study. For all students enrolled in U.S. MD-granting medical schools, graduation from an LCME-accredited program is one of the conditions that must be met in order to obtain a license to practice medicine in all U.S. states.

For more information on the LCME and AWSOM’s accreditation status, please visit LCME.org or contact LCME@AAMC.org.

Institutional Accreditation

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is seeking institutional accreditation with an organization with federal recognition as a Title IV gatekeeper.