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Assessing Basic Medical Education

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) assesses and accredits basic medical education courses, that is courses that lead to a qualification that permits the holder to obtain a license to practise as a medical doctor.  A graduate of a medical course accredited by the AMC is eligible to apply for registration as a medical practitioner in any state or territory of Australia. By assessing a medical school, the AMC can assure the state and territory medical registration boards that the school’s educational program satisfies agreed national guidelines for basic medical education.

In collaboration with the Medical Council of New Zealand, the AMC assesses basic medical courses offered by New Zealand medical schools.  AMC accreditation of these schools allows their graduates registration in Australia. The Medical Council of New Zealand uses the accreditation reports on Australian and New Zealand medical schools in deciding on the recognition of those schools in New Zealand.

The AMC’s Medical School Accreditation Committee oversees the accreditation process. 

The Committee’s roles are:

  • developing guidelines, policy and procedures for the accreditation of medical schools and medical courses
  • overseeing the AMC’s program of accreditation
  • encouraging improvements in medical education that respond to evolving health needs and practices, and educational and scientific developments.

AMC accreditation is based on self and peer assessment.  Assessments are conducted by teams which report to the Medical School Accreditation Committee. Teams include a mix of clinicians and scientists from other Australian and New Zealand medical schools, hospital and community based teachers, experienced academic managers, allied health professionals, community members and health administrators.

 

Scope of accreditation

The AMC accredits only complete medical courses that result in the award of an academic qualification of an educational institution located largely or entirely in Australia or New Zealand. By complete medical course, the AMC means that the institution awarding the qualification is responsible for  providing the entire program to the accreditation standards described in the AMC Guidelines Assessment and Accreditation of Medical Schools: Standards and Procedures.

Accreditation is awarded to the institution for the specific medical course, identified by its degree title.  In the case of a program which is offered jointly by two or more institutions and results in the award of a qualification from more than one educational institution, the AMC regards the medical course as one program, but lists as accredited all institutions which grant a degree. 

The AMC does not:

  • grant separate accreditation to branch campuses or clinical schools of institutions unless the programs at the campuses or schools result in distinct qualifications, and the delivery and management of the programs differs from campus to campus or school to school; or
  • separately accredit distinct streams (e.g. a graduate-entry stream) within an educational program.  The AMC regards the introduction of such streams as a major change to the accredited medical program, and it assesses the plans for such programs before they are implemented.  The accreditation awarded following a successful assessment relates to the whole medical program, not just to the separate stream.

Purpose of AMC accreditation

The purpose of AMC accreditation is the recognition of medical courses that produce graduates competent to practise safely and effectively under supervision as interns in Australia and New Zealand, and with an appropriate foundation for lifelong learning and for further training in any branch of medicine. 

AMC accreditation is based on the medical course demonstrating that it satisfies or will satisfy the AMC standards for basic medical education.

Accreditation standards address the requirements for delivery of high quality medical education and cover:
  • The context of the medical school
  • The outcomes of the medical course
  • The medical curriculum
  • The curriculum - teaching and learning
  • The curriculum - assessment of student learning
  • The curriculum - monitoring and evaluation
  • Implementing the curriculum - students
  • Implementing the curriculum - educational resources

Assessment process

The way in which the AMC manages the accreditation process, the procedures for assessing individual medical schools and their medical courses; and the accreditation decisions made by the AMC are explained in Part C of Assessment and Accreditation of Medical Schools: Standards and Procedures.

The assessment of a medical course entails the following steps:
  1. The medical school prepares an accreditation submission, using a written guide provided by the AMC. The submission provides information on the school, the medical curriculum, and policies, procedures and structures to support educational activities.  It also provides the school’s reflection on and critical analysis of its performance and plans against the AMC accreditation standards and the school’s own objectives.
  2. The AMC appoints an assessment team after considering the expertise required.
  3. The team considers the accreditation submission, identifies major issues, and decides on the meetings, site visits and other information required to complete its assessment.  It meets the senior staff of the school to discuss these issues.
  4. The team completes a program of meetings and sites visits to the school and the hospitals and health services that provide clinical experience for the medical students. This program normally takes a week.  At the end of the visit, the team presents its preliminary findings.
  5. The team prepares a detailed report, providing opportunities for the school to comment on the accuracy of the report and the conclusions and findings. The team submits the report to the Medical School Accreditation Committee which decides on the period of accreditation to be recommended.  The AMC may grant accreditation with or without conditions.  The option exists for the AMC to refuse accreditation.

Monitoring developments in accredited medical schools

Between formal assessments, the AMC monitors developments in accredited medical schools through periodic reports.  This requirement ensures that the AMC remains informed of responses to issues raised in the accreditation report, new developments, and issues that may affect the medical school’s accreditation. 

A medical school with the maximum period of accreditation submits a report two, five and seven years after the school has been assessed by the AMC. More frequent reports are required from medical schools with conditions on their accreditation and from new medical schools and medical schools that have made changes to their medical courses.


Last Updated on Monday, 22 February 2010 14:40
 
Australian Medical Council