15+ Medical Schools That Don’t Require MCAT in Canada 2023

Medical Schools That Don’t Require MCAT in Canada: Are you looking for Canadian med schools that are not requiring MCAT? or you are asking the same question everyone is asking “Is it hard to get into Canadian medical schools?“

or perhaps, have you written the MCAT Exam many times over and you don’t seem to pass it?

Are you among the prospective medical students who want to skip the MCAT exam because you heard it’s pretty difficult to pass?

If you’re among the categories above then know that I understand your stand for seeking medical schools that are not requiring the MCAT.

MCAT is one of the exams most med schools require for admission. 

Due to the importance of the MCAT exam, it is set in such a way that it’s usually not easy to pass on the first sitting. 

On average, 24% of all test takers write the MCAT more than once all in a bid to improve their scores.

The rate of failure in the MCAT exam has made a lot of students look out for medical schools that don’t require MCAT test scores.

So if you’re trying to figure out how to get into medical school with a low MCAT or skip the process entirely, you just got lucky.

The good news is there are such med schools in Canada. 

In Canada, there are medical schools that don’t require you to write the MCAT Exam.

Although few, they sure exist!!!

Here in this guide, we have done our research to come up with a list of Canadian medical schools that don’t require MCAT as part of the admission application.

We will let you know of the other requirements that will stand in for the MCAT Test as well as other admission requirements.

Ready?

Welcome Aboard Scholar!!!

What Is MCAT?

MCAT as it’s popularly known is the acronym for the Medical College Admission Test.

The MCAT test is a computerized standardized examination for prospective medical students who want to enter med school.

Although it’s a test for all prospective medical students, not all countries require prospective medical students to write the MCAT Test as a requirement for med school.

The MCAT test is only required in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and Caribbean Islands. 

Most people often wonder why they have to write the MCAT exam since they have already passed into medical school.

Basically, the MCAT exam is there to assess problem-solving, critical thinking, written analysis, and knowledge of scientific concepts and principles of all applicants.

It is used to determine how a prospective medical student will perform in medical school.

That makes it very important in the countries it is a requirement.

Although it plays an important role in the school’s decision, as it is supposed to show a candidate’s competence in important subjects there are ways to get a medical degree without passing the MCAT!

It may come as a surprise, but some medical schools in Canada have unique programs that don’t require MCAT scores. 

These specialized programs allow you to bypass the traditional application process. So you don’t need to pass the MCAT!

Who Can Take the MCAT Exam And When?

As we have pointed out earlier, the Medical College Admission Test is only open to prospective medical students.

If you have plans to enroll in Canadian medical schools that require an MCAT score, then you need to write the MCAT test but if you don’t need it why write it.

Usually, the MCAT exam is o from January through September.

In a year, there are about 25 MCAT test dates that you can choose from.

Although the MCAT exam runs almost all through the year, we often recommend that you take the MCAT as early in the year as possible.

This is so you can submit it alongside your application such as the AMCAS application submissions which begin in early June.

Is the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Difficult?

I wouldn’t want to be among the divide that will let you casually work into the MCAT test center thinking it’s an easy breezy.

Nope, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is difficult.

It’s not your regular kind of classroom test.

Most students often underestimate the difficulty of the MCAT. 

Assuming that because you are used to performing well on your college or university tests you will excel in MCAT naturally is a mirage.

MCAT is no pop quiz and it is not a pick and tick test either.

From what we do know about the Medical College Admission Test, the MCAT test takes countless hours of review and practice to come out in flying colors. 

By preparation, AAMC recorded that in the last 3-5 years, over 85% of MCAT exam writers took the MCAT after completing courses in biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics.

Also, half of the number above completed a commercial, university, or medical school preparation course.

Even with this heavy preparation, a quarter of 185,000 students who wrote the MCAT decided to take the test again.

Why?

Chances are they did not meet up with the required score.

On the other hand, some had hopes of scoring better when they wrote the exam the second time. 

Is the Medical College Admission Test really that difficult?

I guess you know the answer. The MCAT exam is very difficult but not impossible to excel in.

In fact, there are many people who pass the exam each year, all you need is an expert’s advice, dedicated preparation, and study and you will excel.

Or you can skip the entire process by applying to medical schools in Canada that don’t require MCAT.

Are There Medical Schools That Don’t Require MCAT in Canada?

Well, the fact is, if there are no medical schools not requiring MCAT in Canada, we wouldn’t be writing this piece.

