Accreditation
M.D. Degree
The MD degree is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME). The most recent accreditation visit occurred in fall 2022. Full accreditation was awarded for an eight-year term until the next full survey visit in the 2030-2031 academic year. Accreditation status can be verified through the public LCME directory (https://lcme.org/directory/). The LCME may be contacted at lcme@aamc.org. 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 sponsors more than fifty Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core residency and fellowship programs, and several Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST) accredited programs. The ACGME and CAST are responsible for the review of post-MD and post-DO medical specialty training programs within the United States. ACGME and CAST accreditation are accomplished through a peer review process and accreditation is based upon established standards and guidelines. In 2023, the WVU School of Medicine earned non-standard (NST) recognition from the ACGME for subspecialty fellowships.
Continuing Medical Education
The WVU School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The School of Medicine currently holds the Accreditation with Commendation status and is accredited through November 30, 2025. 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.
Undergraduate and Professional Programs Accreditation
Athletic Training
West Virginia University’s Master of Science in Athletic Training degree program was awarded accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) in April 2020 and will undergo its next comprehensive review in the 2028-2029 academic year. CAATE accreditation allows students to be eligible to sit for the national Board of Certification (BOC) exam and earn the credential of certified athletic trainer.
Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics
The Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics programs are accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, (773) 714-8880, www.naacls.org. NAACLS is the premier international agency for accreditation and approval of education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health care professions. (Adapted from www.naacls.org.)
Communication Sciences and Disorders
The Master of Science (M.S.) in speech-language pathology {residential, distance education} and the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) {residential} at West Virginia University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
Exercise Physiology
The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (Clinical) programs in Exercise Physiology are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Health Informatics and Information Management
The Health Information Management accreditor of West Virginia University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for Baccalaureate degree in Health Informatics and Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2029-2030. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
Medical Technology
West Virginia University Medical Technology Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) through April 2017.
Occupational Therapy
WVU's Master of Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD, SUITE 200, NORTH BETHESDA MARYLAND 20852-4929. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The OT Program at WVU was awarded re-accreditation in 2013. The next scheduled onsite visit for accreditation will be in 2023-2024. More information about accreditation can also be found at the AOTA website: http://www.aota.org.
Note: A felony conviction may impact a graduate’s ability to take the NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.) examination and/or obtain a state license. For further information on NBCOT’s Character Review Program, interested parties can obtain information from that Board on their website at: http://www.nbcot.org.
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Pathologists' Assistant
The West Virginia University Pathologists’ Assistant Program is accredited through October 31, 2031 by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018, (773) 714-8880, www.naacls.org. NAACLS is the premier international agency for accreditation and approval of education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences and related health care professions. (Adapted from www.naacls.org.)
Physical Therapy
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at West Virginia University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave. Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone 703-706-3245; email accreditation@apta.org; website: http://capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 304-293-3610 or email mmandich@hsc.wvu.edu.
Physician Assistant Studies
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the West Virginia University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by West Virginia University. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) requires programs to define, publish and make readily available to enrolled and prospective students general program information regarding the most current annual student attrition information. Please find annual student attrition data updated as of January 17, 2023, here.