The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) has continued the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine’s preliminary accreditation and placed it on probationary status as we work to address areas identified during the most recent review process. Importantly, this action does not affect our students' ability to earn their medical degrees or eligibility for residency placement and licensure. The College continues to operate as normal, with classes, clinical experiences and student support services moving forward without interruption.
Below you'll find answers to common questions about the accreditation process, what this means for our students and next steps.
Medical Accreditation Overview
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is a nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the U.S. and Canada. LCME accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed quality assurance process that determines whether a medical education program meets established standards outlined in the Functions and Structure of a Medical School.
LCME accreditation ensures that a medical school meets nationally recognized standards for medical education, supporting high-quality training and continuous improvement. It also allows graduates to be eligible for residency programs, licensure, and federal financial aid.
The Accreditation consists of four components:
- Data Collection Instrument (DCI)
- Faculty led Institutional Self Study
- Student led Independent Student Analysis (ISA)
- Site Visit by Faculty/Deans from other medical schools
Frist College of Medicine Accreditation Status
In summer 2026, we learned the LCME determined the College of Medicine will remain on Preliminary Accreditation and be placed on Probation while we continue to address findings identified in their review process. This decision was made following the February 2026 survey visit which evaluated data provided through November 2025. While this is not the outcome we sought, we understand the LCME’s findings and are fully committed to addressing every area of concern noted as quickly and sustainably as possible.
Belmont's Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine remains preliminarily accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for U.S. and Canadian medical schools. "Preliminary Accreditation on Probation" means the LCME determined that the College is not currently in full compliance with certain accreditation standards and has placed the program on probation while those issues are addressed.
The probation designation allows the College to continue enrolling students, educating current students and advancing students through the curriculum while corrective actions are implemented. The LCME expects medical schools on probation to resolve the identified areas of noncompliance within the time frame established by the accrediting body. Belmont has developed a comprehensive action plan and is committed to addressing each area identified by the LCME, while continuing to provide a high-quality medical education.
Yes. Belmont’s Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine remains an LCME-accredited medical school.
When a new school is placed on probation during the accreditation cycle, they receive the information needed to form a corrective action plan and demonstrate sustained compliance at subsequent reviews. While this is not uncommon for schools still building out their infrastructure, we are taking this very seriously, and we are fully committed to addressing every area of concern as soon as possible.
The LCME's review cycle means our next scheduled site visit, and the earliest opportunity to remove probation and move toward the next accreditation status, is in 2028. We are working now to fully correct the cited deficiencies well in advance of that visit. We'll share progress updates throughout this process to report on our standing.
Yes. University leadership has affirmed its continued commitment through both actions and resource decisions. Leadership has emphasized both disciplined stewardship and ongoing investment and engaged senior leaders to align budgets with priorities, demonstrating an active and sustained commitment to advancing the College of Medicine and its role in serving the broader community.
The findings from LCME emphasized three broad areas for improvement that are outlined below:
Student Resources and Responsiveness
While LCME recognized a strong foundation of student support services, it also identified a gap between the actions taken to improve the student experience and how those improvements were perceived, particularly by our inaugural class.
In response, we expanded career advising through a dedicated leadership position and 20 advising groups, increased specialty-specific mentoring, developed a comprehensive research strategic plan and strengthened opportunities for student scholarly engagement. These initiatives reflect direct action based on student feedback. Follow-up survey results demonstrate encouraging progress.
Governance, Policies and Oversight
Accredited medical schools are expected to maintain policies, governance processes and documentation that consistently demonstrate compliance. While many of these systems are in place, LCME identified ways to strengthen how they’re implemented, documented and consistently adhered to.
Though our curricular content, design and competencies were rated satisfactory, LCME identified opportunities to improve how our curriculum is mapped and documented so it more accurately reflects the educational experience FCOM provides.
We established the Office of Academic Affairs to expand academic oversight and developed dean-level positions to expand FCOM’s senior leadership capacity. This enhanced organizational structure defines clear operational accountability for all curriculum, research, simulation and clinical education so the FCOM experience is correctly displayed.
Academic Experience and Learning Environment
We satisfactorily met the standards for faculty size and recruitment, and LCME will continue to monitor this progress as we intentionally grow to meet the needs of current and future students. LCME’s findings point to a continued desire among students for faculty to provide more time for self-directed learning and preparation, as well as enhanced research opportunities.
We are actively recruiting for a new Associate Dean for Research and have expanded research and mentorship opportunities. In our resurvey, students acknowledged improvement in this area. Rest assured, we also heard requests for even more access to these critical experiences, and we will continue to seek those opportunities.
How Does the Accreditation Status Impact Students
No. A degree earned from a school holding LCME accreditation, including Preliminary Accreditation on Probation, is a degree from an accredited medical school. The validity of the degree is tied to Belmont's accredited status at the time a student is enrolled and graduates, which remains intact.
No. Students remain enrolled at an LCME-accredited medical school, with no changes to their educational program due to this determination. Eligibility for residency and the Match is based on attending an LCME-accredited medical school, and Belmont remains accredited throughout this process. Residency placement continues to depend primarily on each student's academic performance, board scores, clinical evaluations, research and letters of recommendation.
State licensing boards generally require graduation from an LCME-accredited medical school, and Belmont remains accredited under that standard.
We'd encourage you to weigh it as one real factor among several—fit, mission, cost, location, clinical opportunities and the kind of physician you hope to become.
Belmont is intentionally building a medical school around the development of the whole person. We want to know our students, celebrate their gifts and help them remain whole during a demanding season of training. At the same time, we're preparing future physicians to practice whole-person care, understand communities, navigate the business and systems of healthcare and lead positive change.
Our hope is that Belmont graduates will provide excellent care to patients and families and become agents of hope and healing in their communities and beyond. For many students, that sense of mission and formation is an important part of the decision.
Ultimately, every applicant must decide which school is the best fit for their goals and values. We believe Belmont offers an educational experience that is both deeply personal and purpose-driven, and we invite prospective students to consider whether that aligns with who they are and the physician they aspire to become.
No. We anticipate following our published admissions timeline, including the timing of admissions offers and applicant decision deadlines. If any adjustments become necessary, applicants will be informed promptly.
No. Scholarship and financial aid programs, award criteria and funding commitments remain unchanged. Belmont remains committed to making a medical education accessible and will continue to award scholarships and financial aid through our established processes.
Yes. We are committed to being transparent with applicants throughout this process. Every applicant offered admission will be informed of the college's accreditation status before making an enrollment decision. This information will be provided as part of the admissions process and accompanying enrollment materials so applicants can make a fully informed decision about their medical education.
Applicants, accepted students and parents will receive updates through admissions communications, virtual information sessions and dedicated FAQ resources.
For additional questions related to Thomas F. Frist College of Medicine's accreditation status, please contact fcomaccreditation@belmont.edu.
Contact Us
Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615.460.6191