How to Register for the MCAT in 2027

Registration for all January through September 2027 MCAT test dates opens October 20–22, 2026, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. Your opening day depends on your testing center's location. You'll register through the AAMC MCAT Registration System.

Searching for "MCAT registration 2026"? If you plan to test between January and September 2027, this is the registration window you need. You register in October 2026 for the 2027 testing year.

Before you book a seat, it helps to know more than which dates are available. Your test date should give you enough time to prepare, fit your application timeline, and work with your school, job, and other commitments.

Here's how to get ready for 2027 MCAT registration and choose a date you can build a realistic study plan around.

2027 MCAT registration at a glance

When does MCAT registration open for 2027?

2027 MCAT registration opens over three days, October 20–22, 2026, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. The AAMC assigns each testing location to one of three registration groups:

Check the AAMC's 2027 registration opening guide to confirm your testing location's group. Use the location where you intend to take the exam, which may be different from where you currently live.

On these October dates, noon Eastern is 11 a.m. Central Daylight Time, 10 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time, and 9 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Put the correct opening time in your calendar.

October 20–22 are opening dates. You can register afterward if seats are available. We recommend registering on your opening day when you have a realistic test date in mind, especially if you have limited flexibility on location.

What are the 2027 MCAT test dates?

The 2027 U.S. MCAT calendar includes 35 test dates from January through September.

*January 30, May 14, July 9, and August 28 are offered only at select testing locations. The participating locations vary by date. Confirm your options in the official U.S. MCAT calendar before building your plan around one of these dates.

Testing schedules also differ by country. If you're testing in Canada or another international location, use the regional calendars linked from the AAMC registration page.

How do you choose your 2027 MCAT test date?

Choose your test date by working backward from three things: your diagnostic score, your goal score, and the study hours you can realistically commit before test day. At The Brem Method, we call this your MCAT macro plan.

Think of it like planning a road trip. You need to know where you're starting before you can estimate how long it will take to reach your destination.

Start with a diagnostic exam

Take a full-length MCAT practice exam before registering, or as close to registration as you can. You'll get useful information about your content knowledge, reasoning skills, timing, and stamina.

If you want a scaled starting score for the planning calculation below, choose a scored practice exam. The AAMC's free practice resources include a scored full-length exam and an Unscored Sample Test. The sample is useful for practice, but it doesn't provide an official scaled score.

You don't need to finish reviewing every subject before taking a diagnostic. Its purpose is to help you decide where your preparation should begin.

Choose a goal score that fits your application

In our planning framework, your goal score is the score you would feel comfortable applying with, based on your school list and overall application. Your dream score is the score you'd be especially excited to receive. Those may be different numbers.

Talk with a pre-health advisor and review school-specific admissions data, including the AAMC's Medical School Admission Requirements database, or MSAR. Consider your GPA, target schools, and any section score requirements alongside your total score.

A 510 might be a practical goal for one student and an unnecessary restriction for another. Choose a target that makes sense for your situation.

Estimate how much study time you need

Ms. Brem uses 15 hours of quality studying per point of desired score improvement as a rough planning estimate. It gives you a starting workload to evaluate against your schedule.

For example, suppose your diagnostic is 490, your goal score is 510, and you have 16 usable study weeks:

• Desired improvement: 510 − 490 = 20 points.
• Estimated study time: 20 × 15 = 300 hours.
• Weekly study time: 300 ÷ 16 = 18.75 hours, or approximately 20 hours per week.

Count usable weeks honestly. Finals, travel, work demands, and planned breaks may reduce how much time you have available.

Treat this as an estimate. Progress isn't linear, and study quality, your content foundation, and how you review mistakes all affect your results. Your practice exams will help you adjust the plan as you go.

If 20 hours a week doesn't fit your life, consider a later test date, changes to your other commitments, or a conversation with your advisor about your application timeline.

You can also use our MCAT study time calculator to explore your starting score, goal, and available time. If you're aiming for a spring date, our 3-month MCAT study plan shows what a 12-week schedule looks like week by week.

