Accreditation Status

Accreditation Overview

Western University of Health Sciences is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The Western University College of Podiatric Medicine has applied for accreditation to the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME), an independent, specialized accrediting agency. The Council has final authority for the accreditation of colleges of podiatric medicine, post graduate residency training programs, and the recognition of specialty certifying boards for podiatric medical practice. Additionally, CPME is the official body that approves post graduate podiatric medical and surgical residency training programs for the profession. The Council is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the US Secretary of Education as the accrediting agency for first professional degree programs in podiatric medicine.

Accreditation Status

The Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME), the professional accreditation body for Podiatric Medicine has granted Western University College of Podiatric Medicine candidate status, which is the second of three steps in CPME's accreditation process. Although the achievement of candidate status by a college of podiatric medicine does not guarantee eventual accreditation, an institution that has achieved candidate status is viewed by the CPME to have satisfied the eligibility requirements and to have the potential for meeting CPME accreditation standards and requirements once the program of podiatric medicine is fully activated with students enrolled in all four years of the educational curriculum.

The final phase of the accreditation process is Full Accreditation. An application for Full Accreditation will be submitted in the late Spring or early Summer of 2012 for a site visit in the early Fall so that final approval can be obtained from the Council in the Fall of 2012. This will allow the program to have full accreditation for our graduating class in May of 2013.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Accrediting Commission granted approval of the substantive change proposal for the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine on December 8, 2008.

For more information on the accrediting agency, visit Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

For more information on the accrediting agency, visit Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME).