Rachel Kapelke-Dale

MCAT Registration Dates (2023) – How to Register for the MCAT

Online registration form representing MCAT registration

Out of everything you need to do to take the MCAT, MCAT registration should be the easiest step. But it can be really stressful! Before you sit down at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website to register for the MCAT exam, get your MCAT questions answered in this guide, with expert MCAT registration tips and resources included!


 

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MCAT Registration Dates 2023

So when can you sign up for the MCAT, and what are the deadlines? Here’s what you need to know about 2023 MCAT test dates and AAMC’s MCAT registration 2023 dates.

2023 MCAT TEST DATES REGISTRATION DEADLINE (60 day) REGISTRATION DEADLINE (30 day) REGISTRATION DEADLINE (10 day) SCORE RELEASE DATE
January 13, 2023 November 14, 2022 December 14, 2022 January 3, 2023 February 14, 2023
January 14, 2023 November 15, 2022 December 15, 2022 January 4, 2023 February 14, 2023
January 19, 2023 November 20, 2022 December 20, 2022 January 9, 2023 February 21, 2023
January 27, 2023 November 28, 2022 December 28, 2022 January 17, 2023 March 3, 2023
March 11, 2023 January 10, 2023 February 9, 2023 March 1, 2023 April 11 2023
March 24, 2023 January 23, 2023 February 22, 2023 March 14, 2023 April 25, 2023
April 14, 2023 February 13, 2023 March 15, 2023 April 4, 2023 May 16, 2023
April 15, 2023 February 14, 2023 March 16, 2023 April 5, 2023 May 16, 2023
April 28, 2023 February 27, 2023 March 29, 2023 April 18, 2023 May 31, 2023
April 29, 2023 February 28, 2023 March 30, 2023 April 19, 2023 May 31, 2023
May 12, 2023 March 13, 2023 April 12, 2023 May 2, 2023 June 13, 2023
May 13, 2023 March 14, 2023 April 13, 2023 May 3, 2023 June 13, 2023
May 18, 2023 March 19, 2023 April 18, 2023 May 8, 2023 June 21, 2023
May 26, 2023 March 27, 2023 April 26, 2023 May 16, 2023 June 27, 2023
June 3, 2023 April 4, 2023 May 4, 2023 May 24, 2023 July 6, 2023
June 16, 2023 April 17, 2023 May 17, 2023 June 6, 2023 July 18, 2023
June 17, 2023 April 18, 2023 May 18, 2023 June 7, 2023 July 18, 2023
June 23, 2023 April 24, 2023 May 24, 2023 June 13, 2023 July 25, 2023
June 24, 2023 April 25, 2023 May 25, 2023 June 14, 2023 July 25, 2023
June 29, 2023 April 30, 2023 May 30, 2023 June 19, 2023 July 31, 2023
July 15, 2023 May 16, 2023 Jun 15, 2023 July 5, 2023 August 15, 2023
July 28, 2023 May 29, 2023 June 28, 2023 July 18, 2023 August 29, 2023
August 4, 2023 June 5, 2023 July 5, 2023 July 25, 2023 September 6, 2023
August 19, 2023 June 20, 2023 July 20, 2023 August 9, 2023 September 19, 2023
August 25, 2023 June 26, 2023 July 26, 2023 August 15, 2023 September 26, 2023
August 26, 2023 June 27, 2023 July 27, 2023 August 16, 2023 September 26, 2023
August 31, 2023 July 2, 2023 August 1, 2023 August 21, 2023 October 3, 2023
September 1, 2023 July 3, 2023 August 2, 2023 August 22, 2023 October 3, 2023
September 8, 2023 July 10, 2023 August 9, 2023 August 29, 2023 October 13, 2023
September 9, 2023 July 11, 2023 August 10, 2023 August 30, 2023 October 13, 2023

In this table, we’ve also provided score release dates. How is this relevant to MCAT registration? Because the release date determines when medical schools will get your scores–it’s a key part of submitting your overall application! As you can see, scores are usually released mid-week, on a Tuesday or a Wednesday, no matter what day of the week you took your test.

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How do I register for the MCAT?

If you’re wondering how to register for the Medical College Admission Test in 2023, there are a few things you should do in advance to make it easier. Here’s the process! (Note: If you’re registering for the MCAT with accommodations, the process is slightly different. Call 1-800-466-0450 to register.)