Connect your test date to your score release date

Work backward from when you want your score available for application decisions. Use the scheduled release date on the AAMC calendar.

For example, an April 10, 2027 exam has a May 11 score release date. A May 1 exam has a June 2 score release date.

If you plan to apply during 2027 for medical school entry in 2028, review that application cycle's calendar with your pre-health advisor. Ask how your score timing, a possible retake, and your target schools affect your submission plan.

How do you register for the MCAT in 2027?

To register for the 2027 MCAT, complete your AAMC account information early, prepare your preferred dates and locations, join the waiting room before noon Eastern on your opening day, then select your appointment and pay the fee. Here's each step.

Step 1: Complete your account information before opening day

Use your existing AAMC account if you already have one. If you've forgotten your login, recover it rather than creating a duplicate account.

You can complete the first five registration tabs between October 5 and October 19, 2026. Review your personal information, background questions, terms, and consents ahead of time. Have your MCAT-accepted ID available so your registration name matches it exactly.

The AAMC registration checklist explains what you can finish before scheduling opens.

Step 2: Prepare your preferred dates and locations

Write down your first-choice date, backup dates, and acceptable testing locations. Confirm MCAT availability through the registration system; a nearby Pearson VUE center may administer other exams without offering the MCAT.

Consider where you'll actually be living when you test. Your campus location in October may be different from your location in May.

We generally recommend keeping test-morning travel manageable. If your center is more than about an hour to an hour and a half away, consider staying nearby the night before. Include that expense when comparing locations.

Step 3: Join the waiting room at the right time

For opening-day registration, plan to enter the waiting room between 11:45 and 11:50 a.m. ET. AAMC recommends logging in no more than 15 minutes early. Everyone in the waiting room at 11:50 a.m. ET receives a randomized place in line; later arrivals go to the end.

Have your device charged and allow time to monitor the queue. The wait can be lengthy. Your prepared list of dates and locations will help you make a decision when it's your turn.

Step 4: Select your appointment and confirm payment

Choose your date and location, pay the registration fee, and save your confirmation. Check your registered name, test center address, and appointment date carefully.

According to the AAMC's scheduling guidance, you should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you don't, check your appointment status and follow up with AAMC.

Step 5: Use appointment alerts if your preferred seat is unavailable

If your search shows no appointments for a particular date and center, use Notify me. You can have up to five active appointment notification requests.

These are availability alerts. An email doesn't reserve the seat for you, and notifications can arrive at any time of day. Check promptly when an alert arrives.

If you book a backup seat while continuing to look for your preferred appointment, account for the rescheduling fee before making a change.

How much does MCAT registration cost in 2027?

The standard 2027 MCAT registration fee is $360 USD. Approved Fee Assistance Program recipients pay $145 USD. Testing outside the United States, Canada, or U.S. territories carries an additional $130 international fee. Applicable taxes may also be collected.

Changing your date or testing center costs more as test day approaches:

Cancellation refunds also depend on timing. Review the AAMC's 2027 scheduling fee schedule before changing or canceling an appointment.

Put the 60-day, 30-day, and 10-day deadlines in your calendar. For standard appointments, the 10-day deadline is the final opportunity to schedule, reschedule, or cancel. Deadlines fall at 11:59 p.m. in the test center's local time zone.

We recommend scheduling a practice exam and time to review it before a fee deadline. That gives you evidence to assess your readiness while you still have time to adjust.

Plan ahead for fee assistance and accommodations

Apply for fee assistance before paying

The AAMC Fee Assistance Program offers benefits to eligible applicants, including reduced MCAT fees, official preparation resources, MSAR access, and an AMCAS application fee waiver within the program's limits.

Receive approval before paying for registration. Benefits aren't retroactive.

Check the current eligibility requirements and benefit rules, including when your award expires and how to activate preparation resources. A 2026 award generally remains available through December 31, 2027, although individual benefits have their own terms. You may be able to use a 2026 approval to support your 2027 MCAT preparation and registration.

