About CERT
Apply at VCU Graduate Admissions Request Information
The Pre-medical Graduate Health Sciences Certificate (CERT) program of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine is a one-year in-person, graduate-level program for individuals seeking to enhance their qualifications for admission to competitive professional schools.
Beginning in Fall 2025, CERT students will benefit from a newly updated curriculum. Find out more in the Program Overview below.
Applications for Fall 2025 admission will be accepted Feb. 15 to July 15, 2025. Applications are processed on a rolling basis until the class size limit is reached. Early submission is recommended.
Application instructions
To apply for the CERT program, do one of the following:
Option 1: Visit this link for Liaison PostbacCAS, where you can create an account or login, search for VCU CERT, and submit an application.
Option 2: Click the ‘Apply’ button above and filter your query by:
- Start Term = your choice
- Academic Level = Graduate Certificate
- School/Academic Department and School of Medicine (see example image on right)
Get on Track with a Health Sciences Post-Bac
Come learn about the Post-Bac programs at VCU that can help you on your path to professional school. Get on Track sessions for Spring 2025 will be held on:
- Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 (Zoom)
- Monday, Mar. 17, 2025 (Zoom)
- Monday, Apr. 21, 2025 (Zoom)
- Monday, May. 5, 2025 (in-person only on VCU’s Monroe Park campus; register for time and location)
- Monday, May. 19, 2025 (Zoom)
- Monday, June 16, 2025 (Zoom)
- Monday, July 7, 2025 (Zoom)
Program Overview
The VCU CERT program is purpose-built to specifically address the needs of students who wish to enhance their competitiveness for admission into professional schools, particularly medical (M.D. and D.O.) and dental (D.D.S. and D.M.D.) programs. The CERT program has been effectively training pre-professional students since its inception in 2009. Since 2016, over 170 CERT graduates (and counting!) have successfully matriculated into M.D. programs - more when matriculants into D.O., D.D.S., and other professional programs are counted.
Our newly revised curriculum will continue to offer pre-professional learners the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for medical or dental school curricula by completing rigorous graduate-level coursework in the foundational sciences: Human Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Human Embryology, Histology, Neuroanatomy, Clinical Pharmacology, and Medical Physiology. CERT courses are Directed and taught by faculty who also participate in VCU medical and dental student education, and CERT students are therefore exposed to the teaching styles, exam formats, and test question conventions used in professional schools and standardized admissions tests. Together with the included MCAT/DAT test prep course, the CERT experience has historically provided a robust increase in our graduates’ test scores.
Starting in Fall 2025, we will integrate our ‘whole applicant’ approach to advising and preparation into the formal design of the CERT curriculum. CERT has an established tradition of providing opportunities for students to develop competencies (e.g., effective study skills and efficient time management) that are not only essential for success in the professional school admissions process but also return valuable dividends after matriculation into medical or dental school. The revised CERT curriculum further meets the needs for today’s aspiring pre-professional learner by offering a year-long Professional Skills and Readiness course in which students will:
- Practice professionalism, academic integrity, and ethical conduct.
- Learn and implement proven-effective study strategies and time management skills.
- Engage in team-based and guided inquiry learning.
- Create learning connections across academic disciplines.
- Explore current topics in medicine and dentistry (i.e., use of AI in the classroom and clinic, causes and solutions to rising healthcare costs, and social or structural contributors to healthcare disparities).
- Learn about current biomedical research advances with potential to transform healthcare practice and explore pre-professional and professional student research opportunities.
- Create a personalized professional school application strategy and timeline.
- Practice personal statement writing and participate in mock professional school interviews.
- A full description of the requirements for completion of the Graduate Health Sciences Certificate, listing of required and elective courses, and program- and course-level learning objectives can be found on the VCU Graduate Bulletin
CERT is a two-semester program. Tuition costs are:
| Fall semester: | $14,781.50 |
| Spring semester: | $14,781.50 |
| Total tuition: | $29,563.00 |
Total educational cost, including additional University fees can be estimated using the VCU Graduate tuition Calculator here.- Ensure that you are using the ‘Post-undergraduate calculator’ to estimate fees for Graduate and professional studies
- Select the anticipated semester of matriculation into CERT
- Select program: ‘Certificate – Biomedical Sciences’
- Select appropriate Residency option
- Select Enrollment: Full-time
- Select housing: No housing
- Select meal plan: No meal plan
Guaranteed Interview
Students who successfully complete the CERT program may be eligible to earn a guaranteed interview at the VCU Schools of Medicine (M.D.) or Dentistry (D.D.S.) or the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.).
