MCAT 2026: 30 Test Dates, New Feb 13 Sitting, and Quebec Cut

The AAMC has locked in the MCAT 2026 test dates, and pre-meds have three big shifts to digest before summer registration windows tighten. The 2026 calendar runs from January through September 12, 2026, with roughly 30 sittings across the year and a first-ever February 13 test date squeezed between the January cluster and the March window. Meanwhile, Quebec is off the map: the AAMC will not administer the MCAT anywhere in the province in 2026, citing Quebec's Bill 96 French-language law. Faculty advisors are already fielding questions from Montreal and Sherbrooke students about cross-border logistics. Below is what changed, what it costs, and how to plan around it.

What the MCAT 2026 test dates actually look like

The AAMC published the 2026 MCAT calendar last fall, with U.S. registration windows opening in three regional waves on October 21-23, 2025. The final schedule lists around 30 U.S. test dates, with four sittings in January, one in February, and heavy volume from April through early September. The last sitting of the cycle is September 12, 2026. Every exam starts at 8:00 a.m. local time, and scores drop by 5:00 p.m. ET on the scheduled release date. Scheduling deadlines run until 11:59 p.m. local test-center time on the day of the cutoff, so late-window changes have no grace period.

Why the new February 13 sitting matters

For years, students who missed January had to wait until late March or April to test. The new February 13, 2026 sitting closes that seven-week gap and gives applicants an extra prep runway without pushing into the traditional spring rush. Faculty advisors have flagged it as a strong option for gap-year candidates finishing content review in late fall and for retakers who want one more content pass after a disappointing January score. Only one date sits in February, though, so seats are expected to fill fast. If you are targeting Feb 13, lock the registration before December scheduling deadlines close for that window.

Quebec is out: what Bill 96 changed

The AAMC confirmed in mid-2024 that it would stop offering the MCAT anywhere in Quebec because the exam is delivered only in English, and Bill 96 requires most in-province business services to operate in French. That policy carries into the 2026 MCAT test dates: no Montreal, no Quebec City, no Sherbrooke seats. Quebec-based pre-meds must now travel to Ontario sites like Ottawa, Toronto, or Burlington, or cross into upstate New York and Vermont. The AAMC has said it will monitor Ontario capacity and add extra dates if displaced Quebec demand overwhelms the border sites.

Costs, FAP, and the money math

The base MCAT registration fee for 2026 sits at $355 in the standard Gold Zone window, per AAMC's published fee schedule. Students approved for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) pay $145 instead, a $210 discount per sitting, and also get the full AAMC Official Prep Bundle worth roughly $390 for free. FAP eligibility runs off 2025 household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty line for the applicant's family size. The 2026 FAP application opened February 2, 2026, and closes in December 2026. Benefits are not retroactive, so applying before you register is critical.

How Quebec students should plan travel and testing

Cross-border testing is not a one-day trip. Ottawa is the closest option for Montreal-based students at about a two-hour drive, but Toronto and Burlington add hotel nights and time zone considerations for a 6:30 a.m. check-in. Advisors recommend booking the exam seat first, then the hotel, then a refundable train or flight, because seat cancellations still trigger AAMC's tiered refund schedule. Students crossing into the U.S. should confirm study permits and I-94 status well ahead of the test week to avoid border delays on exam morning.

Key Takeaways

• The AAMC MCAT calendar 2026 runs January through September 12 with roughly 30 U.S. sittings and one February 13 date.
• February 13, 2026 is a new sitting that closes the old January-to-March gap and will fill quickly.
• Quebec has no MCAT seats in 2026 due to Bill 96; students must test in Ontario or the U.S.
• Standard fee is $355; FAP-approved students pay $145 and receive the AAMC Official Prep Bundle free.
• FAP is not retroactive, so apply before you register for the MCAT.

What's Next

Registration is currently open for all 2026 MCAT test dates through the AAMC MCAT Registration System. Quebec-based applicants should book Ontario or U.S. seats now before the AAMC adds any overflow dates, since backfill announcements typically come with short notice. Watch the AAMC's U.S. and Canadian MCAT calendar pages for scheduling deadline reminders, and check the Fee Assistance Program page if your 2025 household income may qualify. September 12, 2026 remains the last chance to test for the 2027 application cycle.