Premedical Requirements Policy

PURPOSE
To inform medical student applicants of the premedical academic requirements for admission.

AUDIENCE
Prospective applicants and all faculty, staff, students, and other representatives participating in the School’s admission process

LCME STANDARD
10.1 Premedical Education/Required Coursework

POLICY
The Admissions Selection Committee determines the admissions criteria, including premedical academic requirements for admission. To be eligible to apply to the School, applicants must have completed:

  1. The Medical College Admission Test (within 36 months of application; the latest exam accepted is during the month of September of the application year)
  2. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (verified by American Medical College Application Service) by July 1 the year of matriculation
  3. Three years (90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours) in an accredited college or university (verified by American Medical College Application Service)
  4. The following prerequisite courses at a U.S. accredited college or university (including community colleges): Note: accreditation can be verified through the Council of Higher Education Accreditation. If the school is not listed the coursework will not be considered for UC Davis.
    • Biological Sciences: 1 year
    • General Chemistry, 1 year
    • Organic Chemistry (Biochemistry or other chemistry also acceptable): 1 year
    • Physics: 1 year

The school accepts online classes and does not require labs. However, classes in person, including labs, are preferred. Prerequisite courses are recommended to be completed within 5 years of submission of the application and must be completed by spring of the year intending to enroll.

The school does accept Advanced Placement (AP) Credit scores towards pre-requisite course requirements; however, AP credit needs to be shown on the undergraduate transcript, as well as the class it would be credited towards to receive credit. College-Level Examination Program Credit is not accepted.

PROCEDURE

  1. Proof of meeting the above requirements, such as official transcripts, must be submitted and will be verified prior to matriculation.
  2. Exceptions to the above requirements will be reviewed on a case-by-case by the admissions committee. Request for consideration may be sent to the Office of Admissions via email.
  3. Applicants who are found to not meet above requirements and who have not been granted a prior exception by the admissions committee will not be considered eligible for admission and/or will be withdrawn if a conditional offer has already been made by the School.

RESPONSIBILITY
Admissions Committee

REFERENCES

RELATED POLICY/POLICIES
Technical Standards Policy

POLICY OWNER
Admissions Committee

REVIEWED BY
Admissions Committee*

REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
July 2023, annual review cycle

* indicates the Policy Owner