The Advanced Standing/Transfer application is closed for the 2024-2025 academic year. If there are spots available for the 2025-2026 academic year, we will update this page in Jan. 2025.

Opportunities for students to transfer to our school are limited to positions in the third year that become available due to attrition. Only students who have a compelling reason to transfer are considered for transfer.

Transfer to MD Program

To be given consideration for transfer, students must demonstrate academic achievements and other relevant characteristics comparable to those of the medical students in the class the transferring student would join, including:

• Similar premedical academic achievements including meeting our minimum MCAT score requirement and other minimum requirements at the time of admission to medical school
• Medical school coursework compatible with the coursework of students at the level of the class to be entered

Students who have failed to keep pace with their medical school class, who are not in good standing at their current medical school or who have any academic or nonacademic problem against them will not be given consideration.

Additionally, students must:

1. Be U.S. Citizens or U.S. permanent residents
2. Have attended an LCME accredited allopathic medical school

Note that preference is given to legal residents of Alabama.

Applications

The application for 2024-2025 is now closed. We will post a link for the next cycle, if seats are available, in January 2025. The evaluation of transfer applications begins no later than April 1 of each year.

Completed applications are reviewed by members of the Admissions Committee and must include the following information:

• Advanced Standing/Transfer Application
• Description of the compelling reason for transferring to the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine
• Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Two letters of recommendation from professional school faculty who have taught the applicant in basic sciences or supervised the applicant in clinics
• A Dean’s letter from the applicant’s current medical school which must:
  • State the eligibility of the individual for promotion to the next academic year at the student’s current school
  • Address the academic and non-academic qualification of the individual for the eventual practice of medicine
  • Include specific comments on any infractions of the school's code of ethical and behavioral conduct
• An official copy of the applicant’s USMLE score
  • A passing score on the USMLE Step 1 is required for acceptance and matriculation to the Heersink School of Medicine.
  • Evidence of a passing score and matriculation are required in order to begin any academic activities/clerkships. 
• A $100.00 application fee is required.

Interviews

Students qualifying for consideration will be invited to interview.

• Interviews will be coordinated by the Director of Admissions.
• Applicants not invited to interview receive electronic notification from the Admissions Office.

Acceptance

Final decision for acceptance as an advanced standing/transfer student is made by the Admissions Selection Committee.

• Applicants not accepted will receive written notification from the Admissions Office.
• Accepted applicants will receive written notification from the Admissions Office.
  • Acceptance is contingent on posting a passing score on USMLE Step 1.
  • If applicable, acceptance is contingent upon providing proof of marriage to an Alabama resident and proof of spouse’s full-time employment in the state of Alabama.
  • Students admitted into the third-year class are generally placed at one of the Heersink School of Medicine’s branch campuses.
  • All entering students must pass a criminal background check. The criminal background check will be initiated by Certiphi Screening.
  • The transferring student is responsible for the cost of the criminal background check.

Students admitted into the third-year class are generally placed at one of the Heersink School of Medicine’s branch campuses.

All entering students must pass a criminal background check. The criminal background check will be initiated by Certiphi Screening.

• The transferring student is responsible for the cost of the criminal background check.

Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
 

• Applicants applying to the MSTP for advanced standing/transfer must meet the same criteria for consideration for advanced standing/transfer for the Heersink School of Medicine listed in the previous section as well as those for the MSTP/Graduate School.
• To initiate an application for Advanced Standing/Transfer, qualified applicants must request an application for Advanced Standing/Transfer from the Medical School Admissions Office. Applications are only accepted from January through March 1 each academic year.
  • Completed applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Office and the MSTP Office.
  • Completed applications must include the following information:
    • Official Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
    • Two letters of recommendation from your professional school faculty who have taught you in the basic sciences or supervised you in the clinics
    • An official letter of evaluation from the Dean/Associate Dean for Student Affairs or other appropriate official of the applicant's current school which must:
      • State the eligibility of the individual for promotion to the next academic year at the student’s current school.
      • Address the academic and non-academic qualification of the individual for the eventual practice of medicine
      • Specific comments should be included on any infractions of the school’s code of ethical and behavioral conduct
    • An official copy of the applicant’s USMLE score
      • A passing score on USMLE Step I is required for acceptance and matriculation to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
      • Evidence of a passing score and matriculation are required in order to begin any academic activities/clerkships
    • Applications will not be considered from students who will have started their third year of medical school prior to transfer.
• The Medical School Admissions Office and MSTP both must agree to offer the applicant interviews in order for the applicant to be given further consideration.
  • Interviews will be coordinated and conducted by each office
  • Applicants not invited receive written notification from the Admissions office and MSTP
• In order for an applicant to be accepted the applicant must be acceptable to both the Heersink School of Medicine Admissions Selection Committee and the MSTP.
  • All entering students must pass a criminal background check. The criminal background check will be initiated by Certiphi Screening. The transferring student is responsible for the cost of the criminal background check.

Advanced Standing: Oral Maxillary Facial Surgery (OMFS)

The OMFS Program is in conjunction with the UAB School of Dentistry.

• Applicants complete the Heersink School of Medicine Advanced Standing Application in addition to the ADEA PASS Central Application Service.
• In addition, applicants must submit the following additional supplemental materials (If official documents were submitted to the UAB School of Dentistry, we will accept copies from their records):
  • An official transcript from all colleges and universities attended
  • An official copy of Dental Board Exam Scores
  • A $100.00 application fee
• Applicants must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents
• All accepted applicants go through a Background Check. OMFS applicants are responsible for the cost of the background check.
• OMFS applicants must achieve a passing Step 1 score by matriculation and prior to beginning classes.