Scheduling an MCAT Exam
Scheduling an MCAT ExamOnce you have answered the necessary registration questions, you will be able to schedule an MCAT test date and location. Test centers have limited capacity, and seats are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once your exam is scheduled, you will receive an email confirming your appointment - including the name you used to register. Be sure to compare this name to the name on the MCAT-accepted ID you will use on test day. If you do not receive an email confirmation within 24 hours of scheduling your appointment, that means it was not successfully scheduled. You will need to schedule the appointment again. The AAMC does not extend deadlines for any reason.
You may make changes to your appointment online up until 10 days before your appointment. There are three deadlines for making changes to your appointment: 60 days from exam date, 30 days from exam date, and 10 days from exam date. All deadlines take effect at 11:59 p.m. local test center time. For example, if your MCAT exam is scheduled for April 30, 2025, in Los Angeles, your 10-day deadline is 11:59 p.m. PT on April 20, 2025. Refer to Calendars, Scheduling Deadlines, and Score Release Dates for details about specific deadline dates. It is your responsibility to understand and meet the scheduling deadlines. If you need assistance, please note our available call center hours.
Available Appointment Notification or “Notify Me”
If your MCAT exam appointment search indicates “None Available” for your preferred date and test center location, you can ask to be notified by email from Pearson VUE if an appointment becomes available at that test center location on that MCAT test date by clicking “Notify me.” Learn more about this functionality here.
“To Be Determined” Test Centers
You may see “To Be Determined” test center sites (TBD sites) listed with generalized locations in metropolitan areas as decided by Pearson VUE. These sites do not have determined addresses at the time of scheduling. TBD sites exist for the sole purpose of offering as many seats as possible on each test date. TBD sites should be chosen only if you have the flexibility to travel up to a 40-mile radius within a metropolitan area from the central location. Examinees who register for a TBD site will not be eligible for a free reschedule to another site when they find out the actual location of the TBD site.
You will be sent via email the TBD site address no fewer than 30 days before your exam date. The address information will also appear in the MCAT Registration System at that time.
Test Center Current Address
The current address of your test center is available in the MCAT Registration System. On rare occasions, a test center address or location may change. If such an address change occurs, the AAMC or Pearson VUE will make every effort to notify you via email before your test date. Plan ahead by locating the test center before test day. You will not be allowed to enter the testing center, but you will learn how to get there and how long it will take.
Time Zones
Know what time zone your test center adheres to, especially if you are crossing a state or county line. It may be different from what you expect. For example, daylight saving time is not adhered to by all U.S. states or local regions within a state.
Access the PDF to download the print-friendly version of the content of these webpages.
Registration Fees, Cancellations, and Refunds
Registration Fees, Cancellations, and RefundsWhen purchasing an MCAT exam, there is an initial base registration fee and, for international locations, an international fee. Refer chart below for more information.
Registration Fees (in USD)
| Registration Type | Registration Cost* |
|---|---|
| Standard Registration | $345 |
| Fee Assistance Program Registration | $140 |
*Examinees testing outside the United States, Canada, or U.S. territories will also be charged a $120 USD international fee in addition to the initial registration fee.
International fees are nonrefundable upon registration cancellation.
Rescheduling and Cancellations (in USD)
| Standard Change Fees |
Date and/or Test Center Reschedule Fee |
Cancellation Refund |
|---|---|---|
| 60 or more days before exam | $50 | $170 |
| 30-59 days before exam | $100 | $170 |
| 10-29 days before exam | $200 | $0 |
|
Fee Assistance Program Change Fees |
Date and/or Test Center Reschedule Fee |
Cancellation Refund |
|---|---|---|
| 60 or more days before exam | $20 | $70 |
| 30-59 days before exam | $40 | $70 |
| 10-29 days before exam | $90 | $0 |
-
All changes must be at least 10 days before your exam date.
- You cannot reschedule into a future testing year.
- Refunds will be returned in USD and are based on the exchange rate the day the refund was processed. The amount may not be equal to what you originally paid because of the exchange rate. We are not able to refund more than the value based on the exchange rate.
- Applicable fees will apply regardless of how soon a change takes place after your initial scheduling. No exceptions will be made.
- If you have received Fee Assistance Program approval but you do not see the reduced scheduling fees within the MCAT Registration System, contact us immediately. Do not proceed with scheduling or rescheduling an appointment as the benefits are not retroactive.
- All deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. local time of the test center on the day of the deadline.
Applicable Taxes
You may be required to pay applicable sales tax, value-added tax, goods and services tax, or similar tax required by law in the country or locality in which you are testing. If taxes are applicable, they will be collected at the time of scheduling.
