Stay informed with the latest updates & important announcements
The COCA is seeking qualified candidates who are interested in serving on the Commission. View the call for nominations. All applications and nominations must be submitted by close of business on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
On Dec. 4, 2025, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) approved revisions to the Accreditation of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine:
COM Continuing Accreditation Standards (“2026 Continuing Standards”) and the Accreditation of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: COM New & Developing Accreditation Standards (“2026 New & Developing Standards”). The COCA thanks the Standards Review Committee and members of the osteopathic medical education community who submitted public comments.
The revised standards have been posted on the COCA website. They are effective for the 2026-2027 academic year (beginning July 1, 2026) and are applicable to all colleges of osteopathic medicine with pre-accreditation or accreditation status. They will apply to reviews conducted after Feb. 1, 2027.
Organizations applying for candidate status, or proposed COMs holding candidate status and applying for pre-accreditation status, must submit the application under the 2026 New & Developing Standards.
Per COCA policies, COMs that are in the monitoring stage of a substantive change will continue to be monitored under the policies in place when the substantive change was approved, but the 2026 Continuing Standards will apply to any monitoring activities.
On Oct. 9, 2025, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) reviewed and approved proposed amendments to the Accreditation of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: COM Continuing Accreditation Standards and the Accreditation of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: COM New and Developing Accreditation Standards.
The COCA seeks comments from the osteopathic medical education community, the osteopathic profession and the public at large on the proposed amendments. Submitted comments must be made in writing and must include the following information:
Accreditation documents:
Comments must be submitted by Nov. 12, 2025.
Read the latest announcement about revisions to the COCA accreditation standards.
COCA reviews site visit reports, change requests and other items pertaining to the accreditation of osteopathic medical schools.
The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accreditor of colleges of osteopathic medicine. COCA members meet periodically to review site visit reports, change requests and other items pertaining to the accreditation of osteopathic medical schools.
The next meeting of the COCA will take place on June 12, 2026, and will be a virtual session. The next meeting with an open portion will be Aug. 27-28, 2026.
Any third-party comments must be submitted by Friday, May 22, 2026, to [email protected].
The following applications and site visits reports are coming before the COCA at its June 2026 meeting:
View all final actions taken by the commission at past meetings dating back to 2011.
Here’s how to reach staffers from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
142 E. Ontario St.
Chicago, IL 60611-2864
(312) 202-8124
[email protected]
Genie James, MMSc
Vice President, Accreditation Operations
(312) 202-8191
[email protected]
Daniel Mendelson, MEd, CAE
COCA Secretary & Vice President, Accreditation Standards
(312) 202-8095
[email protected]
Gregory Pytlak, MS, MBA
Senior Director
(312) 202-8162
[email protected]
Pashal Mabry, MA
Director
(312) 202-8086
[email protected]
Tessa Banks
Director
(312) 202-8164
[email protected]
Cailie Swillum, MPA
Director, Policy & Data Analytics
(312) 202-8177
[email protected]
Monte Coulter IV, MM
Program Manager
(312) 202-8043
[email protected]
Jennifer Delgado
Program Manager, Site Visit Operations
(312) 202-8097
[email protected]
Joyel Hall
Administrative Specialist
(312) 202-8052
[email protected]
Access the COCA handbook and accreditation resources for current, new and developing colleges of osteopathic medicine.
The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. COCA serves the public by establishing, maintaining and applying accreditation standards and procedures to ensure that academic quality and continuous quality improvement delivered by the colleges of osteopathic medicine reflect the evolving practice of osteopathic medicine.
Accreditation signifies that a college of osteopathic medicine has met or exceeded the COCA standards with respect to mission, goals and objectives; governance, administration and finance; facilities, equipment and resources; faculty, student admissions, performance and evaluation; preclinical and clinical curriculum; and research and scholarly activity.
Access COCA standards for continuing COMs and for new and developing COMs, as well as the substantive change policies and procedures.
Access COCA standards for continuing COMs and for new and developing COMs, as well as the substantive change policies and procedures. Contact COCA staff at [email protected] with any questions regarding COCA accreditation standards.
Previous accreditation standards & substantive change requests
COCA oversees accreditation standards and procedures for colleges of osteopathic medicine.
