College of Medicine

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Premedical Requirements

Prospective medical students must have earned 68 semester hours or the equivalent in an accredited US or Canadian college or university.

  • Biology/lab (8 hours)
  • Inorganic Chemistry/lab (8 hours)
  • Organic Chemistry/lab (8 hours)
  • Physics/lab (8 hours)
  • Math/Statistics (6 hours) - Any college-level math course
  • English (6 hours)
  • Humanities Courses (6 hours) – (includes additional English course work, Languages, Art, Music, History, Philosophy, Religion, etc.)

Also Recommended:

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry (Strongly Suggested for Fall 2019 & 2020 Applicants, will be mandatory for Fall 2021 Applicants)
  • Developmental Biology & Embryology
  • Genetics
  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology

The Medical College Admissions Test

The MCAT is required of all applicants and can be taken at any time, but no later than January of the year that you are seeking admission. Only MCAT scores taken within the last 3 years prior to matriculation will be considered.

For MCAT information, see: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/taking-mcat-exam/

AMCAS and Secondary Applications

For AMCAS information, see: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/applying-medical-school-amcas/

The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application must be used by all prospective applicants to the College of Medicine. The deadline for filing the completed AMCAS application is December 15 of the year immediately preceding the school year in which the applicant expects to enter medical school. Once AMCAS has notified HUCM Admissions that the application has been verified, the College of Medicine will invite, via email, the applicant to submit a secondary application.

Technical Standards of the College of Medicine

A physician must have the knowledge and skills to function effectively in a broad variety of laboratory and clinical situations. Students matriculating in and graduating from Howard University College of Medicine must be able to meet the technical requirements of the academic program and not pose a threat to the well-being of patients or themselves.

The COM faculty has declared that matriculating students and candidates for admission should have the capabilities and skills described below in order to graduate.

The COM requires compliance with these technical standards with or without accommodation. Access the complete Technical Standards of the College of Medicine.

The CASPer Test - Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics 

 
All applicants to the College of Medicine at Howard University are required to complete an online assessment (CASPer), to assist with our selection process. Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility.
 
CASPer is an online test which assesses for non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program, and will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process. 
 
In order to take CASPer, you will be responsible for securing access to a computer with audio capabilities, a webcam, and a reliable internet connection on your selected test date. CASPer can be taken practically anywhere that you can satisfy the aforementioned requirements. No exceptions will be provided for applicants unable to take CASPer online due to being located at sites where internet is not dependable due to technical or political factors.
 
Please go to www.takeCASPer.com to sign up for the American Professional Health Sciences test (CSP10101) and reserve a test using your AMCAS ID Number and a piece of government-issued photo ID. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your CASPer test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. Please use an email address that you check regularly; there may be updates to the test schedule.
 
Please direct any inquiries on the test to support@takecasper.com. Alternatively, you may use the chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of your screen on the takecasper.com website.
 
The CASPer test is comprised of 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time contract. The test typically takes between 75-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for CASPer, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at takeCASPer.com, and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test.
 
CASPer test results are valid for one admissions cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it.
 

Other Admissions Facts

  • Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement and potential as well as appropriate intellectual personal and social traits.
  • Applicants must demonstrate an interest in solving the problems associated with health disparities and should have experience working or volunteering with underserved communities.
  • Applicants should meet the GPA and MCAT scores: Science GPA of 3.0 and a MINIMUM total MCAT 494 (New MCAT).
  • Admission into any of the Dual M.D. degree programs and the regular M.D. degree are highly competitive. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee an interview, nor admission.

If you are accepted to the College of Medicine:

Students who have accepted our offer of admissions are expected to submit medical forms (physical, immunization and history and transcripts [if classes were taken after the AMCAS verification], no later than June 30).

For accepted International Students ONLY, financial information must be submitted no later than June 30.

 

Criminal Background Checks

To maintain the safety and well-being of patients, maintain the ability of accepted applicants and enrolled medical students to become licensed as physicians, and reduce liability concerns affecting medical schools and their affiliated clinical facilities, AAMC recommends a criminal background check for all enrolled medical students.

Students conditionally admitted as incoming freshmen into the Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM) will be subject to a Criminal Background Check (CBC) through the AMCAS facilitated CBC of the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). In order to matriculate into the COM, all new entrants MUST satisfactorily pass the criminal background check. Additionally, a second background check and drug screening will be administered, and must be satisfactorily passed, prior to matriculation into the junior year of study.