The Liaison Committee on Medical Education granted the University of Georgia preliminary accreditation on Feb. 13. This designation allows the university to recruit and admit its inaugural class, a landmark achievement for public medical education in Georgia.
Applications for the fall 2026 inaugural class will open in the coming weeks.
“Preliminary accreditation is a tremendous milestone for the School of Medicine, the University of Georgia and our entire state,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “This is a shared achievement that represents the tireless work of so many individuals, and I am truly grateful to everyone who has helped shape the School of Medicine to this point. I am excited to welcome our first class of medical students this fall, and I look forward to the transformative impact UGA-trained physicians will have in communities throughout Georgia for generations to come.”
The accreditation designation follows a rigorous evaluation of the School of Medicine’s policies, educational programs and facilities, culminating in an on-site review by LCME surveyors last September.
The decision lays the foundation for a new generation of physicians poised to strengthen the state’s health care workforce, particularly in rural and underserved communities. As Georgia’s population approaches 11 million, demand for care has outpaced capacity, contributing to longer wait times and diminished access across the state.
With Georgia ranking 39th nationally in active patient care physicians per capita and 41st in public medical students per capita, expanding in-state medical education is a critical step toward improving health outcomes and meeting the needs of communities statewide.
“This is a remarkably historic day for our university and state,” said Founding Dean Shelley Nuss. “Preliminary accreditation allows us to move forward in preparing physicians who will serve our communities and improve health outcomes across Georgia and beyond.”
The School of Medicine, located on UGA’s Health Sciences Campus in Athens, will be supported by a new $100 million medical education and research facility that is scheduled for completion in December. The facility will feature advanced clinical simulation, team-based learning spaces and biomedical research infrastructure.
Additionally, through the generosity of its donors, the School of Medicine has already received more than $10.8 million in scholarship commitments. This support will expand access to medical education and enable the School of Medicine to recruit and enroll outstanding students.
The LCME, the accrediting body for medical education programs leading to a doctor of medicine degree, is jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.
Accreditation by the LCME is crucial for a medical school’s graduates to be eligible for the United States Medical Licensing Examination and residency programs.
Per its standard process, the LCME will continue to assess the School of Medicine as it progresses toward provisional and, ultimately, full accreditation.