Health Professions Acronyms

AACOM - American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

AACOMAS - American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service

AACPM - American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine

AACPMAS - American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service

AAMC - Association of American Medical Colleges (allopathic)

ADEA - American Dental Education Association

AMCAS - American Medical College Application Service

AOA - American Osteopathic Association

ASCO - Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry

BCPM - Biology, chemistry, physics & math GPA

COMLEX - Comprehensive Osteopathic Licensure Exam

DAT - Dental Admission Test

DPT - Doctor of Physical Therapy

EDP - Early Decision Program

FAP - Fee Assistance Program through the AAMC

GRE - Graduate Record Exam

MCAT - Medical College Admissions Test

BS - Biological Sciences

PS - Physical Sciences

VR - Verbal Reasoning

MEDPREP - Medical Dental Education Preparatory Programs for Disadvantaged Students

MPH - Master of Public Health

MSAR - Medical School Admissions Requirements (allopathic only)

MSTP - Medical Scientist Training Program-NIH & other funding for MD/PhD programs

NAAHP - National Association for Advisors of the Health Professions

NP - Nurse Practitioner

NRMP - US National Resident Matching Program

OAT - Optometry Admission Test

OT - Occupational Therapy

PA - Physician Assistant

PBL - Problem based learning (small group learning)

PCAT - Pharmacy College Admission Test

SOPHAS - Schools of Public Health Application Service

TMDSAS - Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service

URM - underrepresented in medicine, general term for disadvantaged people and minorities other than Asian minorities

USMLE - US Medical Licensing Exam (allopathic), commonly called "the boards"
Step 1 tests basic sciences, Step 2 tests clinical sciences

VMCAS - Veterinary Medical College Application Service