Accreditation

Evaluation and certification of the suitability of medical education programmes, and of the competence of institutions that deliver medical education. The aim of accreditation of medical education is to ensure quality education and, ultimately, competent practising doctors and patient safety.

Accrediting Agency

An entity which has the authority to accredit providers of medical education.

Articles of Association

Written rules specifying governance of the organisation agreed by the Federation members.  

Assessors

Evaluators serving in Recognition Programmes and evaluating whether an accrediting agency complies with respective Recognition Criteria. Each Recognition Programme has its own pool of assessors.

Associate Member

An organisation or entity admitted as an Associate Member by the Executive Council, with the rights and responsibilities defined for this category in the Articles of Association.

Basic Medical Education (BME)

The undergraduate phase of medical education delivered by a medical school. This phase is also referred to as undergraduate medical education (UME).

Conflict of Interests

A situation where an individual’s personal, professional, financial, or other interests may compromise or have the potential to compromise their objectivity, judgment, or decision-making in relation to their responsibilities.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The ongoing process of building knowledge and skills during independent medical practice, following specialist postgraduate education or immediately after graduation if postgraduate education is optional. CPD includes formal and informal activities undertaken by doctors who have completed their training and are in independent practice, to maintain, update, and enhance their knowledge, skills and behaviours in response to patient needs to provide safe, legal, and high-quality services aimed at better patient and community outcomes. It is also known as continuing medical education (CME), continuous professional development, or lifelong learning.

Distributed and Distance Learning

A structured educational approach in which learners, instructors, and resources are geographically dispersed. It combines planned curriculum delivery with coordinated teaching, supervision, assessment, and support, often facilitated by digital technologies. This model ensures that students receive a consistent and comprehensive educational experience regardless of location.

It may include both real-time and self-paced methods and can apply to entire programmes or specific components. It encompasses all aspects of the educational process—teaching, learning, assessment, feedback, student and faculty support, management, and quality assurance—delivered through a combination of physical and virtual environments.

Executive Council (ExCo)

WFME’s governing body responsible for policy-making and strategic oversight. It meets regularly to set strategy, approve work plans, and oversee implementation, led by the President and Vice-President, and delivered through the office team. 

Finance Committee

(FC)

A subcommittee of the Executive Council responsible for overseeing WFME’s financial management, including budget planning aligned with core functions, and strategic priorities.

Federation Member

A voting organisation or entity represented on the WFME Executive Council. Together with Associate Members, they contribute to the governance and strategic direction of WFME.

Master’s Degree in Medical Education

An advanced academic programme designed to equip healthcare professionals with expertise in curriculum design, programme management, quality assurance, and programme evaluation.

Medical Education

The education process leading to qualified medicine practice, encompassing all phases before and after licensure.

It may also refer to the academic discipline of medical education, which includes research published in peer-reviewed journals. WFME supports high standards in the management, organisation and delivery of medical education but does not prescribe specific content or teaching methods. 

Medical Education Continuum

A framework encompassing all stages of medical education—from entry into medical school (BME), from medical school to residency (PGME), to entering practice (CPD).

Medical School

An institution or unit responsible for delivering a programme that leads to a degree in Basic Medical Education. This may be a medical university, faculty, school, department within a faculty, or programme.

Past President

The immediate former President of WFME who supports and reports to the current President and serves as a voting member of the Executive Council, as outlined in the Articles of Association.

Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME)

The phase of medical education focused on preparation for specialisation, occurring after graduation from medical school and before independent practice. Also known as Graduate Medical Education. PGME may not be required in all countries or for all career paths.

President

The elected leader of WFME, accountable to the Executive Council for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight. The President serves a four-year term, renewable once.

Professional Conduct

Behaviour that reflects respect, fairness, confidentiality, honesty, and transparency in interactions with colleagues, the organisation, and external stakeholders, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Recognition Process

The process by which an accrediting agency is evaluated within the WFME Recognition Programme. 

Recognition of Accreditation Programme (RP), or Recognition Programme

A structured programme that provides an independent, transparent, and rigorous method for ensuring high-quality medical education worldwide. It does so by evaluating accrediting agencies against pre-defined criteria, promoting continuous quality improvement.

Successful evaluation results in the award of Recognition Status. WFME offers Recognition Programmes for BME, PGME, and CPD—each governed by its own policies, procedures, committee, assessors, and criteria.

See the Recognition Programmes Glossary for more detail.

Recognition Committee(s)

WFME bodies responsible for decision-making within the Recognition Programme, including awarding Recognition Status. Each programme (BME, PGME, CPD) has its own committee governed by specific Terms of Reference. 

Recognition Criteria

A defined set of requirements established by WFME to assess accrediting agencies during the Recognition process.

Recognition Status

The formal designation awarded to accrediting agencies that successfully meet WFME’s Recognition Criteria.

Remuneration Committee

A subcommittee of the Executive Council which responsible for recommending honoraria for the President, the Vice-President, and Recognition Programme assessors.

Regional Associations Presidents’ Forum

A platform for the Presidents of Regional Associations for Medical Education to share challenges, learning, and resources, and explore and develop joint solutions.

Regional Associations (RAs)

International medical education associations that work in partnership with WFME. WFME recognises six regions based on WHO’s global division.

Registered Charity

An organisation officially registered with the Charity Commission for

England and Wales.

Regulatory Authorities

Government-recognised organisations responsible for physician registration or licensure, and/or standards of practice within a specific jurisdiction.

Find out more at www.iamra.com.

Risk Committee (RC)

A subcommittee of the Executive Council tasked with identifying and monitoring risks—political, financial, operational, or organisational.

Standards

A framework or set of benchmarks or requirements that can serve as quality measures across all aspects of medical education programmes. They can be used as a basis for accreditation, quality assurance, and continuous improvement throughout all phases of the medical education continuum.

WFME publishes international best practice Global Standards for different stages of the medical education continuum to guide the development and evaluation of medical education. WFME Standards are non-prescriptive and intended as a framework that can be adapted to local contexts.

See the Standards Glossary for more detail.

WFME Standards Programme

A framework supporting the development, evaluation, and continuous improvement of medical education programmes. It helps identify strengths and weaknesses and promotes global access to appropriate medical education standards.

Vice-President

The elected Vice-President of WFME, who supports and reports to the President and serves as a voting member of the Executive Council. The Vice-President is nominated by the President and approved by the Council for a four-year term, renewable once.

World Conference

A WFME-organised event that facilitates dialogue on medical education, regulation, and quality improvement. It brings together educators, researchers, accreditors, regulators, policymakers, practitioners, and students.

World Directory of Medical Schools (World Directory or WDoMS)

A free-to-access database of verified medical schools offering complete undergraduate programmes that qualify graduates for medical licensure. Listing is free for schools.

See the World Directory Glossary for more detail.

World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)

A not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to improving the quality of medical education worldwide through:

·   Publishing adaptable Global Standards for medical education (through the WFME Standards Programme).

·   Promoting accreditation through the WFME Recognition of Accreditation Programmes.

·   Maintaining the World Directory of Medical Schools.

·   Supporting research in quality improvement, regulation and accreditation.

·   Facilitating stakeholder dialogue in medical education and quality improvement.