Our rigorous post-baccalaureate certificate program for pre-health students is approved for Federal Financial Aid and provides a structured academic preparation for those planning to apply to health professional programs including medical, dental, veterinary, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistant, and physical therapy, among others. Earned credits are transferable to UC and Cal State University campuses, plus many universities nationwide (some limitations may apply). No academic prerequisites are required for admission.
Learn how this program can help you achieve your pre-health goals in this informative, interactive session that includes an opportunity for general advising.
Meet with a program counselor during our interactive Q&A session and ask detailed questions about the certificate and courses.
To complete this certificate, you must take a minimum of 12 UCLA-equivalent (XL) courses.* Nine of the 12 courses must be chosen from the following four core disciplines (a minimum of one course from each area):
Select your courses from groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 from the course list below.
The remaining three courses can be selected from the four core disciplines as well, or students may choose up to three psychology, sociology, anthropology or language courses (must have XL in the course number), which may be required, or strongly recommended, for admission to many medical and health professional schools. See suggested courses.
GPA Requirement: Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of completion to earn the certificate.
The Pre-Medical and General Science Studies Certificate qualifies for federal student aid.
In order to meet the requirements, students must establish candidacy in the certificate program and be enrolled in required courses for the program for the entire quarter in which you are receiving aid.
Contact: hss@uclaextension.edu or 310-825-7093
Click below to view the required and elective courses, if applicable, for this program.
Whether you are bound for med school or another health profession, choosing the right courses to make sure your program's requirements are covered can be confusing. Click on your specific pre-health track below to see suggested courses. Students who apply to this certificate program are also invited to a program orientation where they will be able to meet with the program’s academic counselor.
Q: WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?
A: UCLA Extension’s Pre-Medical and General Sciences Studies Certificate program provides a structured academic background in basic science preparation for students interested in medical studies or other health-related disciplines. This would include:
The program is designed for individuals returning to school on a part-time or full-time basis. Additionally, this program is a way for students to take the classes they may have missed as undergraduates or to raise their GPAs to make them more attractive candidates to medical school admission boards; thus, this program is well suited for both Career Changers (students with little to no background in sciences) and Academic Enhancers (students who have completed many or most of the science courses prior).
Q: HOW WILL THESE CLASSES IMPACT MY UNDERGRADUATE TRANSCRIPT OR GPA?
A: Please keep in mind that your institution's previous transcript will not be rewritten with the new classes you take at UCLA Extension. Rather, when applying to health schools, you will submit your undergraduate transcript(s) and your UCLA Extension transcript.
Q: DO I NEED TO BE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM OT TAKE CLASSES?
Students do not need to be enrolled in our Certificate Program to enroll in our courses. UCLA Extension is an open-enrollment institution.
Q: IS THIS PROGRAM SUITABLE FOR SCHOOLS/PROGRAMS OTHER THAN MEDICAL, SUCH AS DENTAL, PA, PT, VETERINARY, GRADUATE SCHOOLS, ETC.?
A: Yes. This program was titled a “pre-med” certificate as an “umbrella term,” as we have students taking classes in preparation for various professional schools, and graduate programs in the sciences, so our courses are not limited nor exclusively geared towards pre-medical studies. Nevertheless, if you want to find out more information on required courses for the schools you are looking into, we recommend you contact the admissions department of the school(s) or visit their website for a list of required courses.
Q: WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ENROLLING IN THE CERTIFICATE?
A: Students are given the freedom to either enroll in individual courses or formally enroll in the certificate. Below are some advantages that are only available to certificate students:
Q: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY TO THE PROGRAM?
A: There is no formal application process in terms of “acceptance” into the program. You can choose to enroll in the certificate program or take individual classes as you need them. To enroll in the certificate program, all you need to do is pay the $95.00 candidacy fee below.
This program does not require letters of recommendation, transcripts, a certain GPA, or a personal statement; save that energy for when you apply to your health schools of choice.
This certificate program is a total of 48 quarter units. Estimated tuition per credit hour is $312.50.
All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.
The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities to disclose certain information for any financial aid eligible program that, “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. This information includes program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; on time completion rate; and for the most recent award year: the number of students who have completed the program, the number of students who complete the program within the estimated duration, the job placement rate, and the median Title IV and private loan debt incurred by those who complete the program. For gainful employment information for this program, visit our Financial Aid page.
This certificate is approved for international students (F-1 student visa).
Students participating in courses offered solely by UCLA Extension must meet the English Language Requirements outlined below. Any international student interested in taking classes on UCLA’s main campus must adhere to the English Requirements outlined for UCLA courses.
Acceptable tests and minimum scores
Scores that are equal to or higher than the listed minimum scores from the following tests, taken within the past two years, can satisfy the English proficiency requirement.
While no other type of test score is accepted in general, students who are affected by test center closures may request an exception to submit an alternate test score.
International Baccalaureates (IB) students or students currently enrolled in an academic institution where the primary language of instruction is English may submit an official academic transcript or verification of enrollment from their school as proof of English proficiency.
Learn more:
I graduated from Brown in May 2015 but I was not able to complete all of my requirements for medical school. UCLA Extension has opened that door for me. I knew that I could not afford a traditional post-baccalaureate program and thus, UCLA Extension has been a great opportunity. By allowing me to select only the courses I need, I have been able to save money and also take the necessary steps to get closer to my goals. The small class sizes have allowed me to be more confident to ask for help from my professors and my grades have reflected that.
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