Academic Requirements

Each Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) applicant must:

  1. Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
  2. Have a bachelor's degree at the time of matriculation
  3. Have completed the required prerequisite courses at the time of matriculation
  4. Have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

1. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

An applicant to HWCOM must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. At this time, we are not able to consider international applicants or applicants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.

2. Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is required for all students attending HWCOM. All coursework must be completed in a satisfactory manner in an educational institution located in the United States or Canada, approved by a regional accrediting body, and listed in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

Applicants with bachelor's degrees from accredited non-U.S. institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To provide reasonable grade compatibility with their peers, these applicants must, at a minimum, have taken all required prerequisite courses at an educational institution located in the United States or Canada, approved by a regional accrediting body, and listed in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

3. Prerequisite courses

Required courses

HWCOM has set forth minimum academic requirements and developed a list of required prerequisite courses. Applicants must also have a demonstrated proficiency in spoken and written English. The FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine required prerequisite course requirements are as follows:

  • General Biology with laboratory - 2 semesters
  • General Chemistry with laboratory - 2 semesters
  • Organic Chemistry with laboratory (satisfied by either Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 or Organic Chemistry 1 and Biochemistry) - 2 semesters
  • Physics with laboratory - 2 semesters
  • Mathematics - 2 semesters of College Mathematics
  • College English - 2 semesters of College English

Recommended courses

The required courses constitute the minimum acceptable preparation for the study of medicine at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Applicants should keep in mind that accepted students have had extensive coursework in the natural sciences, including many of the recommended courses listed below:

  • Statistics
  • Cell Biology
  • Foreign Languages
  • Genetics
  • Humanities
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Physiology
  • Social Sciences

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits may not be used to fulfill any of the required prerequisite courses listed above. Online courses for prerequisites may be accepted on a case-by-case basis (labs should be taken on campus). Advanced Placement (AP) credits or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits for English, Biology, Math, Physics, and General Chemistry are acceptable if they appear on college transcripts and are verified by the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Prerequisite courses can be taken at community colleges. However, in both instances, graded advanced courses in these areas are highly recommended.

For more information, see the frequently asked questions.

4. MCAT Examination

All applicants to HWCOM must have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). We accept MCAT exam scores taken by September of your application year. We accept MCAT exam scores within three years of your matriculation year.