MCAT® Registration Guide
Requirements, Scheduling, and Cost

To take the MCAT, you will first need to get an AAMC ID and register through the MCAT Registration System. From here, you can schedule your exam according to your preferred testing date and location. There are a number of requirements and procedures to keep in mind throughout this process that we will outline below, in addition to what to expect if you need to reschedule or cancel your exam.

MCAT Requirements & Eligibility

If you plan to apply to a health professions school, you are eligible to take the MCAT. It’s as simple as that. The MCAT does not have course prerequisites, but it is highly recommended to complete introductory science, psychology, and sociology courses at your university before attempting the exam. The AAMC defines “health professions school” as:

M.D.-Granting Programs

Allopathic medical schools that specialize in conventional medical practices.

D.O.-Granting Programs
D.O.-Granting Programs

Osteopathic medical schools that specialize in holistic medical practices.

Podiatric (D.P.M)

Medical schools that specialize in the treatment of the foot and lower leg.

Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M)

Veterinary medical schools for the treatment of animals.

Other

Health-related programs that accept MCAT exam results to satisfy a test score admissions requirement.

Pre-Medical Requirements

Most medical schools require aspiring medical students to take the MCAT, write personal statements, provide letters of recommendation, and meet course requirements. Generally speaking, students must take a specified number of credit hours in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, math, and the humanities. Some students prefer to apply to medical schools that don’t require the MCAT, but those schools are rare. Check the application requirements and deadlines of your preferred medical schools to ensure you submit everything on time.

How to Register for the MCAT

To register for the MCAT, create an account through the MCAT Registration System using the exact name on your MCAT-accepted ID. You will be asked to submit accurate contact, background, and education information, as well as agree to various consents and policies.

To avoid potential penalties, ensure that you abide by all MCAT registration rules. Several rules to be aware of include the following:

  • Obtain only one AAMC ID
  • Do not register for or take the MCAT under another individual’s AAMC ID
  • Do not hold multiple appointments at the same time
  • Provide true and accurate information when creating your AAMC ID and registering to take the exam

MCAT Registration Dates and Deadlines

The AAMC offers full lists of MCAT test dates based on your location that contain corresponding 60-day, 30-day, and 10-day registration deadlines. These deadlines will impact your eligibility to make testing date changes and determine the cancellation refund amount you may receive. As you plan your exam date, we highly encourage you to register early.

MCAT Scheduling

After registration, you will be able to schedule your MCAT test date and location. Please note that Pearson VUE test centers have limited capacity and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

You will be required to pay a registration fee according to the following chart:

Standard Registration $335
Fee Assistance Program
Registration
$140
International Registration Fee* $120

*Students testing outside of the U.S., Canada, and U.S. territories must pay a $120 fee in addition to their registration fee. International fees are nonrefundable upon cancellation.

You should receive an email confirming your appointment within 24 hours. It will contain the details of your appointment and the identifying information you provided. Take a moment to check that the name on your confirmation email matches the ID you will bring to your exam.

MCAT Rescheduling

You can reschedule your MCAT exam up to 10 days before your testing date through the MCAT Registration System. You should receive an email confirmation within 24 hours. To reschedule your exam, the following conditions must be met:

  • Scheduling must be open for your desired exam date
  • Space must be available (check through the MCAT Registration System)
  • Changes must be made at least 10 days prior to your exam date
  • Your desired exam date must be in the same testing year as your old exam date

It’s recommended to make all of your changes at once (i.e., test date and test center) instead of separately to avoid duplicate fees.

The nonrefundable rescheduling fees are as follows:

Days Out From Exam Standard Date and/or Test Center Rescheduling Fee Fee Assistance Program
Date and/or Test Center Rescheduling Fee
60 or more days before exam $50 $20
30-59 days before exam $100 $40
10-29 days before exam $200 $80

*All deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. local test-center time.

MCAT Cancellation

You can cancel your MCAT exam up to 10 days before your testing date through the MCAT Registration System. You should receive an email confirmation within 24 hours. Additionally, you may need to wait until 24 hours after your original exam date to schedule a new testing date. In such a scenario, you will be required to pay the full registration fee. If you fail to cancel your exam and do not sit for the exam, you will lose an attempt.

Cancellation refunds are available and will be automatically applied to the card used for scheduling. Please note that the AAMC does not provide refunds to different forms of payment than were originally used.

Your total refund amount will reflect the following chart:

Days Out From Exam Standard Cancellation Refund Fee Assistance Program Cancellation Refund
60 or more days before exam $165 $70
30-59 days before exam $165 $70
10-29 days before exam $0 $0

MCAT Emergency Refund Request

The AAMC will provide emergency refunds to students who submit approved documentation confirming an extenuating hardship prior to their MCAT exam appointment. Several notable, qualifying events include:

  • Hospitalization or a doctor’s visit for an unexpected, acute medical emergency
  • The death of an immediate family member
  • You must perform primary caregiver duties for someone who is ill
  • You are required to report for jury duty
  • You test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of your exam

You can view a full list of qualifying events and required documentation here. Events that are not listed are subject to the AAMC’s discretion. You should submit your request using the Emergency Refund Request Form in the Service Requests section of the MCAT Registration System. All documents must be received no later than 10 days after your exam date. Refunds are not guaranteed, and the maximum amount reflects the 30+ day cancellation refund amount.