Advising and Mentorship
Join a supportive environment in which students routinely engage with the program Director, their dedicated faculty Advisor, program staff and alumni, and the VCUHealth provider network to improve their competitiveness for professional school admission.
Tailored Program
The CERT curriculum is designed to help students develop an informed approach to the professional school application/admissions process and to refine time management and study skills that are necessary for success in rigorous professional school curricula.
Resources
Supporting our students is at the core of the School of Medicine's mission. We provide a wide variety of resources to help enhance our graduate students' experience and ensure their safety, as well as resources to support our faculty.
Program Curriculum
Students in the CERT program must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours over two semesters. Alternative plans of study are available with approval of the Program Director. Required and elective course options are listed on the VCU Graduate Bulletin.
CERT courses may be integrated into a non-thesis Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (M.I.S.) plan that can be completed within 3 semesters; The CERT + M.I.S. option requires admission into both CERT and the M.I.S. programs and must be approved by the respective Program Directors prior to the start of study. Please contact us if you are interested in the M.I.S. degree.
CERT graduates are also eligible for admission into one of several thesis-based M.S. degree programs in VCU School of Medicine that provide additional opportunities to engage in biomedical research. Credits earned in the CERT program may be applied toward M.S. degree completion requirements. The combined CERT + M.S. plan of study is typically completed in two academic years.
VCU School of Medicine thesis-based M.S. programs:
Linkage – Guaranteed Interviews
CERT graduates who complete CERT in 2 consecutive semesters with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better and meet MCAT or DAT standardized test score criteria may be eligible to earn a guaranteed interview for admission to the VCU School of Medicine’s M.D. program, VCU School of Dentistry’s D.D.S program, or the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine’s D.O. program.
Why Choose CERT?
- Pre-Dental
- Boost your overall science GPA
- Add a Graduate-level GPA to your ADEA AADSAS report
- Take courses taught by faculty who also instruct VCU dental students
- Improve your DAT score
- Letter of recommendation provided
- Meet VCU School of Dentistry faculty & administrators
- Pre-Medical
- Take courses taught by faculty who also instruct VCU medical students
- Letter of recommendation provided
- Increase foundational science knowledge
- Boost your overall science GPA
- Add a Graduate-level GPA to your AAMC report
- Improve your MCAT score
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Admissions Requirements
Admissions requirements for the Premedical Graduate Certificate Program can be found on the VCU Bulletin:
See detailed admissions requirements in the VCU Bulletin
A standardized test score (GRE, MCAT, or DAT) is required - see the FAQ section for additional information and guidelines. Many factors influence an applicant's competitiveness including GPA, test scores, personal statement, letters of recommendation and resume.
Non-science majors who have not completed the prerequisite coursework for admission to CERT may wish to consider VCU's 'career-changer' Undergraduate Post-Baccalaureate Health Sciences Certificate Program.
To quickly gauge your competitiveness for the CERT program, please fill out a Quick Look form which is a self-reporting form consisted of the applicants’ GPA and MCATs, DATs or GREs. The CERT QuickLook will allow rapid feedback to the applicant but does not replace the formal application to the Graduate School at VCU. Please email the completed Quick Look Review Self Reporting Form to premedcert@vcuhealth.org for informed feedback on your application.
FAQs
The CERT program is exclusively offered in-person. There is no option for online or hybrid attendance. All students would be required to live or commute to Richmond, Virginia for class attendance for either a minimum of one-year or until program completion requirements have been met.
- For fall matriculation, the application will open in January and the deadline is July 15. Due to rolling admissions, the class may fill before application deadlines.
- For spring Matriculation, the application will open in August and the deadline is November 15. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.
- Please be advised that there is a short delay between when the VCU Graduate School receives and processes your application documents and when we can view and review your materials for a decision.
Yes it is included in the tuition, and it is an online course. We are currently using the Kaplan online course.
Every student will receive a letter of recommendation from the program advisor. The CERT program does not write committee letters on behalf of students. Please contact your undergraduate university for any committee letters.
Students who successfully complete CERT in two semesters with a GPA of 3.5 or higher may be eligible to earn a guaranteed interview for admission into the VCU School of Medicine’s M.D. program, VCU School of Dentistry’s D.D.S. program, or Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine’s D.O. program. Qualifying standardized MCAT (508 for VCU, 500 for VCOM) or DAT (20 for VCU) are also required. Guaranteed interviews may be used only once and must be used within two years of CERT program completion.
