Admissions Requirements

Previous Academic Education

Most students who apply to medical school have a bachelor’s degree. There are a few exceptions for students in special programs that have prior arrangements with medical schools, or where a student meets the school’s admissions requirements by completing the prerequisite coursework without obtaining an undergraduate degree. Some applicants have earned a master’s degree or doctorate before applying to osteopathic medical school.

Premedical coursework varies at each college but generally requires at least:

• One year of biology
• One year of physics
• One year of English composition
• Two years of chemistry

Review the individual college pages in the Choose DO Explorer for specific coursework requirements at each college. For specific, detailed information on post-baccalaureate and other pre-medical programs visit our Post-baccalaureate Premedical Programs page. 

Criminal Background Checks

Some states require criminal background checks for all medical students. Additionally, affiliated hospitals and clinical institutions of many medical schools have policies requiring criminal background checks for medical students completing clinical rotations at their facilities. Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs mandates that all medical students involved in patient care at its hospitals undergo criminal background checks.

The movement toward criminal background checks across the health professions is based in large part on strengthening the public’s trust in the medical profession. Criminal background checks also enhance the safety and well-being of patients, aid in the applicants’ and enrolled medical students’ ability to eventually become licensed as physicians and minimize the liability of medical schools and their affiliated clinical facilities.

All osteopathic medical schools require criminal background checks for all matriculating students and prior to the start of clinical rotations, or at some other specified time. It is your responsibility to become aware and informed of what will be required of you during the application process. Many colleges and clinical rotation sites require drug testing, either as a condition of matriculation or at some other specified time.

When an individual applies through AACOMAS, the applicant will be asked to disclose information regarding prior criminal offenses. Failure to accurately and truthfully disclose such offenses on the AACOMAS application may result in an offer of admission being rescinded or, if the omission is discovered after enrollment in medical school, in dismissal.

Letters of Recommendation

All medical schools require letters of evaluation/recommendation. Letters may be submitted electronically through the AACOMAS application or directly to the schools using alternative services indicated by each school in the college information section of this book. Alternative services may include, but are not limited to:

• Interfolio
• VirtualEvals
• U.S. Mail

Many programs have strict guidelines for submitting letters and requirements vary from school to school. Be sure to check with each osteopathic medical college before submitting letters of recommendation. For more information about submitting letters directly through AACOMAS, please refer to the AACOMAS Help Center.

In-State vs. Out-of-State

Many public osteopathic medical schools are mandated by state regulation to admit a certain percentage of in-state residents to each entering class. Contact the colleges you are considering for more information.