MCAT Accommodations

Testing accommodations are available for those with disabilities or medical conditions that require alterations to the standard testing conditions. The AAMC encourages you to apply for accommodations through the MCAT Accommodations Online system. You will likely receive a decision within 60 days of the AAMC receiving your initial application, but should plan in advance for potential delays or necessary alterations. In total, there are five accommodations applications to be aware of:

  1. Initial: This application is for your first request for accommodations. It must be completed before you can submit any of the following forms. If it has been more than five years since your last determination, you will need to submit another initial application.
  2. Reconsideration: This form is for if you need to have your initial application re-reviewed, or if you need to request additional accommodations that have not been previously requested. It must include new and substantial information.
  3. Appeal: An appeal is a request to have your initial application re-reviewed without providing any additional or substantially different documentation. You can submit one appeal, and determinations are final. You should consider whether an appeal or reconsideration is more appropriate for your situation.
  4. Extension: An extension form is used to request an extension of your previously approved accommodations. If you need new accommodations in addition to an extension of approved accommodations, then you should use the reconsideration form.
  5. Incomplete: If your initial application is deemed incomplete, it means you have not provided enough information to allow for a full review of your request. “Incomplete” does not mean “denial,” so you will not be able to submit a reconsideration or appeal form until you complete your initial application and receive a determination.

You can find the AAMC’s accommodations application guidelines and requirements here. Once you have read the requirements and gathered necessary documentation, you can submit your accommodations application. The AAMC also offers recommended accommodations application dates based on your chosen testing date and which type of accommodations application you need to submit.

To schedule an MCAT exam date with accommodations, you will need to follow the AAMC’s 2-step scheduling process. You must be approved for accommodations and have your scheduling request submitted to Pearson VUE at least 15 days prior to your testing date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The cost for standard MCAT registration is $335. Students who qualify for the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program can register for $140, while international registration costs an additional $120.
The AAMC Fee Assistance Program is available to students who, without financial assistance, would not be able to take the MCAT, apply to medical schools that use AMCAS®, and continue their premed journey. Learn more about the MCAT Fee Assistance Program here.
Students experiencing financial hardship may qualify for the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program. Cost savings include a discounted MCAT registration fee, free MCAT Official Prep products, an AMCAS® fee waiver, and other benefits.
Students can only hold one MCAT testing date at a time. Scheduling two or more testing dates concurrently is a violation of MCAT registration and scheduling rules, and may result in penalties.
MCAT testing dates fill up quickly. For this and financial reasons, it’s recommended to register as soon as registration opens for your preferred exam date.
Students can reschedule their exam date and location up to 10 days before their testing date through the MCAT Registration System or by calling (202) 828 – 0600. To avoid duplicate fees, complete all of your changes at once.
MCAT rescheduling fees are based on when you make changes in relation to your testing date. Changes made 60+ days before your testing date cost $50 for standard or $20 for Fee Assistance Program students; 30-59 days before cost $100 or $40, respectively; and 10-29 days before cost $200 or $80, respectively.
Students who cancel their MCAT exam 30+ days before their testing date are eligible for a partial refund. The standard cancellation refund is $165, while the Fee Assistance Program cancellation refund is $70.
Your MCAT cancellation fee is the difference between your registration cost and cancellation refund. Unless you’re an international student, you can expect to lose roughly 50% of your registration cost if you cancel 30+ days before your exam. Canceling less than 30 days before your exam results in a 100% loss.
The AAMC allows students to reschedule or cancel their exam up to 10 days before their testing date without being at risk of losing an attempt. However, waiting until this deadline may result in additional fees, so you should take action as soon as possible.
Testing accommodations are available for those with disabilities or medical conditions that require alterations to the standard testing conditions. The AAMC encourages you to apply for accommodations through the MCAT Accommodations Online system.
The Medical Minority Applicant Registry (Med-MAR) is a service that enhances admission opportunities for students from groups historically underrepresented in medicine or who suffer from economic disadvantages. You can learn more about Med-MAR here.
To take the MCAT, international students must plan to apply to a health professions school. They must also be in an MBBS program or hold an MBBS degree.

Read More About the MCAT

Learn everything you need to know about the MCAT exam. We’ll walk you through what it is, when to take it, what it covers, its format, and how you should prepare.
Take a deep dive into MCAT scoring to discover what you need to achieve your goals. We cover average scores, breakdowns by section, acceptance rates by score, and more.
View the latest MCAT testing calendar for your country, including registration deadlines and score release dates based on when you take the exam.
Develop an in-depth understanding of all seven topics covered on the MCAT, such as sociology and psychology, chemistry, physics, bio, and CARS.
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