Notices

Information Regarding Status with COCA

Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM), Hagerstown, Maryland, has been recognized as Pre-Accreditation Status for the purpose of institutional and programmatic accreditation through the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

Pre-accreditation status may be granted to COMs who have achieved candidate status and meet the standards of pre-accreditation status. In order to assure adequate self-study, timely consideration of information, and provide for faculty and administration development, an institution seeking COCA pre-accreditation status must conform to these provisions. The COCA may not waive compliance with these procedures.

A pre-accredited COM may accept and matriculate students only in the following progressive enrollment:

1. Year 1 – no more than 50% of the approved class size;
2. Year 2 – no more than 75% of the approved class size; and
3. Years 3 and 4 – no more than 100% of the approved class size.

Year 1 Pre-Accreditation Site Visit | Public Notification of Opportunity to Comment

This will serve as formal notice consistent with COCA Accreditation Element 12.7 that the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine has scheduled a Year 1 Pre-Accreditation Site Visit for the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) in January 2026. Third-party comments regarding this site visit or other questions or comments regarding MSOM may be sent to COCA at predoc@osteopathic.org or COCA, c/o AOA 142 E Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Inquiries to MSOM may be forwarded to Brian Kessler, D.O., D.H.A., FACOFP Dist., Dean at brian.kessler@msom.org.