So yes, there are med schools that do not require MCAT in Canada.

However, whether or not a school requires an MCAT score in Canada or not depends on the medical program you are applying for.

Not to worry you will find out more below.

What Are The Medical Programs That Don’t Require MCAT in Canadian Medical Schools?

Although there are medical schools that do not require the MCAT in Canada, not all medical programs qualify for that.

What this means is that you can only apply to some med schools in Canada without MCAT if you’re applying to some medical programs.

Below is a list of programs and medical schools in Canada that don’t require you to have MCAT score before applying;

#1. The BA/MD & BS/MD Programs

If you want to study medicine in any of the Canadian medical schools that don’t require MCAT, you should consider applying for the BA/MD & BS/MD Programs.

What’s that?

BA/MD & BS/MD Programs are joint programs that offer exceptional high school students an opportunity to secure a spot in med school before beginning undergraduate studies. 

With this, they can obtain either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and then proceed into med school to gain a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD). 

While enrolled in the BA/MD & BS/MD Program the prospective medical students will take pre-medical courses to prepare for medical school. 

This educational path lasts four to seven years in total. 

BA/MD and BS/MD programs that don’t require MCAT:

• University at Albany/Upstate Medical University.
• CUNY School of Medicine.
• Drexel University College of Medicine.
• Marshall University Joan C. …
• Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine.
• Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

#2. Flexible Admissions Programs

Another way to get to medical schools in Canada that don’t require MCAT is to apply for flexible admissions programs.

When we talk about flexible admissions programs we refer to programs you can apply to at an early stage in your bachelor’s degree that enrolls you into a medical degree.

Usually, it’s open to second or first-year students.

Flexible admissions programs are offered by a handful of medical schools that do not require an MCAT in Canada. 

#3. Early Assurance Medical School Programs

Early assurance programs allow academically strong undergraduates the opportunity to apply to medical school at the end of the second or start of their third year of undergraduate study.

Exploring this option is another way to enter into med schools in Canada without MCAT.

Keep in mind that the Early Assurance Programs are like the Flexible Admissions Programs; they differ by the year in which undergraduate students can apply.

#4. Medical Health Programs

If you want to attend medical schools that don’t require MCAT Canada, you should consider applying to Medical health programs.

This option is not very common in Canada but it’s one way you can get a medical degree without having to write the MCAT exam.

For the few med schools in Canada that offer the medical health program, it is very competitive.

You need a GPA of 3.7 in mathematics and science to enroll.

#5. Allopathic Medicine

Lastly, if you’re enrolling in Allopathic medical schools in Canada, you should know that they don’t require MCAT.

Medical Schools That Don’t Require MCAT in Canada

Here is a list of some of those med schools in Canada without MCAT;

#1. University of Ottawa

• Location: 75 Laurier Ave. E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada

The MD Program at the University of Ottawa spans 147 weeks of instruction divided into 2 years of pre-clerkship and 2 years of clerkship. 

Once you complete your program, you will receive a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD).

Many people enroll in the University of Ottawa medical school not just because it is one of the schools that don’t require an MCAT score in Canada but because it has a highly-regarded curriculum.

Students who enroll in this college are trained to become leaders in health care delivery by learning through patient contact gained in hospital, community, rural and international settings.

Also, the University of Ottawa has top specialists in Canada and from around the world.

It also gives students access to leading health care settings.

Also, students can learn in Anglophone and Francophone.

In Ottawa, students have the opportunity to pursue both an MD and a PhD over the course of seven years. 

#2. Northern Ontario School of Medicine

• Location: 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada.

The Program curriculum content at Northern Ontario School of Medicine is in six phases.

The first phase will require students to learn about Northern and Rural Health.

This embodies the cultural competence of populations in Northern Ontario, their history of medicine, health care, and challenges.

The second phase covers personal and professional aspects of medical practice, ethics, medico-legal issues, and historical developments.

The 3rd phase embodies social and population health and the 4th stage covers the foundations of medicine.

The 5th stage of the program covers Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics while the 6th phase covers the medical career.

All these you can learn without writing the MCAT exam.

#3. McGill University  

• Location: 3605 Rue de la Montagne, Montréal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada

McGill is one of the globally recognized medical schools in North America that has an international reputation for excellence in teaching, clinical training, and research.

The McGill University Faculty of Medicine offers various medical programs such as the undergraduate program, MDCM medical degree, and the joint program for a combined MD-PhD degree, postgraduate medical education, and continuing professional development.