Robyn Phillips-Madson, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Chair
Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health
University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
San Antonio, Texas
COM Biomedical Science Faculty Member (2023-26)
COCA Executive Committee Member
Brian A. Kessler, DO, FACOFP, Vice Chair
Dean and Chief Academic Officer
Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hagerstown, Maryland
Dean (2024-27)
COCA Executive Committee Member
Muneer E. Assi, DO, FACOI
Private Practice Physician – Internal Medicine
El Paso, Texas
Osteopathic Physician at Large (2022-25)
Susan Belanger, PhD, MA-HCML, MA-BEHP, RN, HEC-C, NEA-BC
Retired
Lewiston, Maine
Public Member (2024-27)
Courtney Blau, JD, LLM, RDMS, CHC
Senior Legal Counsel, Risk Management & Compliance
Norman Regional Health Systems
Norman, Oklahoma
Public Member (2022-25)
Linda Boyd, DO
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Dean (2022-25)
COCA Executive Committee Member
Christiana Cole, OMS III
Student
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia Campus
Blacksburg, Virginia
Student – Nominated by COSGP (2025-27)
Nadege Dady, EdD
Dean of Student Affairs & Assistant Professor
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York, New York
Student Services Representative (2024-27)
COCA Executive Committee Member
Michael Finley, DO, FACOI, FACP, FACR
Internal Medicine Physician
Fort Worth, Texas
Osteopathic Physician at Large (2024-27)
Lori A. Kemper, DO, MS, FACOFP
Dean
Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Glendale, Arizona
Dean (2023-26)
COCA Executive Committee Member
Kieren P. Knapp, DO
Family Practice Physician
Wellspan Family Medicine Jacobus
Jacobus, Pennsylvania
Osteopathic Physician at Large (2024-27)
Andrea Mann, DO, FAAP
Dean & Chief Academic Officer
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia Campus
Suwanee, Georgia
Dean (2025-28)
Patricia McKelvey Dieter, MPA, RN, PA-C, DFAAPA
Emeritus Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, North Carolina
Public Member (2024-27)
Ryan Ottwell, DO
Resident
St. Joseph Mercy/Trinity-Health Hospital
Ann Arbor, Michigan
DO Resident/Fellow/New Physician in Practice (2023-25)
Harsh Patel, OMS III
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lansing, Michigan
Student – Nominated by SOMA (2024-26)
Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP
President
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Blacksburg, Virginia
Osteopathic Physician at Large (2024-27)
Stephen M. Scheinthal, DO, DFACN, DFAPA, CS
Medical Director, Division of Behavioral Health Services
New Jersey Department of Health
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Morris Plains, New Jersey
GME Leader (2023-26)
George J. Scott, DPM, DO, FACOFP
Campus Dean, Sewell Campus and Professor of Family Medicine
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Sewell, New Jersey
GME Leader (2023-26)
Scott A. Steingard, DO
Private Practice Physician – Family Practice
Phoenix, Arizona
State Medical Licensing Board Physician Member (2023-26)
Jeffrey Stroup, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, Immediate Past Chair
Senior Vice President and Provost, and Professor of Internal Medicine
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Chief Operating Officer
Oklahoma State University Medical Authority and Trust
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Hospital or Healthcare Administrator (2022-26)
COCA Executive Committee Member
James M. Turner, DO, FACOFP, FACOEP-D
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Clinical Science Faculty Member (2024-27)
COCA Executive Committee Member
COCA establishes, maintains and applies accreditation standards and procedures.
The AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the accreditor of colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs). Accreditation from the COCA signifies that a college has met or exceeded the Commission’s standards for educational quality.
The following final actions have been taken by the commission:
The COCA will receive, review and consider third-party comments on comprehensive reviews, Candidate and Pre-Accreditation applications, requests for substantive change and requests to enter into a teach-out agreement.
Persons wishing to present third-party comments must provide their comments in writing 30 days prior to the COCA meeting at which the matter will be reviewed. All third-party comments must be submitted in writing. Employees and students of the COM under consideration may not submit third-party comment. While the comment document must identify the commenter, the COCA will keep the identity of the commenter confidential to the extent possible. The COM will be notified of the third-party comment and will receive a copy of the written comments so that they can respond to the comments.
Please send any requests to submit third-party testimony or questions to [email protected].
The AOA’s CME program focuses on growing knowledge, refining skills and increasing awareness of osteopathic medicine.