Canadian examinees should review the separate Canadian fee assistance program linked from AAMC's registration resources.

Start the accommodations process early

If a disability or medical condition affects your testing needs, review the MCAT accommodations application process early. Approval depends on AAMC's review of your request and supporting documentation.

According to AAMC's review timelines, initial requests are generally reviewed within 60 days of submission. Gathering documentation and responding to requests for additional information can add time.

You can complete your registration profile before approval. Follow your determination letter and AAMC's accommodated scheduling instructions to schedule through Pearson VUE after approval. Your accommodations must be approved and your scheduling request submitted at least 15 days before the exam.

You have the option to book a standard appointment beforehand, but that appointment may need to change to support your approved accommodations. Contact MCAT Accommodations Services if you're unsure how to proceed.

Build your MCAT study plan after registering

Once you have a date, schedule practice-exam benchmarks before filling your calendar with daily study tasks. Those benchmarks will help you see whether your preparation is producing the progress you need.

We recommend planning for at least six full-length practice exams beyond your diagnostic, prioritizing AAMC exams. During committed preparation, take a practice exam at least monthly and generally no more than once a week. Many students move to weekly exams during the final three weeks.

Leave time to review each exam and work on what it reveals. A score becomes more useful when you understand which changes to make next.

Our study framework has three phases:

Phase 1: Content focus

Refresh material you've forgotten or haven't learned. Spend approximately 70% of your study time reviewing content and building useful study materials, and 30% on practice questions.

Begin CARS practice early, along with questions in subjects you already know. Use those questions to identify gaps and build reasoning skills while you review.

Phase 2: Drills and skills

Shift toward an approximately even split between reviewing your study materials and active practice. Work through question sets, analyze mistakes, and update your resources based on what you find.

This phase connects what you know to how you use it in a passage or question.

Phase 3: Test-day readiness

During roughly the final six to eight weeks, emphasize timed sets, section practice, and full-length exams. Spend approximately 70% of your time on practice and review of that practice, and 30% reinforcing essential content.

Use this phase to refine pacing, stamina, focus, and your exam-day routine. Adjust the timing of each phase to your diagnostic results, weekly hours, and practice-exam progress.

Frequently asked questions about 2027 MCAT registration

When does MCAT registration open for 2027?

Registration for January through September 2027 test dates opens October 20–22, 2026, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. Your opening day depends on your testing location's registration group.

Do I have to register on opening day?

No. Registration continues after October 20–22, 2026, subject to seat availability. Opening-day registration can be helpful when your date or location options are limited.

Does the entire 2027 testing year open in October?

Yes. All January through September 2027 exam dates open during the October registration period, according to the testing location's assigned opening day.

How much does it cost to register for the MCAT in 2027?

The standard registration fee is $360 USD. Approved Fee Assistance Program recipients pay $145 USD. Testing outside the United States, Canada, or U.S. territories adds a $130 international fee.

When is the last day to register for an MCAT date?

For a standard appointment, the deadline is 10 days before the exam, at 11:59 p.m. local test center time, subject to availability. Accommodated testing has a separate scheduling process and earlier scheduling requirements.

How do I know whether my test date gives me enough time?

Start with your diagnostic score, application goals, and realistic weekly study hours. Use practice exams throughout preparation to assess whether your plan is working and whether your scheduled date still fits.

How many times can I take the MCAT?

You can take the MCAT up to three times in one testing year, four times across two consecutive years, and seven times in your lifetime. Voided exams and no-shows count. Read How Many Times Can You Take the MCAT? for retake planning.

Get support building your MCAT plan

Your next step is to take a diagnostic, choose your goal score, and compare your estimated study workload with the time you actually have.

If you'd like guidance turning that information into a study plan, explore The Brem Method's live MCAT Prep Course. We combine live instruction, coaching, and practice-based feedback to help you prepare with a clear plan and ongoing support.

Happy studying!