For you to enroll in McGill University Faculty of medicine your Baccalaureate degree must be completed within Canada.

Just recently McGill’s Faculty of Medicine announced that the MCAT will no longer be a requirement for Canadian applicants.

#4. Université Laval

• Location: Ferdinand Vandry Pavillon, 1050 Av. de la Médecine, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada

The University of Laval Medical School is one of the Canadian medical schools that don’t require MCAT.

This French-language institution focuses on the educational and medical needs of the province. 

Since its inception in 1848, the Université Laval Medical School prides itself on training good medical practitioners.

Usually, the medical program at the University of Laval Medical School lasts four to five years.

However, the downside of applying to the University of Laval Medical School is that the school welcomes more Quebec residents.

MCAT and CASPer tests are not part of the requirements to enroll in the University of Laval Medical School.

#5. Université de Montréal 

• Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada

The University of Montreal Faculty of Medicine is a highly ranked medical school in Canada offering its curriculum primarily in French.

Although a French institution, the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine is an internationally renowned institution.

The Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine has a threefold mission of education, research, and the improvement of health in the areas of clinical sciences, basic sciences, and health sciences.

A third of the physicians in Québec and a large number of health professionals in the province have been trained at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine.

Université de Montréals Faculty of Medicine has an extensive health network that offers health care services.

#6. Université de Sherbrooke

• Location: Sherbrooke and Longueuil, Quebec, Canada

The University of Sherbrooke Medical School is a French-only institution that prides itself on serving the needs of Quebec. 

UdeS Medical School offers a four-year MD program at the University of Sherbrooke Medical School.

Each year the Université de Sherbrooke admits around 199 students.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Universite de Sherbrooke provides ongoing educational opportunities to those students seeking advanced degrees.

Luckily it is one of the Canadian medical schools that don’t require MCAT.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Schools That Don’t Require MCAT Canada

Is it Hard To Get Into Canadian Medical Schools?

Hard is relative but what we do know is that Canadian medical schools are extremely competitive to get into.

From admission requirements to actual admission, it is pretty difficult to get into medical schools in Canada.

However, with the right admission requirements, it’s easy to make a possible candidate.

So focus on getting both a high GPA and a high MCAT.

What GPA is Needed To Enroll In Med Schools in Canada?

The minimum GPA requirement to enroll in medical schools in Canada is 3.2/4.0 for in-province applicants or 3.8/4.0 for out-of-province applicants. 

What is The MCAT Score For Med Schools In Canada?

An MCAT score with a minimum of 128 in the CARS section is required for non-Albertans.

The lowest MCAT score to get is 472 and the highest is 528.

Can You Get Into Medical School With A Low MCAT in Canada?

It is possible to get into medical school with a low MCAT score if you have a high GPA.

But to be on the safe side, get a high MCAT.

A low MCAT score with an average GPA of 3.7 really hurts your chances.

How Can I Bypass The MCAT?

To bypass the MCAT in Canada, you just need to enroll in any of these programs:

• BS/MD 
• Allopathic Medicine
• Medical Health Programs
• Flexible Admissions Programs
• Early Assurance Programs (EAPs) 

Will MCAT be waived?

The pressure for grades need not be one of them. MCAT Tests – All applicants must complete the MCAT as part of the application process. In the event that MCAT testing accessibility is negatively impacted by COVID-19 concerns, we may choose to waive the MCAT requirement and allow applicants to apply without the MCAT.

Can you get into medical school with a low MCAT?

It is possible to get into medical school with a low MCAT score if you have a stellar GPA. … MD programs are highly competitive and require both a high GPA and a high MCAT. This means a low MCAT score with an average GPA of 3.7 really hurts your chances.

What’s the lowest MCAT score accepted?

This means that the lowest possible MCAT score you can get is 472 and the highest is 528. The conversion is administered to ensure scoring fairness to all students taking the MCAT. There are several different test forms in a given year.

Now you see that it’s possible to earn a medical degree in Canada without writing the MCAT exam.

All you have to do is to apply to Canadian medical schools that don’t require MCAT.

Ensure that the medical schools not requiring MCAT in Canada are accredited and approved to offer any of the programs you’re applying to.

That some medical schools don’t require MCAT Canada does not mean it’s an easy ride, prepare, gather the right requirements, and hope for the best.

We wish you immense luck, Scholar!!!

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References

• What medical schools in Canada do not require the MCAT?
• Medical Schools That Don’t Require The MCAT in 2022

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