GRADUATE AFFAIRS
Queen's University College of Medicine
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
A student must fulfill all of the following requirements to graduate from Queen's University College of Medicine:
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1) Must have and maintain a status of Academic Good Standing with a Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0;
2) Must have and maintain all standards of, or have resolved any concerns regarding, adherence to QUCOM Policies, QUCOM Student Handbook, and QUCOM Codes of Honor, Ethics, and Conduct;
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3) Must have and maintain a status of Financial Good Standing with the University;
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4) Must have completed all required Pre-Med Prerequisites courses with a minimum grade of "C" and Must have successful completion of the Premedical Prerequisites Curriculum;
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5) Must have completed all required Basic Sciences courses with a minimum grade of “C” and Must have successful completion of the Basic Sciences Curriculum;
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6) Must have completed all required weeks of the AICM Pre-Clinical/Pre-Clerkship, all required weeks of Clinical Core Rotations (48 Weeks/48 Credits), and all required weeks of Clinical Elective Rotations (27 Weeks/27Credits), including IM Elective/or IM Subspecialty Elective (8 Credits), with a minimum grade of "C" or "P";
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7) Must have successfully completed the Clinical Sciences Curriculum (Total 75 Weeks/75 Credits);
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8) Must have fulfilled the Resident Credits Requirement (Total 52 Resident Credits at QUCOM);
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9) Must have successful regular reviews and audits, and final degree audits of academic documents and of all Pre-Med Prerequisites, Basic Sciences courses, Clinical Sciences Pre-Clerkship, and Clinical Sciences Core and Elective Clinical Rotations (Minimum of 156 Cumulative Credits);
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10) Must be cleared for Candidacy and Graduation by Office of the Registrar and University Dean;
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11) Must complete pre-Graduation Academic Exit Interview; and,
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12) Must have all required Administrative Documents on Digital File with the University prior to Graduation
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Electronic and Hard-Copy Academic Diplomas will not be released until all outstanding administrative documents, balances, and clinical evaluations have been received, and until a final degree audit has been performed and cleared by the Queen's University College of Medicine Office of the Registrar and University Dean. Formal commencement exercises are expected to be held once per year in June.
Approximately one year prior to graduation, students begin planning for the residency process. Queen's University College of Medicine Division of Graduate Affairs may assist students through this process. QUCOM Graduate Affairs is available for assistance with preparation for the application the process of licensure, which is governed by state medical boards. The pre-application process for residency incudes application preparation and best practices. Graduate Affairs oversees the writing of the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MPSE) for participation in the matching process. Should a student desire a supplemental experience prior to residency or an alternative occupation pursuit, students should consult Graduate Affairs for career-related guidance. Students should contact QUCOM Graduate Affairs for residency and licensure application preparation assistance.
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QUCOM Division of Graduate Affairs
Residency and Licensure
Preparation and Readiness Assistance
+1.833.788.3963
2023 Image adapted from www.ecfmg.org
ECFMG ™ Certification
Students graduating from Caribbean and International medical schools must be certified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates ™ (ECFMG) in order to obtain residency and licensure in the United States.
2024 Image adapted from www.usmle.org
USMLE ® Licensure
To practice medicine in the United States, Medical School Graduates:
​1) Must Pass the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK of the United States Medical Licensing Examinations ® (USMLE) and are required prior to graduation from medical school. The USMLE Step 3 is taken by medical school Graduates after their first year in Residency.
2) Must be Certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)
3) Must Complete Post-Graduate Training in an approved Residency Program
​Each state across the United States regulates its own medical licensure. Because standards vary from state to state, students are urged to contact the specific State Medical Board for information about licensure.
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USMLE ® Examinations
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USMLE Step 1 assesses whether medical students understand and can apply important concepts of the sciences basic to the practice of medicine. Students take this examination after they have completed the Medical School 5th semester.
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USMLE Step 2 CK assesses whether medical school students can apply medical knowledge and understanding of clinical science essential for provision of patient care under supervision.
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USMLE Step 3 assesses whether medical school graduates can apply medical knowledge, skills, and understanding of biomedical and clinical science essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine. Students take this examination after graduating from Queen’s University College of Medicine. Step 3 may be taken prior to beginning post-graduate training.