The curriculum of medical education program in a particular country depends upon several factors. Although the basic structure of a syllabus remains the same, there are changes in the curriculum in different countries. Even different curricula can be seen in different boards of a single country. Therefore, the level of medical degree programs has to be standardized. The accredited medical schools are meant by those medical institutions, degrees from which are recognized by an outside medical board or university.
Not only the curriculum, but the evaluation methods adopted by different medical schools are also different. The subjects focused by different countries, diseases and treatments are also different. All these make the whole format of medical schooling a very complex procedure. Therefore, accreditation of medical degrees is ascertained in most of the countries.
In the US, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is the sole authority of accreditation of medical degrees. There are 130 accredited medical degree granting medical schools present in the US. They have also accredited 17 Canadian medical schools for their degrees. AAMC does not accredit medical degrees obtained outside from these 147 medical schools. Overseas medical graduates have to pass the stipulated licensing program before he or she is eligible to practice medicine in the US. The examination is called USMLE.
Similarly, in the UK, the accredited medical schools are governed by the General Medical Council (GMC). GMC supervise the curriculum, lay down and monitor the standards in basic medical education. Any medical degree obtained from these medical schools is recognized by GMC and the doctor gets the license to practice medicine in the UK.
Not all medical degrees from outside the US, UK and many other countries are accredited by the governing council of these countries. One has to pass the licensing examination before he or she can pursue higher education there.
