Student Transfer

PURPOSE / SCOPE:

This document aims to describe circumstances under which ICOM may consider transfer students from another accredited medical school. 

DEFINITIONS:

• ICOM – Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
• COCA – Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation
• LCME - Liaison Committee on Medical Education

POLICY:

The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) may accept transfer students or outside credit. ICOM will evaluate all prior credit for students receiving military benefits and will award transfer credit as deemed appropriate. The academic credit awarded for any prior military training must be granted for training that is applicable to the student’s current degree requirements. For all other students, transfer coursework will only be accepted when the student demonstrates an extenuating circumstance, vacancies exist, and/or the transfer of credits is approved by the ICOM Dean. To transfer to ICOM from another medical school, or those evaluated for transfer credit as indicated above, must meet the ICOM requirements for admission and must submit the documents required of all applicants, including official transcripts from any previously attended institution, as well as military service transcripts, where applicable. 

When a transfer based upon extenuating circumstances is approved, ICOM will only accept credits from a school accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) or Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) where the student is eligible for readmission. When the transfer credits are from an LCME-accredited school of medicine, the student must acquire osteopathic manipulative medicine/osteopathic principles and practice competency through an individualized study plan developed in coordination with the OPP course directors and appropriate dean prior to graduation from ICOM. The last two years of medical education must be completed at ICOM to be granted a degree from ICOM. 

Students accepted as a transfer to ICOM will not be assigned a GPA for years completed at another accredited medical school and therefore will not be included in the class rank calculations for their graduating cohort. 

The Admissions Committee will review the transfer applicant’s materials, including but not limited to undergraduate coursework and GPA, prior medical school coursework and GPA, MCAT scores, board scores and number of attempts, letters of recommendation, performance in clinical skills courses in medical school (if applicable), and verification of good standing from the transferring institution. The committee may choose to interview the applicant and provide their recommendation to the Dean. The Dean will make a final decision on the student’s transfer to ICOM. 

POLICY OWNER:

Associate Dean of Student Services

CROSS REFERENCE AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:

Information and links to other policies or supporting documents referenced within this policy.

APPROVAL:

Effective: 07/01/2022

Last Reviewed: 10/07/2026

Review Requirement: 5 Years