EA-3301 Advancement and Graduation

1.0      Purpose

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) requires medical programs to ensure that a single set of core standards is used for the advancement and graduation of medical students. This policy outlines the requirements to advance through all phases of the medical education program at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and receive an MD degree.

2.0      Policy

Promotion from one phase of the curriculum to the next and graduation with the conferral of an MD degree is based on a student satisfactorily meeting the performance standards established by the faculty of VTCSOM and approved by the Medical Curriculum Committee. Student achievement of performance standards is overseen by the Medical Student Performance and Promotion Committee (MSPPC).

3.0      Procedures

Performance Standards

The MD program at VTCSOM is comprised of three phases:

1. Phase 1 (pre-clerkship phase)
2. Phase 2 (clerkship phase)
3. Phase 3 (post-clerkship phase)

To be awarded the MD degree from VTCSOM, students must:

• Pass all required academic components, including all courses, clerkships, and electives of all three phases
• Pass qualifying board examinations (USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge)
• Complete research requirements (final manuscript, submission of an abstract for external presentation and participation in VTCSOM Medical Student Research Symposium)
• Demonstrate satisfactory compliance with the MD program’s Technical Standards
• Demonstrate professionalism, including ethical conduct, accountability, and respect, consistent with the Attributes of Professionalism and expectations outlined in the Teacher-Learner Compact.
• Discharged all financial obligations to VTCSOM.
• Adhere to all MD program policies.

Students must be registered for each course, clerkship, or elective at the prescribed time as outlined in the VTCSOM course catalog unless otherwise authorized by the Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education. Student performance is determined by achievement of course, clerkship, or elective objectives as outlined in the syllabus and is assessed in alignment with VTCSOM’s Student Assessment Policy (EA-3302).

Courses required in Phase 1:

• Orientation to Medical School
• Integrated Foundational Sciences 1, 2, and 3
• Research and Inquiry 1, 2, and 3
• Health Systems Science and Interprofessional Practice 1, 2, and 3
• Topics in Professions of Medicine and Identities (1, 2, and 3)
• Topics in Community & Clinical Immersion (1, 2, and 3)
• Research & Inquiry Applications 1 and 2
• Independent Study (test preparation)

Course and clerkship requirements in Phase 2 (anticipated graduation in 2027 and earlier):

• Emergency Medicine (4 weeks in M3 or M4 year)
• Family Medicine (4 weeks)
• Internal Medicine (6 weeks)
• Neurology (2 weeks)
• Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 weeks)
• Pediatrics (6 weeks)
• Psychiatry (6 weeks)
• Radiology (2 weeks)
• Surgery (6 weeks)
• Research (6 weeks)
• Exploring Health Systems Science

Course and clerkship requirements in Phase 2 (anticipated graduation in 2028 and beyond):

• Family Medicine (4 weeks)
• Internal Medicine (8 weeks)
• Neurology (2 weeks)
• Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 weeks)
• Pediatrics (5 weeks)
• Psychiatry (5 weeks)
• Surgery (6 weeks)
• Research (4 weeks)
• Topics in Professional Identity Formation and Application (four, 2-week intersessions)

Course and clerkship requirements in Phase 3 (anticipated graduation in 2027 and earlier):

• ICU elective (2 weeks)
• Medical subspecialty elective (2 weeks)
• Research (2 weeks)
• Surgical subspecialty elective (2 weeks)
• Transition to Residency I and II (4 weeks)
• Additional electives to total 18 - 22 weeks (dependent on Emergency Medicine in M3 or M4 year)

Course and clerkship requirements in Phase 3 (anticipated graduation in 2028 and beyond):

• Advanced clinical rotation (AI, sub-I, advanced rotation, 4 weeks)
• Research (2 weeks, maximum of 6 weeks)
• Medical OR surgical subspecialty (2 weeks)
• ICU elective
• Emergency medicine (4 weeks), if not fulfilled in the clerkship year
• Independent Study (test preparation; maximum 6 weeks)
• Transition to Residency I and II (4 weeks)
• No more than three away rotations
• No more than three online electives

Satisfactory grades in individual components of the curriculum do not guarantee that the student's performance, viewed as a whole, will meet the requirements for awarding the MD degree. This determination is made by the MSPPC. 

Curriculum Completion and Promotion Schedule

Students admitted to VTCSOM must complete their requirements for the MD degree within six years of matriculation. The exception to this requirement is for students enrolled in other VTCSOM-approved advanced degree programs. Phase 1 must be completed satisfactorily in no more than three years from the date of matriculation.

For an anticipated graduation in 2027 and earlier, Phase 2 must be completed satisfactorily in no more than three years from the date the student begins Phase 2.  For an anticipated graduation in 2028 and beyond, Phase 2 and 3 must be completed satisfactorily in no more than three years from the date the student begins Phase 2.  Failure by any student to complete requirements as stated is grounds for dismissal. The MSPPC may make limited exceptions to this policy for medical or other compelling reasons. 

Students who are considering applying for academic or research enrichment activities (advanced degrees, research fellowships, etc.) must make the Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the MSPPC aware. 

Each student's record is reviewed by the MSPPC at the completion of Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 (for students with anticipated graduation in 2028) to confirm completion of academic and professionalism requirements necessary for advancement in the curriculum. Formal notification of advancement will be provided to the Dean and the Academic Council by the Chair of the MSPPC. 

Graduation

Upon recommendation by the School of Medicine faculty, the VTCSOM will confer the degree of Doctor of Medicine upon candidates who have met the performance standards. Each student’s record is reviewed by the MSPPC in the latter half of their fourth year to confirm the successful completion of all academic requirements and the demonstration of a degree of professionalism deemed to be essential for all physicians. The VTCSOM medical education program reserves the right to make changes to the academic requirements, teaching modality, and required schedule at any point to ensure that all competencies and objectives are being met by medical students. All changes will be communicated to medical students in a timely manner.

4.0      References

• Student Assessment Policy EA-3302
• Credit Hour policy EA-3101
• Technical Standards for Medical School Matriculation, Promotion, and Graduation SA-4101 
• Attributes of Professionalism 
• Teacher-Learner Compact 
• Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education 
• Associate Dean for Student Affairs

5.0      Approval and Revisions

Approved by the Medical Curriculum Committee on December 18, 2025