[Exclusive] Medical School Expansion, New Students Next Year Allowed to Take National Exam Even If 'Unaccredited'

Uipyewon "Institutionally Possible to Postpone Non-Certification"
No Issues for 2025 Entrants After 6 Years

Even if medical schools with increased admission quotas receive a non-accreditation decision in the major change evaluation by the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (KIMEE), new students next year will still be able to take the national medical licensing examination (KMLE) without any issues.

After the government confirmed the expansion of medical school quotas last February, concerns arose among examinees that if a medical school failed to obtain accreditation under the strengthened KIMEE evaluation criteria, new students from that school might be restricted from applying for the KMLE. Because of this, it was considered safer to apply mainly to medical schools in Seoul and the metropolitan area where quotas did not increase significantly, while some opinions suggested that even if students were accepted to certain private medical schools in provincial areas, they should be cautious about enrollment.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to KIMEE on the 31st, if a medical school with a quota increase of 10% or more for the 2025 academic year receives a non-accreditation decision in the major change evaluation, a one-year grace period will be granted.

During the grace period, even if educational conditions such as facilities or faculty recruitment do not improve and non-accreditation is confirmed later, new students in that year will still be able to take the KMLE. This is because, under the Medical Service Act, students who enroll in an accredited medical school can take the licensing exam even if the accreditation status changes later.

KIMEE can change the accreditation type and period of medical schools through the major change evaluation. A 'change in accreditation type' means changing a school's accreditation status to non-accreditation. On the other hand, a 'change in accreditation period' is a measure to advance the timing of the regular evaluation. For example, even if a medical school has four years left on its accreditation period, it may be required to undergo a regular evaluation in two years.

A KIMEE official stated, "A non-accreditation decision is not something that can be made easily," and added, "It is very rare for the accreditation type to be changed through the major change evaluation." However, the official also noted, "If it becomes impossible to provide education to students, the accreditation type could be changed."

In such cases, the grace system will protect next year's medical school entrants. The KIMEE official explained, "Currently, before the non-accreditation results are announced, some students will have already been accepted and registered through early and regular college admissions. To prepare for this situation, the system allows for a grace period for non-accreditation," adding, "This gives students a one-year opportunity to recover the educational environment."

Among the 40 medical schools nationwide, 30 schools with a quota increase of 10% or more for the 2025 academic year must submit an application for the major change evaluation by the 31st of next month, then prepare a major change plan and submit it to KIMEE by the end of November. KIMEE plans to begin a full review in December and notify each university of accreditation or non-accreditation decisions by February next year.