Please note: CME Sponsors have one year from the completion date of an activity to report data, but must report all data by March 31, 2025, to be applied to the 2022-2024 CME Cycle.
The AOA Board of Trustees establishes accreditation policy for osteopathic CME sponsors. The Bureau of Osteopathic Education has been delegated authority by the AOA Board of Trustees to review standards and procedures for accreditation of osteopathic CME sponsors.
The AOA automatically recognizes AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ as AOA Category 2 credit. The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) providers that are sponsoring an AMA PRA Category 1™ program do not need to request pre-approval from the AOA to publicize that their programs will receive AOA Category 2 credit.
Likewise, the AOA recognizes the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Prescribed and Elective credit as AOA Category 2 credit. Programs with AAFP Prescribed or Elective credit do not need to request pre-approval from the AOA to publicize that their programs will receive AOA Category 2 credit.
AOA-certified members may request that Category 2-A CME credit be recognized as Category 1-B CME credit when there are not equivalent courses available within the osteopathic profession. Submit a request to inquire about obtaining a conversion of credit.
Yes. When there is a live presentation, and/or it is simulcast to/from remote locations, it is eligible for AOA Category 1-A CME Credit.
NOTE: CME Sign-in is still required to ensure participation of the learner either with a live attendance roster or using a web-based sign-in feature or evaluation with an attendance code.
Yes. If attendees can interact with the faculty and receive immediate responses, it is eligible for AOA Category 1-A CME Credit.
No. A one-time, in-person or live stream via internet presentation is not an enduring activity. At the conclusion of the activity, like any in-person presentation, the experience is complete. It does not need to meet the requirements of an interactive enduring activity that qualifies for 1A credit.
Yes. There are three additional requirements.
Example: A CME presentation (recorded) is offered for one month as an interactive asynchronous/enduring activity with AOA 1-A credit. A content expert would need to be available to answer any questions received from learners for the month the presentation was offered PLUS one week after the presentation time ended.
NOTE: Questions from participants could be sent directly to the content expert or could be collected by a representative and then sent to the content expert for a response.
While it is true that “advertising of any type” must not be anywhere within accredited education materials, the manual is referring to advertising from an AOA-defined Commercial Interest, which is defined as “any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The AOA does not consider sponsors of clinical service directly to patients to be commercial interests. A commercial interest is not eligible for AOA accreditation.” (see pages 4-6 and page 31 of the CME Accreditation Manual for CME Sponsors for glossary of definitions). Advertising from non-commercial interests does not fall within the scope of this requirement.
Compliant example: Advertising registering for your organization’s annual meeting.
Non-compliant example: An advertisement for a new device from a Pharma company.
Furthermore, a key point of this requirement identifies that advertising must not be “within accredited educational materials.” This can allow for advertising to occur as long as it is not during the education i.e. during a presentation, on a journal article that offers CME, through an eLearning module. Examples of ways that advertising is allowed are: a separate webpage dedicated to commercial support or a “virtual exhibit hall”, or an advertisement can be placed on an announcement email of the activity.
Yes, absolutely!
This is a hybrid activity – which could be consumed in three ways:
To qualify for AOA 1A credit, all regular live course requirements stand, and the on-demand component must be interactive and has additional requirements that must be met (page 10).
Those additional requirements for interactive online CME are:
NOTE: If this activity is available for an extended period, you must comply with the 90-day credit reporting requirement. Best practice would be to push your rosters to TraCME semi-regularly (e.g., weekly or monthly) so physicians find the credit on their reports in a timely fashion. But at a maximum, this would need to occur every three months to fulfill the reporting requirement.
AOA Category 1 CME sponsors can now submit activity completion data to TraCME for up to one year following completion of an activity, rather than the previous 90-day requirement. However, sponsors are encouraged to submit completion data to TraCME as soon as possible so that participants’ CME reports remain up to date.
Best practice would be to push your rosters to TraCME semi-regularly (e.g., weekly or monthly) or as soon as possible so that physicians’ CME reports remain up to date. This would need to occur at least once a year rather than the previous 90-day requirement.
The AOA no longer publishes a list of AOA numbers. If you need to look up an AOA number, you may do so in the TraCME portal, under the Physicians tab. There you may search the AOA database for AOA numbers. You may even look up osteopathic students.