WesternU College of Podiatric Medicine Earns ""Candidate Status"" on Accreditation

The College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM) at Western University of Health Sciences has taken an important step toward full accreditation.

The Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME), the professional accreditation body for Podiatric Medicine, has granted Western University College of Podiatric Medicine candidate status, which is the second of three steps in CPME’s accreditation process.

Although the achievement of candidate status by a college of podiatric medicine does not guarantee eventual accreditation, an institution that has achieved candidate status is viewed by the CPME to have satisfied the eligibility requirements and to have the potential for meeting CPME accreditation standards and requirements, once the program of podiatric medicine is fully activated with students enrolled in all four years of the educational curriculum.

“This marks a significant milestone for the College and the profession, as we are only the ninth college of Podiatric Medicine to achieve Candidate Status on its path to full accreditation,” said CPM Dean Lawrence Harkless, DPM. “The College looks forward to the final stages of the accreditation process on its way to obtaining full accreditation by the Council following a successful site visit in the spring of 2012.

“Thanks to all of you who have assisted and supported the CPM throughout the first stages of the accreditation process, and we look forward to your continued support as we seek full accreditation.”

The College of Podiatric Medicine welcomed its first class of 38 students in fall 2009.