After you submit your primary application, the application service must verify your academic record before your application can be considered complete and transmitted to health professional schools.
What Is Verification?
Verification is the process through which the centralized application service (e.g., AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, CASPA, etc.) compares the coursework you entered in your application with your official transcripts. Applicants must submit transcripts from all U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities where they attempted college credit, including U.S. institutions located overseas, as required by the application service.
During verification, the application service reviews your:
- Courses and grades
- Credit hours
- Course classifications
- Calculated GPA using the application service’s standardized methodology
Letters of evaluation are not required for verification to begin or be completed. Letter submission and verification are separate processes.
How Long Does Verification Take?
Verification timelines vary by application service and may increase during peak application periods. Applicants should submit required transcripts and their primary application early to allow sufficient time for processing.
| Application Service | Typical Verification Timeframe |
|---|
| AACOMAS (DO) | 4–6 weeks; up to 8 weeks during peak processing |
| AMCAS (MD) | Up to 6–8 weeks during peak processing |
| AADSAS (Dental) | 4–6 weeks; up to 8 weeks during peak processing |
| CASPA (PA) | 2–4 weeks |
| VMCAS (Veterinary) | Up to several weeks |
| OptomCAS (Optometry) | Up to several weeks |
| TMDSAS | 4–6 weeks |
Plan for Verification Time
Submitting your primary application does not mean it is immediately available to schools. Build verification time into your application timeline and monitor your application service regularly for transcript issues, corrections, or other requirements that could delay processing.
Whenever possible, submit early rather than waiting until a school’s application deadline. A deadline may indicate when an application must be submitted, but schools may have additional requirements regarding when an application must be verified or considered complete.
