Once you have decided you want to go to med school, one of the next steps you have to take is to register for the MCAT. You are mistaken if you think it is as simple as just going to the AAMC website and booking a test date. There is more to registering for the MCAT than choosing a date when to take it.
This article focuses on everything you need to know about the MCAT registration.
All the aspects of how to register for the MCAT, its requirements, costs, steps, and the best time to register for the MCAT will be discussed here. Please keep reading to find out more.
Who Can Take the MCAT?
The only prerequisite for taking the MCAT exam is that you must be enrolled in or planning to enroll in a medical school program.
You should not be enrolled in a health professions program when you register. With your MCAT results, you may apply to the following programs:
Current medical students and test-takers who do not intend to apply to health professions schools cannot take the MCAT. However, they may ask the AAMC for what is known as "special permission" to take the test.
You may think it is absurd that someone would want to take the MCAT but not apply to medical school. These individuals do exist, though. They are the following:
For more information, watch this video that one of your MCAT Mastery Mentors created on how to decide when to take the MCAT.
How Much Does the MCAT Cost?
The MCAT costs at least USD 330. You will also need to pay extra fees if you want to transfer test sites or postpone your MCAT, administrative fees from the AAMC range from USD 50 - USD 200.
This is why we suggest you pick the right test location immediately. It is critical to confirm the exam costs when the AAMC releases the MCAT dates because they can increase yearly.
If you want to take the test outside of the United States or Canada, you must pay an extra USD 120 on top of the regular MCAT registration price. Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Lebanon, and other nations have testing facilities available abroad.
As of 2022, international test-takers must pay an additional USD 120 fee on top of the standard USD 330 registration fee.
When Should You Register for the MCAT?
You can choose when to prepare and take the exam because the AAMC provides 30+ MCAT test dates between January and September (as of 2022). It can be simple to put off choosing when to take the MCAT when there are so many upcoming MCAT test dates.
Consider it this way: your MCAT test date affects many longer-term choices, such as when to plan your test preparation.
Therefore, setting your test date in advance can give you a head start and enable you to create a solid strategy for passing the MCAT.
MCAT Test Dates | 60-day Registration Deadline | 30-day Registration Deadline | 10-day Registration Deadline | MCAT Score Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
January 14 | November 15, 2021 | December 15, 2021 | January 4 | February 15 |
January 15 | November 16, 2021 | December 16, 2021 | January 5 | February 15 |
January 20 | November 21, 2021 | December 21, 2021 | January 10 | February 22 |
January 21 | November 22, 2021 | December 22, 2021 | January 11 | February 22 |
March 12 | January 11 | February 10 | March 2 | April 12 |
March 25 | January 24 | February 23 | March 15 | April 26 |
April 8 | February 7 | March 9 | March 29 | May 10 |
April 9 | February 8 | March 10 | March 30 | May 10 |
April 29 | February 28 | March 30 | April 19 | May 31 |
April 30 | March 1 | March 31 | April 20 | May 31 |
May 13 | March 14 | April 13 | May 3 | June 14 |
May 14 | March 15 | April 14 | May 4 | June 14, |
May 19 | March 20 | April 19 | May 9 | June 21 |
May 27 | March 28 | April 27 | May 17 | June 28 |
June 4 | April 5 | May 5 | May 25 | July 6 |
June 17 | April 1 | May 18 | June 7 | July 19 |
June 18 | April 19 | May 19 | June 8 | July 19 |
June 24 | April 25 | May 25 | June 14 | July 26 |
June 25 | April 26 | May 26 | June 15 | July 26 |
June 30 | May 1 | May 31 | June 20 | August 1 |
July 16 | May 17 | June 16 | July 6 | August 16 |
July 29 | May 30 | June 29 | July 19 | August 30 |
August 5 | June 6 | July 6 | July 26 | September 7 |
August 20 | June 21 | July 21 | August 10 | September 20 |
August 26* | June 27 | July 27 | August 16 | September 27 |
August 27 | June 28 | July 28 | August 17 | September 27 |
September 1 | July 3 | August 2 | August 22 | October 4 |
September 2* | July 4 | August 3 | August 23 | October 4 |
September 9* | July 11 | August 10 | August 30 | October 11 |
September 10 | July 12 | August 11 | August 31 | October 11 |
* On these dates, there will be two exam sessions: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Gold, Silver, and Bronze Zones: What They Are and How They Help You Plan Your Registration for the MCAT?
As you register for the MCAT, remember that planning ahead is critical. In case of a retake and to give you enough time to prepare for med school, choosing the best date is a game changer.
However, under circumstances that cannot be prevented, you might have to cancel your registration or change your test date.
The MCAT has the Gold, Silver, and Bronze zones for you to choose from for scheduling (and re-scheduling) your MCAT test dates.
Gold Zone
This registration window typically lasts 29 days before the test date. If you need the flexibility to modify your test date, this is the time to book your exam.
The gold zone offers the lowest exam registration cost (USD 330) and the lowest exam rescheduling cost (USD 95) compared to the other zones.
Additionally, this is the sole window of time during which you can cancel and get a partial refund (USD 155).
Silver Zone
This zone comprises all days between the gold zone deadline and the silver zone deadline because the cutoff for this registration zone is 15 days before the exam day.
You can still register for an exam during this period for the standard registration fee (USD 325), but the rescheduling fee increases to USD 155 from the previous USD 135.
