Most medical and health profession schools will accept some Advanced Placement credit on a case-by-case basis. Students often gain more knowledge and stronger background for the MCAT and other professional school tests by taking science courses on the IU campus, even though they may have AP or test credit for the courses.
Following are guidelines for various health profession schools. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
Medical School:
Because medical schools place such emphasis on the MCAT and overall academic record (science and cumulative GPA), in practice most will accept AP credit if an applicant’s MCAT and GPA’s are strong. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
IU School of Medicine will accept AP credit and makes no specific restriction on acceptance of it, although they encourage students not to rely heavily or solely on AP credit for completing their medical school admissions requirements.
That said, we encourage students to consider taking courses such as BIOL-L 112 or CHEM-C 117/127 at IUB, to get a better background for future coursework and the MCAT, although it is the student’s choice.
Students sometimes come to the Health Professions and Prelaw Center and say their advisor told them they “have to” take a course even though they already have credit for it (we understand this may not have been what the advisor said!). This leads to awkward conversations in which HPPLC advisors have to explain what the advisor may have intended to communicate.
When advising students we recommend that advisors not say:
“Medical schools do not like to see AP credit when you apply.”
[This statement makes too many assumptions about individual subjective reactions of admissions officials. In reality, most medical school admissions officials do not care if a student who has a strong MCAT and strong academic record took a few AP courses.]
Instead, advisors could say:
“Most medical schools will accept some Advanced Placement credit. You can check the policies of individual schools where you plan to apply.”
“We recommend students consider taking introductory courses such as BIOL-L 112 or CHEM-C 117/127 at IU Bloomington to gain stronger preparation for the MCAT and for further science coursework.”
“Students report to us that courses such as BIOL-112 and CHEM-C 117/127 cover material much more in-depth than their AP courses did.”
Dentistry: IU School of Dentistry has stated they will not accept AP or test credit to meet science requirements. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
Occupational Therapy: The IU Occupational Therapy program will accept AP credit that appears on a college transcript and makes no specific restrictions on it. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
Optometry: IU School of Optometry will accept up to 10 credits of AP credit that appears on a college transcript. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
Pharmacy: Purdue University College of Pharmacy will accept AP credit that appears on a college transcript and makes no specific restrictions on it. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
Physical Therapy: The IU Physical Therapy program will accept AP credit that appears on a college transcript and makes no specific restrictions on it. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
Physician Assistant: The IU Physician Assistant Program will accept AP credit that appears on a college transcript and makes no specific restrictions on it. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
Veterinary Medicine: Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine will accept AP credit that appears on a college transcript and makes no specific restrictions on it. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in March 2020, medical and health profession schools nationally set policies to liberally accept online coursework. We now have a fluid situation in which some health professions schools are restricting acceptance of online coursework, particularly in the sciences.
Following are guidelines for various health profession schools. Students are advised to check the policies of specific schools where they plan to apply.
Medical: IU School of Medicine continues to accept online coursework, including to meet science requirements, although they state “preference is for students to complete science prerequisite courses in classroom settings.” They have stated they have no plans to change these policies. Some other medical schools now will not accept online coursework; most medical schools state they will accept online coursework although preference would be for the preparation obtained through in-person coursework. Students enrolling in online courses should check the policies of the schools where they plan to apply.
Dentistry: IU School of Dentistry has stated they will no longer accept online coursework to meet science requirements. However, online courses taken between spring 2020 and fall 2021 will be accepted, and any online coursework taken between spring 2022 and spring 2023 will be reviewed and may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Students enrolling in online courses should check the policies of the other schools where they plan to apply.
Occupational Therapy: Online courses are accepted by the IU Occupational Therapy program. Students enrolling in online courses should check the policies of the other schools where they plan to apply.
Optometry: IU School of Optometry has stated they will not accept online coursework to meet requirements in biology, chemistry, or physics. As of 9/11/2023 however they have stated they will grandfather coursework for students who have already enrolled in online science coursework through fall 2023; they have stated they will not accept any online coursework in biology, chemistry, or physics that is taken spring 2024 or later. Students enrolling in online courses should check the policies of the other schools where they plan to apply.
Pharmacy: Online lecture courses are accepted by Purdue College of Pharmacy; labs must be in person. Students enrolling in online courses should check the policies of the other schools where they plan to apply.
Physical Therapy: Online courses are accepted by the IU Physical Therapy program. Students enrolling in online courses should check the policies of the other schools where they plan to apply.
Physician Assistant: Online courses are accepted by the IU Physician Assistant program, though in-person labs are recommended. Students enrolling in online courses should check the policies of the other schools where they plan to apply.
Veterinary Medicine: Online lecture courses are accepted by the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine; labs must be in person. Students enrolling in online courses should check the policies of the other schools where they plan to apply.
The College of Arts + Sciences