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| School of Medicine Accreditation West Virginia University School of Medicine is involved in all levels of physician education including undergraduate, graduate and continuing medical education. M.D. Degree: The MD degree is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME). The most recent accreditation visit occurred in the winter of 2007 with full accreditation awarded until 2015. The Department of Education recognizes the LCME for the accreditation of programs of medical education leading to the M.D. degree in institutions that are themselves accredited by regional accrediting associations. Institutional accreditation assures that medical education takes place in a sufficiently rich environment to foster broad academic purposes. Residents & Fellows: The School of Medicine also sponsors more than 40 graduate medical education specialty training programs on our Morgantown and Eastern Division campuses. The School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) through 2009 which is responsible for the review of post-MD medical specialty training programs within the United States. Accreditation is accomplished through a peer review process and is based upon established standards and guidelines. Continuing Medical Education: The School of Medicine is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians until 20XX. These credits are important in the renewal of license and maintenance of certification process. The goal of the ACCME is the identification, development, and promotion of standards for quality continuing medical education utilized by physicians in their maintenance of competence and incorporation of new knowledge to improve quality medical care for patients and their communities. Professional Programs Accreditation Medical Technology: West Virginia University Medical Technology Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) through October 31, 2009. Occupational Therapy: WVU's Division of Occupational Therapy has been granted Accreditation Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The OT Program at WVU was awarded re-accreditation in 2003 with the maximum re-accreditation of 10 years. The next scheduled onsite visit will be 2013. Community Medicine: The West Virginia University Department of Community Medicine Master of Public Health Program is an accredited MPH program, accredited by The Council on Education for Public Health since 1997. (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and certain public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health. These schools and programs prepare students for entry into careers in public health. As part of the reaccreditation process, CEPH requires that the accredited schools undergo a self-study at the end of a seven-year accreditation period. This self-study is reviewed by an external committee, and this committee determines whether the school should continue to be accredited. The WVU Department of Community Medicine is currently undergoing this process. Exercise Physiology: The Division of Exercise Physiology within the Department of Human Performance and Applied Exercise Sciences is currently seeking accreditation for the Master of Science (MS) degree in Exercise Physiology from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. This is a newly formed, outcomes-based, programmatic accreditation which is certified by the national governing body of the American College of Sports Medicine. Programs in Exercise Physiology have not traditionally had the opportunity to pursue national accreditation. This will be the first time that the MS degree in Exercise Physiology at WVU will have the advantage of full accredition by a nationally recognized organization. Application for accreditation for the undergraduate program in Exercise Physiology is also underway. Physical Therapy: The Division of Physical Therapy within the Department of Human Performance and Applied Exercise Sciences currently offers entry level professional education for physical therapists at the doctoral (DPT) level. The first class of doctoral students will graduate in May 2008. The physical therapy program has been continuously accredited since it was founded as a baccalaureate professional education program in 1970. The accrediting body for physical therapy education programs is the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education Programs, otherwise known as CAPTE. The mission of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education is to serve the public by establishing and applying standards that assure quality and continuous improvement in the entry-level preparation of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, and that reflect the evolving nature of education, research, and practice. CAPTE accredits first professional (entry-level) programs in the U.S. for the physical therapist at the master's and doctoral degree levels and programs for the physical therapist assistant at the associate degree level. CAPTE also accredits a limited number of physical therapist education programs in Canada and Scotland. In order to sit for professional licensure (board) exams, it is a requirement that the physical therapist have matriculated from an accredited education program. The current accreditation cycle is 10 years, and annual updates are submitted annually to assure program compliance in the intervening years. The program at WVU is accredited through 2011. More information can be found by following the Education link from the American Physical Therapy Association’s web page: www.apta.org. |
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