The Dr. Dennis J. Patterson
Center for the Health Professions
Professional School Tests
Any pre-health student (somone pursuing a career in health care requiring education and training beyond the undergraduate level) interested in applying to a professional program will need to take a professional school entrance test. These tests include the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Optometry Admissions Test (OAT), Dental Admissions Test (DAT), Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT), and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The exams are a component of an application to a professional school program and often hold as much weight as a student's grade point average. Below you will find links to general information about these tests including registration, cost, guidelines, and exam dates. Follow the links for the brochures to learn more about test content and study tools. Students with further questions can contact the staff in the Patterson Center for the Health Professions (CHP). MCAT MCAT General Information and Registration MCAT Content and Tips Brochure by the CHP OAT General Information and Registration OAT Content and Tips Brochure by the CHP DAT General Information and Registration DAT Content and Tips Brochure by the CHP PCAT General Information and Registration PCAT Content and Tips Brochure by the CHP GRE General Information and Registration GRE Content and Tips Brochure by the CHP Practice tests for the MCAT, DAT, OAT, and GRE are available in the Patterson Center for the Health Professions. Students are welcome to take them during office hours or when tutoring is in session.
The MCAT is computerized test used for osteopathic and allopathic medical school applications. Some veterinary and podiatry schools also allow students to take the MCAT as the professional school test for their program. It is strongly recommended students check with each institution they are applying to in determining which exam to take. The MCAT is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). See the links below for more information.
OAT
The OAT is the computerized professional school test for students applying to optometry school in the United States and the University of Waterloo, Canada. The OAT is sponsored by Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). See the links below for more information.
DAT
The DAT is a computerized professional school test for students applying to dental school programs. The DAT is sponsored by American Dental Association. See the links below for more information.
PCAT
The PCAT is a paper professional school test for students applying to pharmacy school programs. The PCAT is endorsed by American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). See the links below for more information.
GRE
The GRE is a computerized professional or graduate school test for students applying to physian assistant, physical therapy, veterinary medicine, chiropractic medicine, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and other programs. Students should verify with the individual professional schools they are applying to when determining if the GRE is the appropriate test to take as well as if the general GRE is sufficient or if special subject area GRE tests are needed.