Academic Requirements

Each Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine applicant must:

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

1. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. At this time, international applicants and those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status are not eligible for consideration.

2. Bachelor's degree

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

Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution outside the United States will be considered on a case-by-case basis. To ensure reasonable grade compatibility with their peers, these applicants must have completed all required prerequisite courses at an institution in the United States or Canada that is accredited by a regional accrediting body and listed in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

Florida Residency Classification for Tuition

Although preference is given to residents of the State of Florida, well-qualified applicants from other states will also be considered. The College of Medicine uses a two-tiered tuition structure, with different rates for residents and non-residents.

For tuition purposes, a Florida resident is defined as someone who has established and maintained legal domicile in Florida for at least 12 months prior to the first day of orientation. Applicants claiming Florida residency should consult the official residency guidelines.

Upon acceptance, applicants must submit appropriate documentation to verify their residency classification, which will determine tuition rates. Failure to provide valid documentation may result in reclassification as a non-resident and a corresponding change in tuition. Residency classification is a required part of the pre-matriculation process.

3. Prerequisite courses

Required courses

The College of Medicine has established minimum academic requirements and a list of required prerequisite courses. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in both spoken and written English. The required prerequisite courses are as follows:

General Biology with laboratory: 2 semesters
General Chemistry with laboratory: 2 semesters
Organic Chemistry with laboratory: 2 semesters, which can be fulfilled by either:
- Organic Chemistry 1 and Organic Chemistry 2, or
- Organic Chemistry 1 and Biochemistry
Physics with laboratory: 2 semesters
Mathematics: 2 semesters of College Mathematics or Statistics courses
Writing-intensive courses (e.g. English, Humanities, Social Sciences): 2 semesters

Recommended courses

The required courses represent the minimum acceptable preparation for the study of medicine at the college. Applicants should note that accepted students typically have extensive coursework in the natural sciences, including many of the recommended courses listed below:

Advanced coursework in sciences such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Histology, Immunology, Microbiology, and Physiology
Statistics
Foreign Languages
Humanities
Social Sciences

College Level Examination Program credits cannot be used to fulfill any of the required prerequisite courses. Online prerequisite courses may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. However, lab components must be completed in person. Advanced placement and international baccalaureate credits for English, biology, math, physics, and general chemistry are acceptable if they appear on a college transcript and are verified by the American Medical College Application Service. Prerequisite courses may be taken at community colleges, but in both cases, completing graded advanced coursework in these subjects is strongly recommended.

For more information, see the frequently asked questions.

4. MCAT Examination

All applicants must take the MCAT. Only scores from exams taken within three years of the intended matriculation year and no later than September of the application year will be accepted.

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