5. What’s the entrance examination like?

The required entrance examinations for health professions schools vary in length from 4 to 6 hours. They may be administered online or in a classroom-type setting.

Following is a list showing which type of test is usually required for each health profession. To be sure that you are taking the appropriate exam, you should check the web site for the school(s) to which you plan to apply:

Medical (College Admission Test ) MCAT
Dental (Admission Test) DAT
Optometry (Admission Test) OAT
Podiatry (College Admission Test ) MCAT
Osteopathic Medicine MCAT
Pharmacy (College Admission Test) PCAT
Physical Therapy GRE
Physician Assistant GRE
Nurse Practitioner GRE

On our pre-health web site under “Professional School Admissions ” you will find links to web sites with information about these tests, how to sign up to take them and deadline information.

Plan Ahead!

Before taking any of these tests, it is important that you complete the science courses upon which you will be tested. We advise you not to take these tests while you are still enrolled in the required courses; wait until you have learned all the material to give yourself the best preparation for taking the entrance exam.

Find out the best timetable for taking the entrance exam required by your health profession. It may be best for you to take the examination more than a year ahead of when you plan to begin study at a health profession school. For example, if you are applying to medical school, you will probably take the MCAT sometime between January and April, complete your application in June or early July and receive your acceptance any time until classes start a full year or more later.