<p>I've been going by the Whitaker list for programs in BME in doing college search, but just took a look at the ABET list of accredited BME programs. The list is somewhat different than the Whitaker. It is as of Oct 2008. There are some programs not on the ABET that are on the Whitaker list. Could these programs have lost their accreditation, or are they perhaps on probation? Or are they working towards ABET accreditation but have not received it? </p>
<p>What is the importance of attending an ABET accredited program if one wants to be a biomedical engineer, not go to medical school? </p>
<p>If you enter a BME program that is not accredited, but it becomes accredited while you're there, will you be considered a graduate of an accredited program and all the benefits that come from that? I would imagine that you would be more employable, perhaps command a higher salary if you come from an ABET accredited program rather than one that isn't, but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>ABET accreditation is important in traditional engineering disciplines that are subject to state licensing laws. Examples include civil, structural, environmental, geotechnical, and some branches of electrical and mechanical. The laws and regulations pertaining to engineering practice in these fields typically prefer or require ABET-accredited degrees over unaccredited degrees. So schools are almost invariably ABET accredited in these fields.</p>
<p>However, biomedical engineers are not currently subject to licensing or regulation in any state. Since biomedical engineering is essentially unregulated, an ABET-accredited degree does not confer any particular advantage, and an unaccredited degree is not necessarily a problem. </p>
<p>So the reason that many well-known schools are not ABET-accredited in BME is not because they have lost their accreditation, or because they are on probation, or because they are still working towards it. The real reason is simply that they have never bothered to apply. ABET accreditation is essentially optional in BME. </p>
<p>If you graduate from a BME program that becomes accredited while you are there, then yes, you will probably have an ABET degree and receive “all the benefits that come from that.” The only problem is that for a BME degree, there may not be any significant benefits that come. </p>
<p>This question comes up regularly. It would be nice if the moderators could post this thread permanently at the top of the “Engineering Majors” index.</p>
<p>Stick with EE, MechE, CivE or ChemE as an undergrad, maybe take a couple of relevant classes in what you are interested in, but wait until you get to grad School for a specialization like that.</p>