We know prospective students and their families research thoroughly before making a decision this important. This page brings together important facts about WAUSM’s accreditation, outcomes, and MD Program so you have what you need in one place.
Below are the questions we hear most often, answered with documented facts and links to independent sources so you can verify everything for yourself.
On This Page
“WAUSM isn’t a real accredited school.”
WAUSM holds Provisional Accreditation from CAAM-HP, a WFME-recognized body. A full accreditation site visit was completed in April 2026. Verifiable at caam-hp.org.
“WAUSM students can’t take the USMLE.”
WAUSM received its ECFMG sponsor note in 2024. Students are eligible to sit for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2. Verifiable at search.wdoms.org.
“Caribbean grads don’t match into residencies.”
Our first group of students to participate in the CaRMS and NRMP match process achieved a 100% residency attainment rate across 17 institutions and 9 specialties in the US and Canada.
“Clinical rotations are not in the US.”
All WAUSM clerkship rotations are in the United States. Pre-clerkship is completed in Freeport, Grand Bahama; clinical years are completed our US partner hospitals.
A note on sources: Every claim on this page is drawn from WAUSM’s documented outcomes or from independently verifiable third-party sources. We link to those sources where possible and encourage you to verify directly.
“Is WAUSM Accredited?”
Yes. WAUSM holds Provisional Accreditation from CAAM-HP, the same accrediting body that accredits other established international medical schools.
Western Atlantic University School of Medicine holds Provisional Accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). CAAM-HP is a legally constituted body established in 2003 under the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and FAIMER. Provisional Accreditation is not a lesser status: it is the standard step between candidacy and full accreditation, and it is what all new medical schools hold prior to their first full review cycle.
The CAAM-HP process progresses in sequence from candidacy to provisional accreditation to full accreditation. Full accreditation review typically occurs in a school’s fourth year of operation. WAUSM is on that schedule.
2022
WAUSM Opens: Candidacy Status
Western Atlantic University School of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class in Freeport, Grand Bahama, beginning the CAAM-HP accreditation sequence.
2023
Provisional Accreditation Granted by CAAM-HP
CAAM-HP granted WAUSM Provisional Accreditation following a comprehensive review of the MD Program’s curriculum, faculty, facilities, and student outcomes infrastructure.
2024
ECFMG Sponsor Note Received
WAUSM received its ECFMG sponsor note, confirming WAUSM students are eligible to sit for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 examinations. This eligibility is a prerequisite for US residency.
April 2026
Full Accreditation Site Visit Completed
CAAM-HP conducted its full accreditation site visit in April 2026, evaluating the Freeport, Grand Bahama campus and WAUSM’s clinical training settings in Chicago. A decision is anticipated later in 2026.
Verify independently: WAUSM’s accreditation status can be confirmed directly through CAAM-HP at caam-hp.org and through the ECFMG World Directory of Medical Schools at search.wdoms.org.
“Can WAUSM Students Sit for the USMLE?”
Yes. WAUSM received its ECFMG sponsor note in 2024, confirming students are eligible to sit for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2. That eligibility is publicly listed in the ECFMG World Directory of Medical Schools.
100%
First-Time USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Pass Rate
As of July 1, 2025. Updated data published July 1, 2026.
2024
ECFMG Eligibility Confirmed
Students eligible for Step 1 and Step 2 upon receiving sponsor note.
WAUSM’s curriculum integrates USMLE preparation from the first semester. The pre-clerkship phase of the MD Program in Freeport uses a flipped-classroom model emphasizing clinical reasoning and early exposure to board-style content. All clerkship rotations take place in the United States, providing clinical experience in the same settings where graduates will eventually practice.
On transparency: WAUSM commits to publishing updated USMLE outcomes data annually on July 1. The most current data available is as of July 1, 2025. Verify USMLE eligibility independently at search.wdoms.org.
“Do Caribbean Students Match Into Residencies?”
WAUSM’s first group of students to participate in the Match process achieved a 100% residency match rate through the NRMP and CaRMS. Every student who participated in the match cycle was placed. Here are the results.
100%
Residency Match Rate
2026 NRMP and CaRMS cycle. All participating students matched.
17
Institutions Matched Into
Across the United States and Canada. 9 specialties represented.
| Specialty | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Child Neurology | University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics | Madison, WI |
| Emergency Medicine | Eisenhower Medical Center | Rancho Mirage, CA |
| Emergency Medicine | Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center | Toledo, OH |
| Emergency Medicine | HCA Medical City Healthcare | Arlington, TX |
| Emergency Medicine | University of Mississippi Medical Center | Jackson, MS |
| Emergency / Internal Medicine | East Carolina University Medical Center | Greenville, NC |
| Family Medicine | Union Hospital | Terre Haute, IN |
| Family Medicine | Firelands Regional Medical Center | Sandusky, OH |
| Family Medicine via CaRMS | University of Ottawa | Ottawa, Canada |
| General Surgery | Anne Arundel Medical Center | Annapolis, MD |
| Internal Medicine | Florida State University COM | Tallahassee, FL |
| Internal Medicine | Advocate Health Care | Park Ridge, IL |
| Internal Medicine | Detroit Medical Center / Wayne State | Detroit, MI |
| Internal / Pediatric Medicine | LSU Health Shreveport | Shreveport, LA |
| Pediatrics | Towers Health / St. Christopher’s | Philadelphia, PA |
| Physical Medicine & Rehab | Indiana University School of Medicine | Indianapolis, IN |
| Surgery, Preliminary | University of Illinois College of Medicine | Chicago, IL |
Full match results with interactive map: wausm.education/match-results
“Are WAUSM’s Clinical Rotations in the United States?”
