AAMC member medical schools are accredited institutions in the United States and Canada that belong to the Association of American Medical Colleges
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is an organization that represents medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic medical centers. When a medical school is an AAMC member, it means the school has met certain standards and participates in the AAMC's shared systems and resources. Most accredited medical schools in the U.S. and Canada are AAMC members, though membership is not automatic — schools must join and maintain their membership.
If you are looking at medical schools, AAMC membership matters because it signals that a school participates in common process processes, standardized testing frameworks, and shared data systems. It also means the school is part of a network that sets expectations for medical education and training. However, AAMC membership does not mean a school is "better" than non-member schools — it is a structural detail about how the school operates within the medical education system.
Key Takeaways
- AAMC member schools use the AMCAS process system, which is the main pathway for explore to most U.S. medical schools.
- AAMC membership includes most accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada, but you should verify a specific school's membership status on the AAMC website.
- Member schools report data to the AAMC and follow shared standards for medical education, but this does not rank schools or may provide outcomes.
- The AAMC publishes a searchable directory of member schools with contact information, program details, and links to each school's admissions office.
How to find the AAMC member school directory
The AAMC maintains a searchable directory of member medical schools on its website at aamc.org. You can search by school name, location, or region. The directory includes links to each school's admissions office, program information, and contact details. This is the fastest way to confirm whether a specific school is an AAMC member and to find official admissions contact information.
You can also browse the directory by state or province to see all member schools in a particular region. Each school listing includes a direct link to that school's website, so you can move from the AAMC directory to the school's own admissions pages without searching separately.
What AAMC membership means for the process process
If a medical school is an AAMC member, you will almost certainly submit your process through AMCAS (the American Medical College process Service). AMCAS is a centralized process platform run by the AAMC that allows you to fill out one process and send it to multiple member schools. You create one account, enter your personal information, academic history, and essay responses once, and then designate which schools receive your process.
Non-AAMC member schools typically use their own process systems or secondary platforms, so they require separate applications. If you are explore to a mix of AAMC and non-AAMC schools, you will need to manage multiple process portals. This is one practical reason why AAMC membership matters — it simplifies the logistics of explore to several schools at once.
The difference between AAMC membership and accreditation
AAMC membership and accreditation are two separate things. Accreditation is a formal credential that means a school meets minimum standards set by an accrediting body — in the U.S., that is the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). A school must be accredited to award a medical degree that is recognized by licensing boards and employers.
AAMC membership is voluntary — a school chooses to join the AAMC and participate in its systems. Most accredited schools do join because AAMC membership connects them to the shared process system, data reporting, and professional network. However, a school could theoretically be accredited but not an AAMC member. Before you explore to any school, confirm that it is accredited by the LCME (in the U.S.) or the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) in Canada. Accreditation is what matters for the degree to be valid; AAMC membership is about how the school connects to the broader system.
What information you can find about AAMC member schools
The AAMC publishes data about member schools that you can use to compare programs. This includes tuition and fees, the number of students enrolled, the composition of the student body by gender and race/ethnicity, board exam pass rates, and specialty choice data. The AAMC also publishes information about each school's mission, curriculum structure, and whether the school offers joint degree programs (like MD/PhD or MD/MBA).
You can access some of this data through the AAMC's public directory and through individual school websites. Some detailed data is available through the AAMC's Medical School Interview Query (MSIQ) system, which is designed for applicants and current medical students. This tool lets you search for schools by specific criteria — location, curriculum type, research opportunities, or other factors — to narrow your list of schools to research.
AAMC member schools in different regions
AAMC member schools are located throughout the United States and Canada. The number of member schools varies slightly from year to year as schools join or leave the organization, but there are currently around 160 member schools in the U.S. and Canada combined. Some states have multiple member schools; others have one or none. The AAMC directory breaks down member schools by state and province, so you can see what options exist in your region or in regions where you are willing to train.
If you are interested in a particular region or state, the AAMC directory is the fastest way to see which schools are members and which are not. Some well-known medical schools are AAMC members; some are not. Membership status does not reflect the quality or reputation of a school — it reflects whether the school has chosen to join the AAMC and use its systems.
How to verify a school's AAMC membership status
To confirm that a specific medical school is an AAMC member, visit aamc.org and use the school directory search. Type the school name or location into the search box. If the school appears in the results, it is an AAMC member. If it does not appear, the school is either not an AAMC member or is not accredited as a medical school.
You can also contact the school's admissions office directly and ask whether they are an AAMC member and whether you will submit your process through AMCAS. This is a straightforward question that admissions staff answer regularly. If a school is an AAMC member, the admissions office will confirm this and direct you to the AMCAS website to begin your process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to attend an AAMC member school to become a doctor?
No. You can earn a medical degree from a non-AAMC member school and still become a licensed physician. However, most accredited medical schools in the U.S. and Canada are AAMC members, so your options outside AAMC membership are more limited. Make sure any school you consider is accredited by the LCME (U.S.) or CACMS (Canada), because accreditation is what matters for licensure and career recognition.
Is AAMC membership a sign that a school is better than non-member schools?
No. AAMC membership indicates that a school participates in the AAMC's shared systems and data reporting, but it does not rank schools or may provide educational quality. Non-member schools may be excellent. What matters is whether a school is accredited and whether its program aligns with your goals. Research individual schools based on curriculum, location, cost, and mission — not on AAMC membership alone.
Can I use AMCAS to explore to non-AAMC member schools?
No. AMCAS is only for AAMC member schools. If you want to explore to a non-member school, you will need to use that school's own process system or a different centralized platform. Some non-member schools use the AACOMAS system (for osteopathic schools) or their own portals. Check each school's admissions website to see which process system they use.
How do I know if a medical school is accredited?
In the U.S., accredited medical schools are listed on the LCME website (lcme.org). In Canada, accredited schools are listed on the CACMS website. You can search these databases by school name or location. If a school does not appear on these lists, it is not accredited, and its degree may not be recognized for licensure or employment. Always verify accreditation before you explore to any school.
What is the difference between AMCAS and AAMC?
The AAMC is an organization that represents medical schools and academic medical centers. AMCAS is a specific process system run by the AAMC. Think of it this way: the AAMC is the organization; AMCAS is one of the tools the AAMC provides. When you explore to AAMC member schools, you use AMCAS to submit your process.