Exams taken within this period do not qualify for partial refunds.
Bronze Zone
The deadline for this zone's registration is eight days before the exam day. As a result, the period between the silver zone's and the bronze zone's deadlines is included in the bronze zone. The bronze zone deadline is the final day to register for a specific test date.
You will pay a higher registration price of USD 375 in this zone, and you will not have the chance to reschedule or get a refund if you have to cancel.
When is the Earliest I Could Take the MCAT?
The MCAT should be taken as early as possible. Ideally, this is recommended towards the end of the sophomore year of your undergraduate program (or high school) before enrolling in medical school. It’s best that you have finished most of your medical school prerequisites by then. This will decrease the amount of content review you'll have to undergo when preparing for the MCAT exam.
Twenty-four (24) of the approximately 30 test dates are between April and September. This means MCAT test-takers have many test date options when they decide to take the MCAT.
Make sure that you are giving yourself enough time to study and prepare for the test. Ideally, it’s recommended that you give yourself two to four months. All of this depends on how well you understand the content and your capacity for concentration.
Thus, you can perform as well as you can on your first try. Retaking the MCAT is never fun, and many test-takers find it discouraging.
When is the Latest I Could Take the MCAT?
You should schedule your final MCAT exam between January and April when you apply.
If you plan to start medical school in August 2024, you must take the MCAT no later than April 2023 during the first four months of 2023.
You may be asking why you require such a window. Even your primary application cannot be submitted until late May, according to AMCAS.
It is your best option to finish the MCAT by April for the following reasons:
In other words, it is a good idea to schedule some time to retake the MCAT, just in case you are not scoring as high as you would like. A good way to asses this is through MCAT diagnostics or practice exams. You can do these by the end of the summer before your medical school application year.
How to Register for the MCAT?
Registration for the MCAT must be done carefully because every detail entered by the candidate must be accurate because it cannot be changed, and they may not be able to fix it in the end.
To familiarize yourself with the MCAT registration process, we have listed the steps below.
How Fast Does MCAT Registration Fill Up?
MCAT enrollment dates fill up very quickly. Most students desire to take the test on a date that works best for them at their preferred testing venue. As you might expect, Saturday is a very popular day for taking the MCAT.
Naturally, it increases the likelihood that every available space at your local testing facility will be taken the closer it gets to the test date (and the deadline for registering). You will have a higher chance of receiving the slot you desire if you can register early.
You may start registering in October for test dates in January through May. Test dates from June through September go on registration in February.
Based on the Eastern Time Zone, AAMC registration usually starts early in the morning. Register as soon as possible to guarantee that you can acquire the MCAT exam date and testing center location of your choice.
5 Tips and Advice Before Registering for the MCAT
Your road to med school is fraught with little complexities can make the process overwhelming at times. The registration process itself is a bit complex and involves multiple steps. We have some advice for you to lighten your load brought about by the MCAT, we have some advice for you.
Do Not Put Things Off
Start the registration process early, or at the very least, make a strategy. The MCAT exam date should be selected well in advance as it helps to outline your preparation strategy.
Start looking for MCAT prep resources. Research and understand what the MCAT is.
Reach Out to Your Connections
You can get helpful advice on the registration process from your instructors, pre-med mentors, and the doctors you interact with as a pre-med student. Make these connections if you are a pre-med student in your younger years.
Throughout the application process, you will require direction and expert mentoring (not to mention a few letters of recommendation).
Assess Your Situation Objectively
We know this sounds like a cliche, but you are the only one who truly knows yourself.
Consider the counsel of your mentors in light of your unique study methods, abilities, and challenges. This will influence how you prepare for the MCAT and the timing of your test day.
If you are a younger student, try out several study methods to help you become the best effective learner you can be.
Plan and Choose the Best Date
Take the MCAT as early as possible without compromising your preparation level.
Remember that besides the MCAT, you have other things to prioritize. Planning ahead of time lessens the MCAT's stress and anxiety.Be Ready to Spend More Money for the MCAT
Registering for the MCAT costs USD 325. But your MCAT expenses do not end there. It is just the beginning.
Once you have registered, looking for the best MCAT prep materials is next. For some, they enroll in MCAT prep courses and MCAT tutors. They are costly but, more often than not, are the most effective ways to ace the MCAT.Additional FAQs – How to Register for the MCAT
When is the Best Time to Register for the MCAT?
You can complete your AMCAS application earlier if you finish the exam earlier, and the earlier you submit your application, the better.
Can I Register for the MCAT Online?
For this, you must go to the AAMC's official website.
Make sure you have a valid government ID and an acceptable mode of payment as you register for the MCAT. Remember to input the correct information as you register.
How Much Does It Cost to Register for the MCAT?
Furthermore, international students who wish to take the MCAT outside Canada and the US must pay an extra USD 120 in addition to the standard registration fee of USD 330.
Is Registering for the MCAT Hard?
Choosing the best date, however, may be challenging. There are times when your preferred dates are already fully-booked.
You either choose another date or change your test location on those occasions. Hence we strongly encourage you to register early.
Can I Register for Two MCAT Test Dates?
Strive to take the MCAT only once. Ideally, you will not need to take it twice. However, you can reapply after taking the MCAT, and you need a retake.
To help you increase your MCAT score to the competitive mark quickly, we have collaboratively created these 
