The United States is not only an economic superpower, but it is also one of the world’s major destinations for higher education. In 2024/25, U.S. colleges and universities hosted 1,177,766 international students. Medicine remains one of the most competitive fields: applicants usually need strong grades, a solid MCAT performance, relevant experiences, and school-specific prerequisite coursework. Reviewing the requirements below can help you prepare a stronger application. In this article, we will be looking at how to study medicine in the United States for international students.
1. What are the requirements to study medicine in the United States?
The primary academic requirement is completion of a four-year degree from an accredited institution. Students do not usually need to major in “pre-med,” but they should complete the prerequisite courses required by each medical school. Requirements vary, though common preparation includes biology, chemistry through organic chemistry, English, and other science or quantitative coursework, depending on the school.
Prerequisites vary by school. For example, the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine lists behavioral science coursework among its prerequisite requirements.
Students also need to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which includes sections on biological and biochemical foundations; chemical and physical foundations; psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior; and critical analysis and reasoning skills.
Apart from these requirements, medical schools may require school-specific documents and interviews. At Duke University School of Medicine, for example, applicants must have a minimum MCAT score of 500, a minimum GPA of 3.0, and four letters of recommendation or one committee letter. Selected applicants are invited to interview.
Many schools also review personal statements, secondary essays, letters of evaluation, and activities such as clinical exposure, volunteering, research, leadership, and community service.
Most U.S. MD-granting medical schools use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Applicants to U.S. osteopathic medical schools generally apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS).
2. Can you study medicine in the United States as an international student?
Yes, but it is uncommon and highly school-specific. In 2025, the AAMC reported that 43 U.S. MD-granting medical schools indicated in MSAR that they accept applications from international applicants. International applicants should confirm each school’s current policy, accepted coursework, financial-aid rules, and visa requirements before applying.
3. What are the components of the medical curriculum in the United States?
Studying medicine in the United States generally requires a four-year undergraduate degree followed by four years of medical school. Students can pursue an allopathic program leading to a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree or an osteopathic program leading to a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
Doctor of Medicine Program
In a traditional four-year MD curriculum, the first two years are largely preclinical and focus on the basic sciences and the foundations of doctoring. Subjects commonly include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, immunology, and related biomedical sciences. Many schools also introduce patient interaction, communication skills, professionalism, and clinical skills early in the curriculum.
At schools such as Harvard Medical School, professional development is built into the student experience through Pathways Professional Development Week and related advising and career-planning activities.
The clinical portion of training traditionally takes place in the last two years, though some schools begin clinical exposure earlier. Students complete supervised rotations in major specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, psychiatry, and other required or elective areas.
The final year often includes advanced clinical electives and sub-internships, in which students take on more responsibility under supervision while preparing for residency.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program
The osteopathic program focuses on whole-person care and includes osteopathic principles and practice, including osteopathic manipulative treatment. DO programs also include the biomedical science and clinical training needed for full physician licensure.
At NSU Florida, for example, the DO degree requires four years of professional study. First-year coursework includes gross anatomy, medical histology, medical biochemistry, medical microbiology, medical physiology, osteopathic principles and practice, and physical diagnosis.
Like MD students, DO students complete clinical rotations in later years. At NSU Florida, a notable part of clinical training is a three-month rotation in a rural setting where many residents have limited access to health care.
Medical Specialist Program
Applicants may also consider a dual MD-PhD pathway. The relevant Duke option is the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), which leads to both MD and PhD degrees and typically takes seven to eight years. Because a significant portion of Duke MSTP funding comes from a National Institutes of Health training grant, applicants must be U.S. citizens or official U.S. permanent residents.
4. How many medical schools are in the United States?
According to the AAMC, its membership includes all 163 U.S. medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which accredits MD-granting programs. In osteopathic medicine, AACOM lists 46 accredited U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine, operating at 73 teaching locations in 36 states.
5. How difficult is it to study medicine in the United States?
The first major hurdle is completing the undergraduate preparation needed for medical school. Premedical requirements can be demanding, and research has found that many students who initially intend to follow a premedical path leave it before applying to medical school.
Once students matriculate into U.S. medical school, however, completion rates are high. A 2025 AMA summary of AAMC data reported that medical school graduation rates exceed 95%, about 96% of nondual-degree MD students graduate within six years, and U.S. medical student attrition is around 3%.
6. What do you need to become a doctor after you study medicine in the United States?
Aspiring physicians must complete medical school, pass the required licensing examinations, complete postgraduate training, and meet the requirements of the state medical board where they plan to practice.
For MD students, the licensing examination sequence is the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Step 1 is usually taken at the end of the second year in LCME-accredited medical schools and is now reported as pass/fail for exams taken on or after January 26, 2022.
Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) is usually taken in the fourth year of medical school and assesses clinical knowledge and the application of medical concepts to patient care.
During the final year of medical school, students also apply for residency, often through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Application materials commonly include a residency application, medical school transcript, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, licensing-exam transcript, and other program-specific documents.
Step 3 is usually taken during the first or second year of postgraduate training. It is a two-day exam that includes multiple-choice questions and computer-based case simulations.
After medical school, graduates enter residency training, which usually lasts three to seven years depending on the specialty. State medical boards generally require at least one year of postgraduate training for a full and unrestricted medical license, and some jurisdictions require more. Board certification is a separate specialty credential that physicians may pursue after completing the required residency or fellowship training and board examinations.
I hope this article was helpful. If you are interested, check the available courses for international students and the USA Scholarships Page!
