MCAT Exam Eligibility for Indian Aspirants

Offered 25 times a year in 18 countries,  the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is an entrance exam required for admission to medical schools in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands. It is a standardized test designed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and is administered by Pearson VUE. 

Know More About : MCAT Syllabus | MCAT Exam |

What Does MCAT Test?

The MCAT aims to assess the applicants' knowledge and critical thinking skills in the areas of physical sciences, biological sciences, verbal reasoning, and critical analysis and reasoning skills. The students can choose a suitable testing date and location, and it is considered one of the most critical factors in medical school admissions, and a high score can significantly enhance a student's chances of acceptance. Therefore, it is essential to understand the MCAT syllabus,  exam eligibility, and registration.

MCAT Eligibility: Details to Know 

The MCAT exam is taken by individuals seeking admission to health professions schools, including MD-granting programs, DO-granting programs, podiatric (DPM), veterinary medicine (DVM), and other health-related programs that recognize MCAT exam scores for fulfilling the test score admissions requirement. When registering for the exam, applicants must agree to a statement confirming their intention to apply to medical schools.

International students do not have additional MCAT eligibility requirements. If an individual is currently in or holds a degree from an MBBS degree program or equivalent, they can register for the exam without needing special permission.

However, if an individual is not planning to apply to a health professions school or is a currently enrolled medical student (other than an MBBS degree program), he/she must apply for a "special permission" to register for the MCAT exam.

To request special permission, an applicant must email mcat@aamc.org and state the reason(s) they wish to take the exam. The MCAT program office then reviews and responds to the request within five business days, but there could be delays too. Therefore, applicants should be careful of registration deadlines, as they can’t be extended for any reason.

MCAT Registration and Process

When registering for the MCAT exam, applicants must agree to a statement confirming their intention to apply to a health professions school.

Below mentioned is the detailed process that the candidates must complete to sit for the exam:

• The applicant must create an Association for American Medical Colleges (AAMC) account via the official registration link on the AAMC web portal.
• The applicant must fill in all the required details in the application form in order to complete the registration process. Candidates should register at least 60 days prior to the exam to confirm a seat in the exam. 
• The applicant can then select the test date and preferred test center for the exam.
• Make the payment of exam/registration fees which can only be done online.

Are MCAT Test Centres Available in India?

As of now, there are no MCAT test centers available in India. Indian aspirants who want to appear for the MCAT, will have to fly to one of the 18 locations to undertake the test. These include- Australia, Guam, Singapore, Canada, Israel, South Africa, China: Hong Kong, Japan, 

Taiwan, France, Lebanon, Thailand, Germany, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, United States, Qatar, and US Virgin Islands.

MCAT Exam Dates for 2023*

Test Date	Score Release Date
January 13	Feb. 14
January 14	Feb. 14
January 19	Feb. 21
January 27	March 3
March 11	April 11
March 24	April 25
April 14	May 16
April 15	May 16
April 28	May 31
April 29	May 31
May 12	June 13
May 13	June 13
May 18	June 21
May 26	June 27
June 3	July 6
June 16	July 18
June 17	July 18
June 23	July 25
June 24	July 25
June 29	July 31
July 15	August 15
July 28	August 29
August 4	September 6
August 19	September 19
August 25	September 26
August 26	September 26
August 31	September 29
September 1	September 29
September 8	October 13
September 9	October 13

*Dates may vary for countries