Updated: September 20, 2022
Health and Safety
The AAMC monitors guidance about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and state and local health authorities.
Any changes to the health and safety protocols will be determined closer to testing in 2023. We will update the information on this page in December.
State and local health and safety requirements continue to change. Pearson VUE's mask requirements align with CDC and state and local guidance where masks are not required indoors. Every examinee must review their test center’s mask and health requirements for testing before their exam date. Review the guidance on Pearson VUE’s website for masks and COVID-19 health requirements often, including the night before or morning of your exam. If you do not meet the requirements, you will not be allowed to test and will not be eligible for a refund.
For MCAT examinees testing in 2022: This webpage provides important information on health and safety protocols, including:
- Protocols in Test Centers
- Requirements for You to Test
- What to Expect on Test Day
- Face Masks
- Ways to Report Concerns
Protocols in Test Centers
Below are the following COVID-19 precautionary measures in place for MCAT administrations:
- Pearson VUE complies with and enforces safety procedures per local government requirements and CDC guidance. To view the protocols in place in your test center, including vaccination and COVID-19 testing requirements, click on the drop down menu of the country where you are testing on Pearson VUE’s website.*
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Pearson VUE, recently updated their mask requirements to align with CDC and state and local guidance where masks are not required indoors (March 4, 2022). Enter the address of your test center into the search tool on the Pearson VUE website to review your center’s mask requirements. It is a good idea to bring a mask with you regardless of whether one is required.
- Hand sanitizer is readily available in waiting areas and testing rooms.
- Candidates must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon arrival.
- Common areas are cleaned and disinfected frequently.
- Workstations are disinfected between each testing appointment.
- Candidates are permitted to wear disposable gloves if they choose.
- Examinees are required to sign an agreement that acknowledges that they meet the current posted health requirements, and that they will follow all health and safety guidelines while testing.
*Examinees testing in Puerto Rico and Canada may be utilizing sites that are not owned by Pearson VUE but are approved to deliver the MCAT exam. These sites may have additional COVID restrictions or requirements for test day. If you are testing at one of the sites below, you must carefully review your confirmation email and all correspondence about your exam to ensure you meet the requirements to test on exam day. If you do not meet the requirements and are unable to be admitted for the exam, it will be counted as a no show. You will have to register for a new date and will not be eligible for a refund.
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Canada
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Ashton Testing Services
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Best Practices Consulting
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Calgary Learning Institute Ltd
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Canadian Systems Inc
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SSCI
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Success Skills Centre
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The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
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Toronto College of Technology
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Puerto Rico
- EXPERTIS (Yauco)
- EXPERTIS (San Juan)
**The CDC released guidance on the benefits of wearing more than one mask. You are strongly encouraged to wear a multi-layered cloth mask, or a cloth mask over a disposable mask, on exam day.
Requirements for You to Test
Protecting your health and safety and that of others begins before check-in.
If you are not feeling well on the day of your exam or suspect you may have recently been exposed to COVID-19, do not go to the test center. Please file an Emergency Refund Request in the MCAT Registration System.
You may not go to the test center after you submit an Emergency Refund Request. Your refund request may not be reviewed until after your exam date. You may sign up for a new exam after your test date passes.
When you arrive at the test center:
You must read and comply with the COVID-19 test center procedures posted on the test center door.
Please do not enter the testing center if any of the criteria below apply to you on test day. You may not enter the test center and must reschedule your exam if:
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You have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 10 days of your exam date.
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You are currently experiencing or have experienced one or more associated symptoms within the last 10 days of your exam date.
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You live with or have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19. There is an exception for health care professionals.*
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You live with or have had close contact* with someone who has COVID-19 within the last 10 days of your exam date. There is an exception for health care professionals.**
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*A close contact is someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. For example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes. People who are exposed to someone with COVID-19 after they completed at least 5 days of isolation are not considered close contacts.
*We support health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Medical and health care professionals who have had close contact with someone who has confirmed or suspected COVID-19 within the last 14 days of their test date will be permitted to test. We request that front-line workers only proceed with the exam if both they and patients were wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment.
