Admissions
We're delighted you're considering applying to Touro California's College of Osteopathic Medicine.
We seek applicants just like you who are committed to primary care, complete patient treatment and lifelong community service.
How to Apply
You'll apply to the College of Osteopathic Medicine through the centralized AACOMAS application system. Review our process and requirements before starting your application.
Almost all of our communication with you will be via email; be sure mail from @tu.edu and @touro.edu is not going to your junk/spam folder.
Application Deadline
| Start Date | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| August | Primary: March 15 Supplemental: April 15 |
Application Process
Applicants to the DO program must submit a primary application through AACOMAS, the centralized online application service for U.S. osteopathic medical schools.
If your primary application meets our minimum application requirements, we will invite you to submit a secondary application.
Those selected to complete a secondary application must pay a $100, non-refundable fee. Upon request, applicants who have received an AACOMAS fee waiver will be granted a waiver for the secondary application fee.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis and deadlines are subject to change. For the best chance of admission, please submit your materials as soon as possible. Applicants who have been dismissed from another medical school for professional or academic reasons will not be considered for admission.
What You'll Need to Apply
Below are the requirements and documents you’ll need as part of your application. Be sure to review our technical standards for admission as well. If you’re a transferring student the process and requirements are a little different. Our DO program requires:
Bachelor's Degree and Required Coursework
Bachelor’s degree and required coursework from an institution of higher education accredited by a TUC approved accrediting body (see Institutional Accreditation Requirement below). Specific pre-requisite coursework is listed below. Required degree and coursework must be completed prior to the first day of mandatory orientation.
Minimum GPA
Minimum science and cumulative GPAs of 3.0 or greater. (Successful candidates are typically 3.3 or greater.)
MCAT
A total MCAT score of 500 or better is required. For those applying during the 2024-25 admissions cycle (Class of 2029), only scores earned after January 1, 2021 will be considered.
Letters of Recommendation
You must submit one letter from a pre-professional advisory committee or two letters from biological/physical sciences faculty members who have taught you in class. (Letters from graduate teaching assistants are acceptable.)
A letter from a physician (either DO or MD) is also recommended but is not required.
Touro University California strongly recommends that letters be submitted with the AACOMAS application (using the AACOMAS letter service) or with the supplemental application (via the TUC application system). If necessary, letters may also be submitted directly to the University via Interfolio or from the letter writer. Letters may not be submitted directly from the applicant. Given consistent issues with the interface, TUC does not participate in the Virtual Evals service. Letters from family members will not be considered. Be sure to submit all application materials prior to their respective deadlines! Letters of recommendation are used for admissions purposes only and do not become part of the official academic record.
In addition, we consider several other criteria for evaluating DO candidates, including:
- Academic competence
- Personal/professional achievements
- Demonstrated leadership skills
- Creative abilities
- Experience in health care
- Likelihood to practice in underserved primary care areas
Pre-requisite Course Requirements
Candidates for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program must complete the following courses with a grade of C or higher (C- does not qualify). "Pass" or "Credit" grades satisfy the requirement, as does online coursework from regionally accredited institutions.
| Class | Credits |
|---|---|
| Biology | 8 semester or 12 quarter units, with lab |
| Physics | 8 semester or 12 quarter units, with lab |
| Chemistry Option 1 | Must complete option 1 or 2 |
| General/Inorganic Chemistry | 8 semester or 12 quarter units, with lab |
| Organic Chemistry | 8 semester or 12 quarter units, with lab (may substitute 4 semester units of Biochemistry for 4 semester units of Organic Chemistry) |
| Chemistry Option 2 | Must complete option 1 or 2 |
| General/Inorganic Chemistry | 4 semester or 6 quarter units, with lab |
| Organic Chemistry | 8 semester or 12 quarter units, with lab |
| Biochemistry | 4 semester or 6 quarter units, with lab |
In addition, DO candidates must also complete the following:
- 2 courses of college English
- 2 courses of behavioral science
- 1 course (minimum 4 semester units) of math/computer science
For additional preparation, we also recommend that DO applicants enroll in the following courses:
- Human anatomy
- Human physiology
- Biochemistry
Shadow an Osteopathic Medical Student
The ShaDO Experience has been created and is administered by TUCOM medical students to provide pre-medical students who have an interest in Osteopathic Medicine an opportunity to experience a day in the life of first- or second-year medical students at the Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine.