MCAT registration steps - image by Magoosh

  1. Create a required AAMC account. This will help you access the MCAT registration system. To set up an account, you’ll need a username and password.
  2. Gather your ID and credit card (or debit card). Have your government-issued ID available (something like a driver’s license), and have your form of payment handy.
  3. Access the registration portal. Click on “Students and Residents” in the left-hand bar, then “Applying to Medical School,” then “Register for the MCAT.” In the registration system, select “Start Exam Registration.”
  4. Fill in information as required. This will include personal info (think: date of birth, address, country), biographic information, background, various releases.
  5. Choose your test date from the schedule. This screen will also show you MCAT testing locations that are available near you. Note that MCAT dates fall throughout the week, so think about what day would be best for you–Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Keep in mind that weekend dates tend to fill up fast!
  6. Pay and complete your registration! You can pay with VISA, MasterCard, or American Express.

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How much does it cost to register for the MCAT?

The MCAT can be pricey! But the initial MCAT registration fees aren’t the only cost. Exactly how pricy registering for the MCAT is depends on when you register.

With that in mind, here’s a closer look at MCAT fees and costs!

MCAT Costs 2023

Fee More than 60 days before the test 30-59 days before the test 10-29 days before the test
Initial Registration Fee $330 (with fee assistance: $135) $330 (with fee assistance: $135) $330 (with fee assistance: $135)
Date Change or Test Center Change Fee $50 (with fee assistance: $20) $100 (with fee assistance: $40) $200 (with fee assistance: $80)
Cancellation Refund $165 (with fee assistance: $70) $165 (with fee assistance: $70) $0
International Fee $120 $120 $120

International fees apply to all test-takers outside of the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For international test takers, cancellations will refund your initial registration fee to you, but not your international fee. In other words, you get a cancellation refund, but not an international refund.

Note that if you’re struggling to pay for the MCAT, the AAMC fee assistance program may help you out.

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Can you register for two MCAT dates?

Not at the same time. You can take the MCAT up to three times in a single testing year, but you’re only allowed to be registered for one seat at a time.

If a conflict has arisen with your original test date reservation, you may be able to reschedule your exam on the AAMC website (you can also change your preferred location there. In both cases, you may need to pay rescheduling fees or cancellation fees; depending on your situation, you may only get a partial refund). Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until after the day of your test to register again.

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How fast does MCAT registration fill up?

In other words, how early do you have to register for the MCAT? Believe it or not, MCAT registration dates fill up very quickly. Most students want to take the exam at their preferred testing location on a date that works best for them. As you can imagine, Saturday is a very popular MCAT test day.

Understandably, the closer it is to the test date (and the last date of registration), the more likely it is that all of the spots at your local testing center will be filled. I once had to drive 60 miles from home just to take the MCAT! If you can register well in advance of the day of the deadline, you’ll have a better shot at getting the slot you want.

Just how early can you register? Registration for the MCAT is split into two phases. In October, students may begin to register for January through May test dates. June through September test dates open for registration in February. You can follow the AAMC’s twitter page to learn the exact time when registration opens. In the past, it has opened early in the morning based on the Eastern Time Zone.

To ensure that you can get the MCAT test date and testing center location you want, make sure to register as soon as possible.

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A Final Word on MCAT Registration

With all of this in mind, how far in advance should you schedule your MCAT? As soon as possible after registration opens for your chosen date. Not only will this ensure you the date you want, but it will also help you start your MCAT prep (or even sign up for an MCAT course!) with the goal of preparing by a certain date—helping you brush up on all that sociology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, psychology, critical analysis skills, and other topics, and eventually to succeed on your mission to reach your target MCAT score!

In the end, keep in mind that this is one small part of the application cycle, which in itself is a small part of your overall medical education and eventual medical career. While future medical students may find the process overwhelming at first, some organization and flexibility in advance will help you get through it successfully. Good luck!

Author

  • Rachel Kapelke-Dale

    Rachel is one of Magoosh’s Content Creators. She writes and updates content on our High School and GRE Blogs to ensure students are equipped with the best information during their test prep journey. As a test-prep instructor for more than five years in there different countries, Rachel has helped students around the world prepare for various standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT, and she is one of the authors of our Magoosh ACT Prep Book. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature from Brown University, an MA in Cinematography from the Université de Paris VII, and a Ph.D. in Film Studies from University College London. For over a decade, Rachel has honed her craft as a fiction and memoir writer and public speaker. Her novel, THE BALLERINAS, is forthcoming in December 2021 from St. Martin’s Press, while her memoir, GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND, co-written with Jessica Pan, was published in 2014 by Penguin Random House. Her work has appeared in over a dozen online and print publications, including Vanity Fair Hollywood. When she isn’t strategically stringing words together at Magoosh, you can find Rachel riding horses or with her nose in a book. Join her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

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