# Saint James School of Medicine

Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM) is a private for-profit offshore medical school which had two basic science campuses, one in British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, and the other in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, it was considered one school with two campuses. Saint James confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. In 2024 Saint James School of Medicine decided to consolidate at its St. Vincent location and closed its location on Anguilla.

## History

Saint James School of Medicine was originally established in Bonaire in 1999 and began instruction in 2000.
In 2006 the people of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba agreed to dissolve the Netherlands Antilles. Upon the imminent dissolution of the country, the ministers of health of the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles requested Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) to assess the quality of all medical schools in the Netherlands Antilles. The medical school in the island of Saba was the only one to successfully receive NVAO accreditation. The rest of the schools, including St. James School of Medicine, decided to relocate their campuses. In 2010, Saint James opened a second campus in Anguilla.
In 2014, the School opened a third campus in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and began merging the Bonaire campus into the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines campus on the main island of Saint Vincent. At the end of the Fall 2015 semester, Saint James moved its Bonaire operation, students, and faculty to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines campus. They also transferred their IMED listing.
In 2022 the FTC determined that "the school misrepresented its U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 pass rate in sales calls, presentations, and marketing materials. One brochure claimed a 96.77% first-time USMLE Step 1 pass rate – but the school's actual pass rate is around 35%, according to the FTC" (Case No. 1:22-cv-1919). As a comparison, 98% of US and Canadian medical students passed the USMLE Step 1 examination on their first attempt. The FTC determined that the average match rate for Saint James medical students is 63%, lower than the 83% that Saint James School of Medicine claims. "Saint James School of Medicine – and its Illinois-based operators – will have to pay $1.2 million toward refunds and debt cancellation for students harmed by its deceptive marketing, according to an FTC press release." While Saint James School of Medicine disagreed with the FTC’s conclusions, the school opted to resolve the matter swiftly rather than engage in a prolonged legal dispute. The decision to settle allowed the institution to remain focused on its students and long-term mission. Since then, Saint James has made significant advancements, including the construction of a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art campus in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an expansion in student enrollment, and a major curricular overhaul designed to enhance student outcomes. These efforts reflect the school’s commitment to continuous improvement, transparency, and ensuring that its graduates are well-prepared for medical careers in the U.S. and Canada.
In September 2024, Saint James School of Medicine announced the consolidation of its Anguilla campus into its newly developed St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) campus. The decision was made to centralize academic resources and provide students with access to updated facilities and a more integrated learning environment. The move aligns with the institution’s long-term strategy to enhance medical education by offering a modernized campus equipped with advanced resources.
On October 17, 2024, the school unveiled its newly constructed campus in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The new 5,500 sq. ft. facility, along with a 4,000 sq. ft. outdoor amphitheater, marks Phase 1 of a larger 40,000+ sq. ft. campus, which is expected to be completed in 2026.

## MD Program Curriculum

The MD program at Saint James School of Medicine is a 10 semester course of study that consists of three semesters per calendar year, each semester lasting four months. Semesters 1-5 are basic sciences completed at one of the school's two Caribbean campuses (Anguilla and St. Vincent and the Grenadines). Semester 5 (Advanced Introduction to Clinical Medicine) was completed at Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, but the location of completion of this semester has since been changed. Starting in September 2024, all Basic Science courses work is conducted on the school's campus in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.. After completion, students are expected to complete the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1, for which the school offers a pass guarantee. In addition, the school has begun offering extended programs for students in the Basic Science program, offering the normal 5 semester Basic Science program, as well as a 6 and 7 semester Basic Science program.
The Clinical Science portion consists of semesters 6-10 that involve 96 weeks of clinical study that are completed at affiliated hospitals and clinical facilities in the United States.

## Accreditation

Both of Saint James School of Medicine's campuses are listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS). Graduates of Saint James are eligible for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and ECFMG Certification, as well as the Canadian Medical Licensing Exams (Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination).
The Accreditation Commission of Colleges of Medicine granted Saint James School of Medicine accreditation for three years in 2019. Later, in 2022, Saint James received a further three-year full accreditation until December 31st, 2025.
Prior to July 2024, the school had maintained accreditation with the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). However, in July 2024, after years of maintaining accreditation, the school voluntarily withdrew from the CAAM-HP process as part of a broader strategic initiative to align with other recognized accrediting organizations.
The St. Vincent campus is also recognized by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

## Financial Aid

Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM) has entered into an arrangement with Delta Financial Solutions, Inc. (Delta) to provide qualified students with a private student loan program. Saint James School of Medicine is not eligible for United States federal loans.

## Student life

Students have clubs that they can join, including an AMSA chapter, a Phi Chi chapter, as well as other clubs. The student body also volunteers to operate health screenings for the local community.