Thread: Accreditation

Does anybody know how St Chris is currently accredited? ECFMG status?

Originally Posted by giggidy

Thanks, but besides from being very concerned am about your #5 as state licensing bodies are seemingly more interested in transcript credentialing...

Maybe I wasn't clear in my previous post; the only credential verification service that is accepted by state licensing boards in the context of international medical schools is the Federation Credentials Verification Service, nothing else. WES has absolutely no applicability with regard to credential verification for state medical licensing in the US concerning international medical schools.

A significant number of St. Chris students have used the FCVS offered by the FSMB without any issues.

With respect to medical degree acceptability for a given US state, credential verification has nothing to do with that. If a medical degree is not accepted by a state it is because the school doesn't meet some statutory requirement set forth by that state, no level of credential verification is going to change that.

The only occasion that I have been aware of where such a credential verification helped an FMG had nothing to do with licensing.

He got a job instructing at a nursing school (physiology), and to get it he was required to get his credentials verified and translated by one of these organizations (I think it actually was WES).


For medical licensing, those organizations simply have nothing to do with it.

I have known several FMGs who had their credentials "translated" by such services based on misguided advice and it got them exactly and precisely nothing and nowhere except that it lightened their bank account.

Originally Posted by giggidy

Mr. 10 Years Admissions:

Since I can't educate you, why not educate me? Who am I to argue with an admissions expert right? So, tell me then, assuming you are true to your calling, when a reputable U.S. University requests a credential service from WES or alike, as required, in lieu of a regional accreditation, how does one transfer credits from a foreign institution without the transcripts being evaluated by an independent body? This should be an easy one coming from a transcript expert no doubt...

One must follow the requirements put forward by the insitution into which one is seeking "tansfer". Many universities will do their own evaluation based on works published by AACROA or depend on an independent agency's evaluation: WES or similar NACES-affiliated agency.

The only possible problem any agency may have with St. Chris transcripts was their transcripts temporary unavailability when St. Chris was in receivership. Why WES or anyone else would refuse to work with a St. Chris transcript makes no sense to me.

If WES for whatever reason will not work with a St. Chris transcript, find another NACES agency that will. ECE out of Milwaukee may be better.

Originally Posted by giggidy

I'm guessing your going to either say, " you don't" or "it's not needed for residency or licensure". But, keep in mind I am requiring it for transfer purposes and for state licensure. Hence, I am sitting on the edge of my seat hoping for a much more comprehensive suggestion rather than the mechanic versus the mechanical engineer analogy however. One that I doubt you will be able to answer, unless of course, U.S. Colleges and Universities and State Licensing Boards have it all wrong and you have it all right. Right?

Again you are mixing issues up. Transfering St. Chris credit has absolutely nothing to do with applying for residency or licensure.

Chopdoc's and Roboman's posts I think clarify the apparent confusion between "credential verification" and "credential evaluation". Verification may include evaluation in the process. But evaluation does not equal verification.

I hope this helps.

Thank you Tipton, Chopdoc, and Roboman. I can now go back with something useful to work with...

I wonder how credential services like WES and other dozens of agencies without legitimacy can claim to be competent about anything
And when you see who asks to use these services (eastern europe agents for instance) .. then you understand how reliable it can be . And I cannot imagine the price of the stamp they put on your documents

St. Chris is toast in New York State **********

What most people don't know is that St. Chris graduates and current St. Chris students are banned from applying to residency training in New York State, in addition to, being completely banned in applying for licensure in NY State as well.

Current St. Chris students are also banned from performing clinical clerkships (Cores and electives) in New York State.

This is according to the following individuals:

M. S.
W. R. - Executive Secretary
New York State Board for Medicine
89 Washington Avenue
West Wing – 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12234
Tel. 518-474-3817, Ext. 560 Fax 518-486-4846



Don't risk losing your medical career for attending a school New York State considers questionable and a scam.

This is according to the individuals above. Call them and they will tell you New York State's derogatory stance on St. Christopher.



*************

Originally Posted by RobOman

Tipton is correct. Anything from WES would be useless for medical licensing in the US.

The only things that matter for getting a med. lic. in the US with regard to the school are:

1) If the school is listed in IMED (Yes, it is)

2) If that listing was active during the period you attended the school (The listing is active for the years 2000-Present)

3) If you can sit for the Step exams (Yes, you can)

4) If you can get ECFMG certified once your get your degree (Yes, You can)

5) If your degree is accepted for licensure in the state where you are applying for a license (That depends, you have to check with the state where you want to get licensed)

The only verification service that one can use for the purpose of applying to a residency program, fellowship, or for medical licensure is the Federation Credentials Verification Service which is offered by the Federation of State Medical Boards.

As far as transferring to a US university, every case I have heard of since the 90's involved the student starting over from scratch, so there would be no need or reason to get anything evaluated by WES.

Concerning employment, I can't imagine any prospective employer asking for anything other than the FCVS offered by the FSMB.

is this from a foreign med school to a US med school? if so this is simply not true. every year students from sgu, ross, and auc transfer over to US med schools to begin third year...two from my class of 50 actually and we all graduated at the same time. one is in his 3rd year pathology and another in 3rd year fp.

why all the hate for SC suddenly? they changed the way they do things and are running things a lot more legit than before. they dont claim to be some humanitarian mission anymore, nor do they claim to be a brittish med school..the only questionable thing they are doing now is continue to claim to be part of some huge university that is probably not really functional other than name only..wonder hwo many grads from the senegal campus are in residency now.. other than that they turned as legit as the other for profit money pits we keep dumping our money into

Well put! That is the key point. Thank you!

Originally Posted by RobOman

If a medical degree is not accepted by a state it is because the school doesn't meet some statutory requirement set forth by that state, no level of credential verification is going to change that.