For one day, you will shadow an osteopathic medical student in their Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) labs and/or their Osteopathic Doctoring (OD) labs and you will be given a brief tour of the campus by the medical student you shadow.
If you are interested in participating, please click on the link below and provide the required information. Space is limited and spots tend to fill quickly. Access to this program is not guaranteed and participating does not grant special consideration for admission into TUCOM. After your information has been received, you will be contacted by a student representative to facilitate scheduling.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credit
We accept advanced placement credit as long as such credit appears on the undergraduate transcript and indicates either specific subject credit (e.g. General Chemistry - 4 units) or specific course credit (e.g. Chem 101 - 4 units). General advanced placement credit without such specifications is not accepted.
Institutional Accreditation Requirement
Touro University California will accept coursework and degrees from institutions accredited by one of the seven institutional accrediting agencies listed below:
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC)
Applicants who have completed degrees and/or coursework outside of the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by a TUC approved agency to verify equivalency to those offered by institutions accredited by one of the accrediting agencies listed above. For a list of TUC approved evaluation agencies, please refer to the Graduates of Foreign Institutions section of this website.
Graduates of Foreign Institutions
Except in cases where the institution is accredited by one of the agencies approved by Touro University California, all coursework completed outside of the United States must be submitted for evaluation using one of the approved evaluation agencies.
Approved Evaluation Agency:
- World Education Services (This is the preferred evaluation agency for Touro University California)
Evaluations must be sent directly from the evaluation service to tuc.admit@touro.edu; evaluations received from applicants will not be processed.
Transcript Evaluations Must Include:
- Course by course evaluation
- Number of semester units each course is worth
- Letter grade for each course
- Cumulative GPA
- Indication the degree earned is equivalent to a degree from a TUC approved accrediting body.
Citizenship Requirement
Individuals who have met all application requirements and permanently reside in the United States at the time of application, inclusive of DACA recipients, are permitted to apply and matriculate at Touro University California. Currently, TUC does not accept international students.
Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid is limited to US Citizens and US Permanent Residents. Candidates applying without US Citizenship or Permanent Residency are strongly encouraged to explore financing options before proceeding with the application process. Additional information may be viewed by visiting the Eligibility Requirements on the Financial Aid page.
Admissions Interview
The Admissions and Standards Committee reviews complete files and extends invitations to interview on a rolling basis. Invitations to interview are sent to those candidates showing the highest potential to perform well at TUCOM as students, and finally as successful physicians. Interviews are conducted in panel format and are typically held from late September through April or early May. Touro University California complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act by providing reasonable accommodations to candidates for admission with known disabilities. To ensure that disabled candidates timely receive all reasonable accommodations necessary for them to participate in the on-campus admissions interview process, Touro University strongly encourages such candidates to contact the Office of Admissions (tuc.admit@touro.edu) at least three (3) days before their scheduled interview.
Post-Interview & Acceptance
The Admissions and Standards Committee typically meets every other week to discuss candidates and make recommendations to the dean. Following the dean's review, decisions are mailed via U.S. Mail shortly thereafter. Candidates may be accepted, waitlisted, or denied.
Accepted candidates must submit a non-refundable acceptance deposit which is typically due within two weeks of the date of acceptance. A refundable tuition deposit is required later in the process. Upon matriculation, both deposits are credited toward tuition.
Multiple Deposit Policy
Applicants to Touro University California (TUC) may also choose to apply to and submit seat deposits for other programs located within TUC or the greater Touro University System (TU). TUC applicants who have deposits at one or more TUC or other TU programs will be given until April 15th (for summer starts) or June 1st (for fall starts) to decide which program they wish to attend and will be required to withdraw from all other TUC/TU programs to which they have deposited. TUC applicants who are accepted and who submit seat deposits after April 15th (for summer starts) or June 1st (for fall starts) will be required to immediately withdraw from any other TUC/TU program(s) to which they have deposited.
Background Checks
Incoming and current students may be required to submit to a background check before and/or during their enrollment at Touro University California. Facts uncovered as a result of a background check which could preclude licensure and/or practice in the profession may impact their ability to begin or continue their education at the University. Details are provided with the letter of acceptance.