WAUSM clerkship rotations are completed in the United States. Students also have access to clinical training at Doctors Hospital in Freeport, Grand Bahama, one of a select number of hospitals in the Caribbean to hold Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation.
Students complete pre-clerkship training at the Freeport, Grand Bahama pre-clerkship campus, approximately 80 miles from Fort Lauderdale. That pre-clerkship phase spans 20 months. After pre-clerkship, students transition to US-based clinical rotations for their third and fourth years, gaining direct experience in American hospitals and clinical environments.
WAUSM’s Chicago-based clerkship partners, including Saint Anthony Hospital and Insight Hospital and Medical Center, place students in one of the largest urban healthcare markets in the United States. Chicago’s clinical environment is defined by patient volume, demographic diversity, and proximity to major academic medical centers, exposing students to the breadth of cases and complexity that shapes capable physicians.
Through WAUSM’s affiliation with Doctors Hospital, students also have access to clerkship and elective opportunities at a JCI-accredited facility in Freeport. JCI accreditation is the international benchmark for patient safety and quality of care, held by a select number of hospitals worldwide. Training across both US and internationally accredited settings prepares WAUSM graduates to practice at the highest standards in any environment.
The distinction matters: WAUSM graduates are trained in US clinical settings, supervised by US physicians, and competing for residency spots in programs they have already worked within. The 2026 match results reflect that preparation.
On the Freeport campus: The pre-clerkship campus is purpose-built for medical education, located in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Students have access to simulation labs, small-group learning rooms, and faculty with an average 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Freeport is a direct flight from most major US cities.
“Is WAUSM Too “New” to Consider?”
WAUSM is a newer school. That is a fair observation. The question is what the available evidence shows about outcomes. Here is what the record shows for WAUSM’s inaugural graduating class.
Every medical school that is now well-established was once new — whether located in the Caribbean or elsewhere. The standard applied to any new school should be: what outcomes is it producing, and is it being transparent about them?
For WAUSM’s inaugural graduating class: 100% residency match rate. 100% first-time USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 pass rate as of July 1, 2025. 100% first-time pass rate on the externally evaluated OSCE. Placement at recognized residency programs including the University of Wisconsin, Indiana University School of Medicine, East Carolina University, and the University of Ottawa. CAAM-HP Provisional Accreditation, with a full accreditation site visit completed in April 2026.
No single graduating class is the complete story of a school. But a medical school that publishes its outcomes annually, provides independently verifiable accreditation status, and produces a 100% match rate in its inaugural cycle is providing the information needed to make an informed decision.
On being new: WAUSM commits to publishing updated outcomes data each July 1. If the data changes, that will be reflected publicly. The most recent USMLE data is as of July 1, 2025.
From WAUSM’s Inaugural Graduating Class
In Their Own Words
The most direct evidence of a school’s culture comes from its graduates. These are unedited statements from WAUSM’s inaugural graduates on Match Day.
“Part of me wants to say it’s the finish line of medical school, but another part of me thinks it’s the starting line to the rest of my life. Matching into the specialty I’ve always dreamt about. This is the beginning of my future.”
Jackie Mon
WAUSM Inaugural Graduating Class, Residency Match 2026
“The Match to me is a dream come true. Ultimately, it is bigger than me. It is something that I’ve wanted for a long time, and I’ve worked really hard to get here. It is a blessing not only for me, but also for my family.”
Milena Ghiday
WAUSM Inaugural Graduating Class, Residency Match 2026
“It truly is a culmination of every struggle and hardship I have been through in my life up until this point. It made it all worth it. All the time spent away from family, missing important events. It’s because I was working towards something greater. So I can serve humanity and be of service to people. It is an incredible feeling, knowing that I get to spend the rest of my life serving others.”
Matthew Manfredo
WAUSM Inaugural Graduating Class, Residency Match 2026
Additional Questions
Other Questions We Hear Often
Direct answers to questions from prospective students, families, and pre-med advisors.
Can WAUSM graduates practice medicine in the United States?
Yes. WAUSM graduates who pass the USMLE Step examinations and complete a US residency program are eligible to practice medicine in the United States, which is the same pathway followed by graduates of other international medical schools. WAUSM’s inaugural graduating class matched into programs at FSU, Wayne State, Indiana University, East Carolina, and other accredited US institutions.
Can WAUSM graduates practice medicine in Canada?
Yes. A graduate from WAUSM’s inaugural graduating class matched into Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa through CaRMS, which is Canada’s equivalent of the NRMP. Canadian students are also eligible for a $50,000 Canadian Scholarship at WAUSM for both their pre-clerkship and clerkship semesters upon admission.
Does WAUSM publish an acceptance rate?
WAUSM does not publish an acceptance rate. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for three start dates per year: January, May, and September. Candidates are evaluated holistically, considering MCAT score, GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and interview performance. There is no application fee.
What scholarships does WAUSM offer?
WAUSM offers Academic Excellence Awards based on MCAT score ($25,000 for 500-504, $50,000 for 505-509, $100,000 for 510+), a $50,000 automatic Canadian Scholarship, a 100% tuition Bahamian Scholars Award, and awards for healthcare workers, first-generation graduates, and university partner applicants for qualified applicants.
How does WAUSM compare to other Caribbean medical schools?
WAUSM is the only medical school in The Bahamas. Like SGU, AUC, and other established Caribbean schools, WAUSM is accredited by a WFME-recognized body (CAAM-HP) and prepares students for USMLE examinations and US residency. WAUSM’s 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, purpose-built pre-clerkship campus, and 100% residency match rate are its distinguishing outcomes.