If you are immunocompromised or have a disability or medical condition that you believe requires an adjustment to the standard testing conditions, we encourage you to apply for accommodations.
What to Expect on Test Day
At Check-In:
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You will be asked to sign the ePad.You will be informed that by signing, you acknowledge that you will follow the rules for testing and have met all the health and safety requirements for testing as posted on the test center door and next to the signature pad.
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Your test day photo will be taken. If masks are required in your test center, you may pull your mask down under your chin to take the photo.
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You will be required to place your palm on the scanner. Please use the available hand sanitizer before and after touching the palm scanning device.
If hand sanitizer is not available at the check-in desk, please ask for it!
While you are waiting to be checked in, please observe social distancing of at least six feet between you and others who are waiting when possible. When you are escorted to the test room, please observe social distancing in the hallways and in all common spaces of the test center.
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You should expect… |
Please note: |
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To follow local health and safety guidance related to social distancing in test centers |
In smaller common areas of some test centers, maintaining six feet of distance may be challenging. |
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Examinees and staff may to be required to wear face masks in the United States and U.S. Territories depending on state and local guidance (face masks must adequately cover your nose and mouth); gloves are optional. You will be allowed to wear a mask even if your center does not require it. |
If masks are required, they may be removed for the test-day photo and during breaks to eat and drink. Masks may NOT be removed while you are at your workstation. Your exam will be terminated if you remove your mask while you are at your workstation or other areas of the testing center. |
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Hand sanitizer to be available, and you may bring your own |
Hand sanitizer must be in a clear bottle and is subject to inspection. |
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Cleaning and disinfecting regimens to be followed throughout the day. |
To reduce distractions during the exam, staff may clean common areas and other facilities while examinees are not present in those spaces. If you are concerned that your workstation was not cleaned before your exam, please let the staff know immediately. |
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To be required to acknowledge that you meet health requirements for testing and that you will follow health and safety guidelines while testing. When you sign the e-pad during check-in, you are acknowledging that you meet and will follow these requirements. |
Temperatures will not be taken before you enter the test center unless required by the locality where you are testing. If you do not feel well or believe you may have a temperature, please DO NOT go to the test center. |
Social Distancing, Face Masks, and Cleaning
Social Distancing
Social distancing (at least six feet between individuals) is recommended at check-in and in all common areas of the testing center.
In smaller common areas of some test centers, maintaining six feet of distance may be challenging.
Face Masks
The AAMC’s testing partner, Pearson VUE, recently updated their mask requirements to align with CDC and state and local guidance where masks are not required indoors.(March 7, 2022) Enter the address of your test center into the search tool on the Pearson VUE website to review your center’s mask requirements.
A face mask can be a surgical or cloth mask, and it must cover the nose and mouth. Layering cloth with disposable masks is allowed; KN95 masks should not be used in layering. Ventilated masks and face shields are not permitted. Examinees should practice wearing their mask and make sure it is comfortable before test day. For those who wear glasses, consider ways to wear a face mask that doesn’t fog the lenses.
Cleaning Measures
Test center staff follow cleaning regimens throughout the day. Research and best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19 are evolving and we will be updating protocols regularly.
To reduce distractions during the exam, staff may clean common areas and other facilities while examinees are not present in those spaces. If you are concerned that your workstation was not cleaned before your exam, please let the staff know immediately.
Ways to Report Concerns
The AAMC and Pearson VUE encourage and support examinees advocating for their own health and safety while in the test center.
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If you observe any violation of the health and safety protocols in test centers before, during, or after testing, immediately report them to your proctor or test center staff.
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If you do not feel comfortable reporting during testing, you may notify the AAMC of any behavior or health and safety concerns.
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Report concerns on the survey presented at the end of your exam. These responses go directly to the AAMC.
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Email concerns to mcatsafety@aamc.org.
All reports will be treated in a confidential manner. There are no repercussions for reporting this critical information to the AAMC.