• Standards for the Accreditation of Medical Schools in CARICOM
• Standards for the Accreditation of Veterinary Schools in CARICOM

• Procedures of the CAAM

• Accreditation Procedures for the CAAM

• Accreditation Guidelines for New and Developing Schools

• Students’ Role in the CAAM

• Guidelines For Accreditation Survey Visits

• Guide for Writing a Report on a Visit of a Survey Team

• Guide to the Institutional Self Study for Programmes of Education in Medicine
• Guide to the Institutional Self Study for Programmes of Education in Veterinary Medicine

• Instructions for Completing the Medical Education Database and Institutional Self Study
• Instructions for Completing the Veterinary Education Database and Institutional Self Study

• Medical Education Database
1. Institutional Setting
2. Medical Students
3. Educational Programme
4. Faculty
5. Educational Resources
6. Internship
• Veterinary Education Database
1. Institutional Setting
2. The Students
3. Educational Programme
4. Faculty
5. Educational Resources

• Database Form for Required Courses and Clerkship – Medical Education
• Database Form for Required Courses and Clerkship – Veterinary Education

• Annual Medical School Questionnaire
• Annual Veterinary School Questionnaire

• Dental Education Database
1. Institutional Setting
2. Dental Students
3. Educational Programme
4. Faculty
5. Educational Resources
6. Internship
7. Continuing Professional Education

About Us

• Introduction
• Establishment of CAAM
• Agreement Establishing the CAAM
• Composition of the Authority
• Other Health Professions
• Objectives of the Authority
• CAAM Accreditation System

Introduction

The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM) is the legally constituted body established to accredit medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions programmes leading to professional degrees required for practise in CARICOM member states.

It was accepted by all parties that CAAM should be an independent, ‘stand alone’ body. Hence, this Authority acts independently of all participating countries.

By judging the compliance of professional education programmes with nationally and internationally accepted standards of educational quality, this accreditation agency serves the interests of the general public in the CARICOM member states and the interest of the students enrolled in the programmes of the schools.

Establishment of CAAM

The CAAM was established in 2003 under the aegis of CARICOM and became operational immediately following the launch on July 14, 2004 in Jamaica by the former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson.

Agreement Establishing the CAAM

The CAAM was legally constituted with an Agreement. This Agreement, the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions, was signed by five (5) Heads of Government in November 2003, at which time the Agreement became provisionally applicable. To date ten CARICOM member countries have signed the Agreement:

Antigua & Barbuda
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
St. Kitts & Nevis
Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago

Composition of the Authority

Membership of the CAAM comprises representatives from the universities in the region, medical students, civil society, professional associations and external professionals with expertise and knowledge in medical education accreditation.

Other Health Professions

Where the Authority specifies which professions are to be treated as other health professions, membership of the Authority shall be extended to include:–

1. two (2) persons nominated jointly by academic institutions offering training in other health professions in the Community;
2. two (2) students enrolled in training programmes in other health professions in institutions in the Community nominated jointly by those institutions.

Objectives of the Authority

The Authority has the objectives of:

1. achieving and maintaining standards of excellence in programmes of education in medicine and other health professions.
2. establishing an efficient system of regulation in relation to the standards and quality of such programmes of education.
3. securing international recognition of the programmes of education in medicine and other health professions.
4. maintaining the confidence of the peoples of the region in the quality of medical and other health professions training offered in the region.

CAAM Accreditation System

The accreditation system used by the CAAM is based on that of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). This system functions with a clear, authoritative mandate, operates independently of governments and institutions, uses preset standards, draws on external reviewers and involves self-evaluation and site visits.

For more information about CAAM, contact the CAAM Secretariat.