The cost of becoming a doctor is enough to give anyone premature ventricular contractions. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) aims to alleviate the cost of applying to medical school with the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP).

Recipients of the FAP are awarded a plethora of benefits and free resources or reduced cost, from access to MCAT prep to medical school application fee waivers. If you’re interested in applying to the FAP, here’s a guide to help you get your application approved while avoiding common mistakes. 

AAMC Fee Assistance Program FAQ

1. Who Can Apply to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program?

The FAP was created to help students who would otherwise be financially unable to take the MCAT exam or apply to medical school. As a result, your household income (and your parents’ if applicable) needs to fall under certain guidelines. The AAMC also requires applicants to have a permanent U.S. address.

2. When Should I Apply to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program?

Fee Assistance Program applications usually close in December and then reopen again in January for the next cycle. (In 2023, they open in February.) You can begin applying to the MCAT Fee Assistance Program as soon as applications are open.

Keep in mind that benefits are not retroactive. If you’re trying to register for the MCAT exam at the reduced FAP fee, then you must have been approved for the FAP before you register for the exam; the same applies for medical school application fee waivers. If you apply to medical school or register for the medical college admission test and then apply for the FAP, you won’t receive a refund of those fees if you end up getting approved for the fee waiver.

3. What Are the AAMC Fee Assistance Benefits?

– The MCAT Official Prep Products Benefit Package (normally $268)
– Reduced MCAT registration fee of $130 (normally $325)
– Access to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) for two years
– AMCAS application fee waiver for up to 20 schools (subject to a one-time submission, approximately $1,000 total)
– Free registration for the AAMC Professional Readiness Exam (normally $100)

4. How Many Times Can I Apply to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program?

You may only apply once per calendar year and receive a maximum of five awards during your lifetime.

5. When Do I Receive My FAP Benefits and When Do They Expire?

You can start using your benefits the same day you are approved for the FAP. Your benefits will expire at the end of the following calendar year. For example, if you submit your Fee Assistance Program application in 2020, then your benefits will expire on December 31, 2021. 

6. What Do I Need to Apply to The FAP?

Plan ahead if you’re applying to the FAP because you will definitely need time to gather all the required documents and information to verify your and your parents’ incomes—unlike other programs, the AAMC Federal Assistance Program requires you to provide your parent’s financial information if you’re under the age of 26. As of January 2022, the AAMC removed the requirement for parental information for those over 26.

Here’s what you need to apply to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program:

– A copy of all applicable IRS Federal Income Tax Forms (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, etc.) for the previous calendar year
– Non-tax filers must provide copies of W-2 or 1099 forms
– Proof of U.S. address
– Consent and Certification Statement – these forms will be generated from the AAMC
– If you received financial aid or scholarships from schools, you must provide a copy of your Financial 
Aid Award Letter, but only the portion of your financial aid awarded for living expenses (room and board, transportation, etc.) will be counted as income. Aid awarded for educational expenses (tuition, fees, and books) are excluded
– A Housing and Food Assistance form if someone helped you with these expenses (for example, if you lived at home with your parents)
– Other documentation that may or may not be applicable to you: Alimony Document, Child Support Document, Financial Gift Letter, Foreign Income Letter, Social Security, etc. The AAMC keeps a full list of current documents

7. How Long Does It Take To Be Approved for AAMC Financial Assistance?

After you submit your application and all your supporting documents for financial assistance, the application process can take up to 10 business days. Then you will either be approved, denied, or notified of missing documents. If you’re denied, you can appeal the decision if you think this decision was made in error. 

8. Does Blueprint MCAT Prep Offer Financial Aid?

The benefits don’t stop at the AAMC! FAP recipients are also eligible to receive financial aid for the Blueprint MCAT Online and Live Online Courses to achieve the best MCAT score possible. Students can also arrange monthly payment plans (via Affirm) to pay for their MCAT official prep while studying.

Applying to the AAMC Fee Assistance Program might seem a little daunting, but if you’re eligible, there’s no harm in trying! And remember if you need free MCAT resources and medical school survival tips, we have tons and you just have to create a free account to access them!