Categorization of the Common Program Requirements for July 2013 Implementation of the ACGME’s Next Accreditation System

The phased implementation of the ACGME’s Next Accreditation System (NAS) will begin in July 2013 for seven accredited specialties (emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurological surgery, orthopaedic surgery, pediatrics, diagnostic radiology, and urology) and related subspecialties. The NAS requires categorization of the ACGME’s Common Program Requirements to clearly identify Core Requirements and Detail Requirements pertaining to structure, resources, and educational processes, as well as Outcome Requirements. Categorizing Core and Detail Requirements for structure, resources, and processes will allow the ACGME to free high-performing programs from meeting Detail Requirements, enabling such programs to innovate. Examples of Detail Requirements include particular educational approaches and learning experiences, such as a given number of lectures or hours of bedside teaching experiences.

For new programs and those that do not achieve good educational outcomes, the Detail Requirements will enable the ACGME to offer specific guidance.

The Common Program Requirements, which will become effective July 2013 for the seven specialties identified for implementation of the NAS, have been categorized to identify the following types of requirements:

1. Core Requirements: Statements that define structure, resource, or process elements essential to every graduate medical educational program.
2. Detail Requirements: Statements that describe a specific structure, resource, or process for achieving compliance with a Core Requirement. Programs in substantial compliance with the Outcome Requirements may utilize alternative or innovative approaches to meet Core Requirements.
3. Outcome Requirements: Statements that specify expected measurable or observable attributes (knowledge, abilities, skills, or attitudes) of residents or fellows at key stages of their graduate medical education.

The requirements are based on the Common Program Requirements that became effective in July 2011. In addition, requirements were added to recognize: 1) the ACGME Board of Directors' approval of procedural skills as part of the patient care competency domain; and 2) the use of milestones as a competency assessment method.

The categorization of the Common Programs Requirements is an administrative change, and the 2013 Common Program Requirements are not open for stakeholder comment at this time.

The categorized Common Program Requirements can be viewed here.