The MCAT is offered roughly 30 times per year, spread across nine months from January through September. For 2026, the AAMC has scheduled 31 test dates in the United States. There are no MCAT dates in October, November, or December.
When Test Dates Are Available
The 2026 testing calendar runs from January through September, with dates scattered across every month in that window. The heaviest concentration of dates falls during the spring and summer months, roughly April through August, which aligns with the peak application season for medical schools. January and February tend to have fewer available dates, while the final opportunities each year land in early September.
Not every date is available at every testing center. Smaller or more rural locations may only offer the exam on a handful of those 31 dates, while larger metro areas typically have seats on most or all of them. Seats fill quickly for popular spring and summer dates, so registering early matters.
How Registration Works
The AAMC opens registration in two blocks each year. The first block covers January through June dates, and the second covers July through September. Registration for the earlier block typically opens in the fall of the prior year, while the summer block opens several months later. Each test date has its own registration deadline and a separate deadline for late registration, which carries an additional fee.
You can only hold one MCAT appointment at a time. If you want to register for a second date, you need to either complete, cancel, or void your current appointment first.
Limits on How Many Times You Can Test
Even though the exam is offered 31 times in a year, you cannot sit for all of them. The AAMC enforces strict retake limits:
- Three attempts per testing year. A testing year runs from January through September of the same calendar year.
- Four attempts over two consecutive testing years. So if you test three times in 2026, you can only test once in 2027.
- Seven attempts in your lifetime. This lifetime cap has been in effect since April 2015, and there is no way to petition for additional attempts beyond it.
Voided scores count toward these limits. If you void your exam on test day, meaning you choose not to have it scored, the AAMC still counts it as an attempt.
Testing Outside the United States
The MCAT is also offered at international testing centers, though with fewer dates and locations. For 2026, international sites span countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. Availability varies widely by location. Some international sites offer nearly as many dates as a U.S. center, while others may have fewer than ten dates for the entire year. The testing window still runs January through September, and international test takers pay an additional international testing fee. U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also have their own calendars and are not charged the international fee.
Choosing the Right Test Date
Most applicants pick their MCAT date by working backward from medical school application deadlines. Primary applications typically open in late May or early June, and submitting early in the cycle is a well-known advantage. If you want scores in hand before you submit, testing in March, April, or May is the most common strategy. Scores are released approximately 30 to 35 days after your test date.
Testing in January or February gives you extra buffer time. If your score comes back lower than expected, you still have months to retake before the application cycle heats up. Testing in August or September is possible but risky for the current cycle, since late scores can delay your application at schools that screen for complete files.
If you are planning a retake, keep the two-year rolling limit in mind. Burning through three attempts in one year leaves you with only one attempt the following year, which can create pressure you do not want on test day.