In the event you are attempting to reschedule to a location that has a different tax rate (typically from country to country outside of the US & Canada), you will not be able to reschedule through the MCAT Registration System. Please call Pearson VUE for assistance (866-281-7532).
Cancellations
Cancellations may be made online through the MCAT Registration System or by calling Pearson VUE up to 10 days before your appointment. You will receive an email confirming your cancellation. If you do not receive an email within 24 hours of your cancellation request, the cancellation did not go through, and you will need to try again. If you do not cancel your appointment and you do not sit for the exam, you will be considered a no-show, and you will lose a testing attempt. It may take up to 24 hours after your original appointment time before you’re able to schedule a new appointment. You will be required to pay the full registration fee following a no-show.
Refunds are automatically applied to the credit or debit card used for the initial scheduling. Depending on the bank card’s policy, the funds may take a few days to clear. We are unable to provide a refund to a different form of payment than was originally used, even if your card was lost, stolen, or deactivated.
Rescheduling and international fees are nonrefundable. Deadlines will not be extended or waived for any reason.
Inclement Weather
You will receive an email from Pearson VUE or the AAMC if a test center is closed for any reason. Unless you are otherwise notified via email, test centers will be open in the event of inclement weather or a similar reason, and you are expected to report for your appointment. Fees will not be refunded if you are delayed or unable to reach the test center. If you have questions or concerns about weather affecting your ability to reach the test site, please submit an Emergency Refund Request Form in the Service Requests section of the MCAT Registration System.
Access the PDF to download the print-friendly version of the content of these webpages.
Emergency Refund Requests
Emergency Refund RequestsIf you experience an extenuating hardship prior to your MCAT exam appointment that affects your ability to attend your exam, please submit an emergency refund request (ERR). If approved, you will receive a partial refund of your exam registration fee. The following table summarizes qualifying events and required documentation.
| Event | Documentation Requirements |
|---|---|
| You are or were hospitalized or visited the doctor for an unexpected acute medical emergency. | A doctor’s note that indicates you are unable to take your exam due to a medical emergency or hospitalization that you experienced within 30 days of your exam. Please do not send hospital records. *We will not accept a doctor’s note that indicates you had a doctor’s visit after your exam date. |
| You experience a death in your immediate family. | Funeral program, obituary, or death certificate. The death or service must have taken place within 10 days of your exam date. |
| You must perform primary caregiver duties for someone who is sick. | A doctor’s note that states the person you are primary caregiver for cannot be left without your assistance or availability on exam day. We will also accept power of attorney documentation for health-related emergency decision-making. Please do not send hospital records. The illness must have occurred within 10 days of your exam date. |
| You are unexpectedly called away to active military service. | Official request for deployment dated within 30 days of your exam date. The deployment date must also be within 30 days of your exam date. |
| You are unexpectedly called away for health care service duties related to a catastrophic event. | Official request for deployment dated within 30 days of your exam date. The deployment date must also be within 30 days of your exam date. |
| You are required to report for jury duty on exam day. | Official documentation that you attended jury duty on your exam day. |
| You are displaced from your residence due to a natural disaster, or the national weather service or government recommend you shelter in place or evacuate. | Documentation of such event within 10 days of your exam date. |
| You test positive for COVID-19 five or fewer days prior to exam day. | Positive COVID-19 test taken by you, dated within five days prior to or within seven days after your exam date. |
*If you believe you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, but they are not supported by a positive test, we will consider a note from a medical professional as described in the first row of this table.
Other events not listed in the table above will be considered at the AAMC’s discretion.
Requests must be submitted using the Emergency Refund Request Form in the Service Requests section of the MCAT Registration System.
Complete requests, including all necessary accompanying documentation, must be received no later than 10 days after your scheduled exam date.
- The maximum emergency refund amount is the amount of the 30-day+ cancellation refund.
- This exam may still count as one of your attempts toward your testing limits.
- The ERR process does not result in the AAMC canceling your exam.
- Your exam will go into a no-show status. If approved, the refund will be processed after your exam date, and the testing attempt will be returned.
- You will be able to schedule a new exam after your current exam date.
- The AAMC reserves the right to limit the number of approved Emergency Refund Requests (ERRs) per examinee.
Do not submit an ERR until you are absolutely certain you will not be able to attend your exam. Do not go to the test center once you’ve submitted an ERR. Emergency Refund Requests are not reversible.
The AAMC will email the decision about your request within two weeks of receipt of the required documentation. Approved refunds will be applied to the method of payment used during the initial scheduling process.
Refunds are not guaranteed and are issued at the AAMC’s sole discretion.
Access the PDF to download the print-friendly version of the content of these webpages.