MCAT Test Dates 2026–2027: Registration, Fees, and Deadlines

Picking your MCAT date isn't just logistics — it shapes your entire prep timeline and application strategy. This guide covers the 2026 and 2027 test calendars, how AAMC registration works, what it costs (including the Fee Assistance Program), and the rescheduling and cancellation rules that can save or cost you hundreds of dollars.

2026 and 2027 Test Calendars

The MCAT is offered from January through September each year. There is no testing in October, November, or December.

2026 testing year: January 9 through September 12, with 31 test dates. For the first time, 2026 added a February date (February 13).

2027 testing year: January 15 through September 11, with dates concentrated April through September — the peak season for applicants in the 2027–2028 cycle.

All exams begin at 8:00 a.m. local time unless your test center notes otherwise. Testing is available at certified centers in the U.S., Canada, and select international locations. A few dates each year are offered only at select centers in major metro areas — check the AAMC's official calendar before building your plan around a specific date.

Scores are released roughly 30–35 days after your test date, by 5:00 p.m. ET. Factor this into your application timeline: a June test date means a July score, which still keeps you early in the rolling admissions cycle. An August date pushes your complete application into September — workable, but no longer early.

How Registration Works (2027 Changes)

Registration runs through the AAMC's online MCAT Registration System. For 2027, the AAMC changed the process: all test dates (January through September) open in a single window, staggered by test-center region rather than by test date:

Note: it's the test center's region that determines your day, not where you live. High-demand dates — especially May and June — fill within days at popular centers, so register as soon as your window opens and have backup dates ready.

Registration checklist:

1. Create an AAMC account (do this well before your window opens).
2. Verify your name matches your government-issued photo ID exactly.
3. Have a credit card ready and know your 2–3 preferred dates.
4. You can schedule up to 10 days before a test date, subject to availability.

Fees

The AAMC adjusts fees annually — the 2026 standard fee was $355 — so confirm current numbers on the AAMC site before budgeting. For context on total prep costs beyond the exam fee, see MCAT prep.

Fee Assistance Program (FAP)

If paying for the MCAT is a financial hardship, the AAMC's Fee Assistance Program is genuinely generous — apply before you register. For 2027, FAP reduces the registration fee to $145 and includes:

• Reduced MCAT registration fee
• Free access to the AAMC's official prep materials (including full-length practice exams — a ~$270+ value on its own)
• Reduced AMCAS application fees when you apply

Eligibility is based on household income relative to federal poverty guidelines. Apply early — approval takes time, and you want it in hand before your registration window opens.

Rescheduling and Cancellation: The Fee Schedule

Life happens, and the AAMC charges for changes on a sliding scale. These are the 2026 testing-year rates (the AAMC updates them annually — verify before relying on them):

Deadlines are 11:59 p.m. local test-center time. Inside 10 days you cannot change anything — not the date, not the center, not the name on the registration.

The strategic takeaway: the 60-day mark is your last cheap exit. If your AAMC full-length scores aren't near your target 60 days out, that's the moment to make the call — a $55 reschedule beats a scored 503 you'll have to explain. For how to read your practice scores honestly, see MCAT study schedule 3 month.

FAP recipients pay reduced change fees ($25/$45/$85 across the same windows) and receive reduced refunds ($75/$75/$0).

Retake Limits and Score Reporting

• You may take the MCAT up to 3 times per calendar year, 4 times over two years, and 7 times in a lifetime.
• Every scored attempt is visible to medical schools. There is no score choice.
• You may void your exam at the end of test day — voided scores are never reported, but the attempt counts toward your limits.
• No-shows forfeit the fee and burn an attempt.

Choosing Your Test Date: Strategy

• Applying in the 2027–2028 cycle? January–May dates are ideal: your score arrives before primary applications open, leaving room for a retake without going late.
• Need more prep time? June is the sweet spot — score back in July, still early for rolling admissions.
• July–September dates are for retakes or late deciders. Your application goes complete later, which matters at rolling-admissions schools.
• Avoid registering for a date you can't move. If there's any chance you'll need to push, pick a date with cheaper change fees still available — i.e., don't book inside the 30-day window unless you're certain.

Once your date is locked in, your prep clock starts. Compare the courses that will get you ready in our MCAT prep roundup — including kaplan MCAT review, blueprint MCAT vs princeton review, and uworld MCAT.