As the prices for American medical schools continue to balloon on a yearly basis, more and more students are looking at alternative options. For many of these future doctors, medical schools in the Caribbean offer an attractive choice. The Caribbean islands are home to a number of medical schools that are tailored to the American student – although most offer a very diverse student population. By working on curriculums that are based on their American counterparts, these schools offer the opportunity to get a degree abroad at a more affordable rate and eventually practice as a doctor in the United States. Like anything in life, it is up to the student to do their due diligence before making any major decisions regarding their educational future, but there are many situations where a Caribbean school may offer the best opportunity. For those students, here is a look at some of the top island options:

The American University of Antigua: AUA is located near the local capital of St. John’s and offers a medical program, pre-medical program, veterinary program, and a nursing school. AUA has been consistently upgrading its facilities and offers an approved transfer program by the state of New York for transfer purposes. With state of the art facilities, AUA has a legitimate claim to being the most moderate medical campus in the entire Caribbean.

All Saints University of Medicine: Located in Aruba, All Saints University offers a curriculum based upon United States medical institutions. After completion of the four year medical program, students are eligible to sit for the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) and even the possibility of obtaining a Canadian license.

Saint James School of Medicine: Accredited by the Caribbean Education Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions, Saint James is a private non-profit institution that offers locations in both Bonaire and Anguilla. As a younger institution, Saint James is not eligible for accreditation in many US states at this time.

St. Matthew’s University: Located in the Cayman Islands, SMU is a for-profit institution offers both a medical and veterinary school. This institution has been approved by both Florida and New York for the purposes of clinical rotations. However, states such as California and Kansas have denied accreditation based upon their own requirements.

Ross University School of Medicine: Ross is a for profit medical and veterinary university located in Dominica. Ross graduates are eligible to practice in all 50 states and boast a robust 93% pass rate on the USMLE. The United States department of education has deemed the Ross program to be comparable to its standards set for American programs. However, some states do require further vetting before allowing full licensure or approval.

Saba University School of Medicine: Currently celebrating its 25th year of existence, Saba University takes pride in over 1300 alumni currently practicing in the United States and Canada. Saba is one of the few Caribbean medical schools that offers accreditation by the state of California, with comparable standards to those of United States institutions.

Author Bio: By Felix Chesterfield; If you are interested in learning more about Caribbean Medical Schools or other study abroad options, please click on the link to learn more.

Category: Education
Keywords: Medical schools, health care, medical education