Typically, CERT students will apply to professional school the following June after completing the program in early May. We encourage students to submit their application early to AADSAS or AMCAS but can take the DAT or MCAT after submitting their primary application. We suggest the latest you take the admissions exam is the end of June.
It is essential that M.D. applicants apply to the VCU School of Medicine through AMCAS early so that the M.D. Admissions Office can review the application and schedule an interview for the reserved interview slots if eligible for a guaranteed interview. Applicants that apply later in the cycle will still get an interview if they meet the requirements but will be in the regular scheduling pool.
Our curriculum very closely mimics the first year of medical school or dental school regarding material and level of rigor. Many of the same professors who teach in the CERT program teach in M1 or D1 courses at VCU. Additionally, many of the professors use active learning methods in the course, which is highly recommended by the LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education).
Yes, the program administrator and coordinators will organize a time for all pre-medical and pre-dental students to hear the respective deans of admissions speak. Additionally, all pre-dental students will have a time where they meet with staff/faculty in the dental admissions office one-on-one for application counseling. Due to the close relationship between the CERT program and VCU Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, our students have the opportunity to contact each dean of admissions to schedule a time to meet and discuss their application.
CERT does not administer any financial aid. All financial aid questions should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid
CERT requires a GRE, MCAT, or DAT score as part of the application, but we do not publish a required minimum score. Competitive applicants generally have GRE scores >50th percentile Verbal & Quantitative scores and Writing ≥ 4.0, MCAT ≥ 502, or DAT ≥ 19. If you have lower scores or are missing a test score, please contact the CERT office at the email address shown at the bottom of this page and/or complete and send us a QuickLook form to start a conversation about whether CERT is the right fit for you.
Testimonials
Eric Lien, CERT ’20; Drexel SOM Class of 2025
The CERT program has allowed me to grow as a person, both academically and professionally. In addition to gaining new study skills, I was given the opportunity to meet and work with a diverse group of people from many different backgrounds. Ultimately, the CERT program allowed me to achieve my goal of matriculating into a medical school.
Dr. Alexander Philip, CERT ’09; VCU SOM Class of 2015
It was an amazing program for me and because of it, I started medical school at VCU and now am blessed to practice emergency medicine in Florida.
I was a poor undergrad student and had mediocre / less than average grades and numbers, but the program really gave me a second chance.
Zachary Morris, CERT ’21; VCU SOM Class of 2026
The CERT program pushed me to my limit and forced me to critically examine my study habits; the program demands excellence and provided me with the challenge I needed. I believe the program was highly reflective of medical school in volume and timeline, and I am confident that I will excel as a medical student having completed this program.
Rachel Fry, CERT ’22; VCU SOM Class of 2027
The CERT program was a great exposure to graduate level coursework. The speed of the program content and the fast turnaround between exams helped me learn how best to stay on top of my studies. Some of my best exam grades came in courses that I had taken that were similar to courses in CERT, such as physiology, biochemistry and anatomy.
Matthew Gunn, CERT ’23; VCOM Class of 2028
The CERT Program taught me how to study more effectively. It offered a second chance to sharpen those habits and prepare me for professional school. I can confidently say that without the CERT program, I would lack the study habits necessary to succeed in medical school.
Postbac Premed Programs: What Advisors Need To Know
VCU CERT Program Director I. Scott Ramsey, Ph.D., along with colleagues J. Barton Gillum, D.Sc., M.H.S., PA-C; Alexandra Tan, Ph.D.; Julie Hall, Ph.D.; and Christian Essman, recently co-authored an article, titled, "Postbac Premed Programs: What Advisors Need To Know." The article, published in the June 2023 edition of The Advisor academic journal, provides key context and defintions, and outlines the value of post-baccalaureate pre-medicine programs for academic advisors.
Office Staff
I. Scott Ramsey, Ph.D.
Jose M. Eltit, Ph.D.
Melissa J. McGinn, Ph.D.
Christina Sheerin, Ph.D.
- Program AdministratorShiloh van der Laan
- Program Coordinator/TutorJay Asawla (CERT ‘24)
- Program Coordinator/TutorElla Callahan (CERT ‘24)
- Program Coordinator/TutorDeZirae Partin (CERT ‘24)
- Program Coordinator/TutorMargaret Ren (CERT ‘24)
Contact Us
Phone
(804) 828-9501
Address
1101 East Marshall St., Sanger Hall 1-055E
Instagram
@vcu_premedcert
Facebook
@VCUPremedCERT