Abstract: Objective To explore the differences between Chinese and American medical schools in cultural competence education as part of the scientific data for promoting this education in China.Methods Using a tool (Tool for Assessing Cultural Competence Training,TACCT) developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges among some interns and newly recruited residents in a hospital affiliated to a medical school in China we compared and analyzed the results with those from an equivalent survey made in the US.Results There were significant differences between Chinese and American medical schools in cultural competence education.A comparison between residents and interns showed superiority of the former to the latter.Both the Chinese and American students were basically congruent in the identification of TACCT items as being inadequately addressed.Conclusions TACCT can by used to ascertain the differences between Chinese and American medical schools in cultural competence education and we hope the findings in this study will be able to provide some reference for the curricula designs in Chinese medical schools.