Terms of Reference
Accreditation Committee

Role

The Accreditation Committee (AC) is a subcommittee that reports to the Committee on Specialty Education. The AC provides oversight for the decisions regarding all institutions, programs, and providers that are accredited by the Royal College, as well as oversees the quality of the Royal College’s accreditation systems, including policies, standards and processes.

Responsibility and Authority

The Accreditation Committee’s core responsibilities are to:

Make recommendations to the Committee on Specialty Education regarding policies, standards, and criteria relating to the accreditation of Canadian and international residency programs and institutions, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) providers and activities, simulation centres, and Areas of Focused Competence (AFC) programs, as appropriate; and
Offer an appeal mechanism for any accreditation decisions made by any of its subcommittees.

The Accreditation Committee also delegates authority regarding specific accreditation decisions (e.g., for particular programs or centres, etc.) to four subcommittees—Residency Accreditation Committee, Continuing Professional Development Accreditation Committee, , International Program Review Accreditation Committee, and AFC Accreditation Committee—as outlined in their respective Terms of Reference.

Composition

The Accreditation Committee has 14 voting members, including the chair and a vice-chair. The chair is a member of the Committee on Specialty Education. The composition of the committee also includes:

Chair, Areas of Focused Competence Accreditation Committee (ex-officio);
Chair, International Program Review Accreditation Committee (ex-officio);
Chair, Residency Accreditation Committee (ex-officio);
Chair, Continuing Professional Development Accreditation Committee (ex-officio)
Three (3) Fellows-at-large with experience in accreditation and/or experience in medical education across the continuum;
One (1) Simulation Accreditation Integration Working Group representative (ex-officio);
One (1) Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) representative (ex-officio);
One (1) Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities in Canada (FMRAC) representative (ex-officio);
One (1) Specialty Resident representative, as selected from two nominees from Resident Doctors of Canada (RDoC); and
One (1) Specialty Resident representative, as selected from two nominees from the Fédération des médecins residents du Québec (FMRQ).

The Accreditation Committee also includes eight (8) non-voting members who may attend meetings but shall not be counted for the purposes of establishing quorum.

One (1) non-voting member from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME);
One (1) non-voting member from Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME);
One (1) non-voting member from Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC);
One (1) non-voting member from Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS);
One (1) non-voting member from College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC);
One (1) non-voting member from the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC);
Secretary to the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS); and
the Secretary to the Committee on Accreditation of Continuing Medical Education (CACME).

Key Competencies and Characteristics

Committee members should possess the following key competencies and characteristics: experience and expertise in standard setting and/or program evaluation; demonstrated knowledge of the policies, processes, and standards related to accreditation; general knowledge about of the principles and practices of the accreditation subcommittees; and an ability to integrate strategic thinking and risk management in the formulation of accreditation policies and standards.

Members should have previous experience in medical education, which may include (but is not necessarily limited to) serving in such roles as program director, divisional/departmental head, CME/CPD Dean (or equivalent), postgraduate dean or specialty committee member, CME/Education Chair (or equivalent) of an accredited national specialty society, or senior level university faculty.

Committee members should also possess the ability and willingness to meet the strategic directions of the Royal College and the willingness to participate effectively in committee meetings.

Term of Office

The usual term of office of the chair is two years, renewable once (maximum of four years). The term of the vice-chair is one year, renewable three times (maximum of four years). The usual term of office for members is two years, renewable twice (maximum of six years). The terms of office take effect as stipulated so long as the member’s total years of service on the committee do not extend beyond 10 years.

All terms shall begin and end at the time of the Annual Meeting of the Members when vacancies need to be filled.

Meetings

The Accreditation Committee usually meets twice per year. Business may be conducted electronically at the discretion of the committee coordinator.

Quorum consists of a majority of the voting members of the committee (i.e., 50% plus one). The chair is counted as a voting member in constituting quorum. However as the presiding official of the committee, the chair does not move motions. Furthermore, the chair shall only vote when the vote is conducted by secret ballot. Every question shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast. In the event of a tie vote, the question shall be defeated. When a committee is called to make a decision outside of a meeting by e-ballot, the same rules apply.

Appointment to a Royal College committee carries significant responsibilities, and all committee members are expected to adhere to the Volunteer Code of Conduct. In addition, committee members are required to maintain absolute discretion and not divulge, re-produce, or release any confidential information except when authorized by the Royal College. Committee members may download a copy of committee materials for the sole purpose of participating in committee work. All downloaded materials must be deleted once the related committee work is completed. The Royal College retains copies of committee materials should committee members wish to access them at a later time for related work.

Committee work product

In the course of performing their committee duties, committee members may produce or contribute to materials, content or other work products. These work products and the related intellectual property will be owned by the Royal College. The Royal College is open to discussing other ownership arrangements for specific projects. Alternative arrangements must be confirmed in writing by the project contributors and the Royal College.

TOR record

Approved by:	Governance Committee
Approval Date:	June 19, 2023
Approval path:	CSE, GC
Effective date:	June 19, 2023
Date of next review:	Spring 2025
Royal College Office:	OSA
Version status:	Approved

Terms of Reference Accreditation Committee