FAQ for Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program

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About the Program
The Application Process
Current Students

About the Program

Q. What is the UC Berkeley Extension Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program?
A. It is a program developed specifically for college graduates who want to apply to graduate-level health professional schools and need to fulfill prerequisites (career changers) and/or raise their undergraduate grade point average (academic enhancers) before applying.

Q. Who is eligible to apply to the program?
A. College graduates who hold at least a baccalaureate degree and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply. BCPM GPA is also considered for students interested in particular health fields (such as medical, dental, veterinary, physical therapy) as relevant. This program is not approved for international students who hold F-1 visas.

Q. What if my GPA is below 3.0?
A. All applications received are considered individually and holistically by the admissions committee, regardless of whether an applicant meets the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. However, applying to our program with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 puts you at a significant disadvantage. Depending on your professional program of interest, it may not be possible to become academically competitive through our program. For this reason, our admissions committee may feel that your needs would be better served by another academic institution.

Q. What if my degree is from an international institution?
A. If you obtained your undergraduate (or graduate, if applicable) degree from an international institution, please have it professionally evaluated by a service such as WES and have your evaluated transcript sent to PostBacCAS.

Q. Do I need to be a California resident to apply to this program?
A. No, there are no residency requirements to apply. Also, there are no differences in the cost of courses for in-state versus out-of-state residents.

Q. What are the requirements of the program?
A. Our program is designed to be flexible and customizable. Rather than adhering to a prescribed curriculum, each student creates an individualized course plan to meet their specific needs with guidance from an academic adviser. To receive the optional Award of Completion, you must maintain an overall minimum 3.0 GPA, with a grade of C or better in each course. All coursework must be completed within three years of being accepted into the program. The curriculum to obtain an optional Award of Completion comprises four required Health Careers Seminar courses and a varied number of electives (depending on specific courses taken) for a total of 1.9 CEU and 24 semester units. Please see our list of electives for more information on our courses. Additional courses may be added as they are approved. You must take all courses for a letter grade.

Note: The Award of Completion is an optional component of the program.

Q. What is the value of a UC Berkeley Extension program?
A. As the continuing education branch of UC Berkeley, one of the finest public research institutions in the United States, UC Berkeley Extension has an unmatched reputation for excellence. UC Berkeley Extension's campus-approved academic curricula and instructors are widely respected and contribute to the successful completion of a high-caliber course of study.

Q. Is it possible to take online courses and use them to fulfill requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program?
A. For Career Changers, up to 12 online units can be applied toward the 24 units required for the optional Award of Completion. Courses must be from the approved list of electives. As a post-bacc student, you are welcome to take more online courses; however, all lower-division science prerequisite lectures and labs must be taken in-person.

For Academic Enhancers, all 24 units can be completed online for the optional Award of Completion. Although you are welcome to take online courses, some health professional schools may not accept online credit, so we recommend that you check with the specific schools where you intend to apply as you develop your course plan.

Q. Am I still eligible for the program if I do not need to take 24 credits of coursework?
A. Depending on the prerequisites you have already completed, 24 credits may not be necessary to achieve your academic or professional school goals. Although you would not be eligible for the Award of Completion, simply being accepted into the program would still grant access to program benefits, including academic advising.

Q. When are your courses typically offered?
A. We offer all lower-division prerequisite courses and several upper-division courses in the fall and spring semesters, with a more limited selection available in the summer semester. Course offerings can vary by semester and by location. Most classes take place during the evenings, with some courses also offered during weekday afternoons and weekends. This schedule is designed to accommodate working students who may be occupied with other part-time or full-time commitments during the day.

Q. What type of online courses do you offer?
A. We offer three types of online courses:

Live Online: These courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time).
Start Anytime Online: These courses begin when you enroll. From the date of enrollment, you have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course (including the final exam or project).
Fixed-Date Online: These courses have specific start and end dates. Your access to the course content begins on the course start date. You will complete assignments within the specific dates posted in your online classroom and as set by your instructor in the course syllabus.

Learn more about online learning.

Q. How do your Start Anytime online courses work?
A. To make sure you get the most out of your Start Anytime online course, you have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days after you enroll to complete the course. That means the course begins when you enroll. This allows you to participate in instructor-led interaction and get feedback in-between assignments. You complete one module at a time, turn in your assignment, receive feedback from your instructor and then you’re on to the next module. After all your work is submitted and graded, your final exam is released to a proctoring site in your area. Make sure you review your course syllabus, which will have further details that are specific to your course.

Q. Do I have to be accepted into the program to take Extension courses?
A. No; Extension courses are open to the general public, so you do not have to be formally accepted into the program to enroll in our courses.

Q. If I have already taken classes at Extension before applying, will my credits count toward the program requirements?
A. Recent credits from applicable classroom courses will retroactively apply toward the program requirements upon acceptance into the program. However, we do hope that the majority of courses are taken after acceptance into the program in consultation with academic advising.

Q. What are the benefits of enrolling in the program vs. taking classes à la carte?
A. The main difference between being officially accepted into the program and taking classes independently is access to program resources and benefits. These benefits include:

individualized advising, allowing you to tailor a course plan, identify a health program that fits your needs and prepare your application for further study
priority enrollment in high-demand lecture and lab courses
access to a listserv containing leads to local volunteer, work, internship (paid and unpaid) and research opportunities
eligibility to receive a composite letter of recommendation written by our program director that combines evaluations from at least four instructors you have taken classes with at Extension. It can be used as one science letter of recommendation.

Q. Does this program have any linkages with health profession programs such as medical schools?
A. No, we do not have official linkages with other programs.

Q. Does this program offer standardized test prep?
A. We currently do not have test prep built into the program for MCAT, DAT, etc. However, we have secured discounted rates on test-prep services (currently ~40-percent off retail).

Q. What is the tuition for the program?
A. We do not have traditional per-semester tuition like many other colleges and universities. There is a $2,000 program fee that must be paid in order to begin the program. This program fee covers the cost of the program's benefits, including the registration and course fees associated with the Health Careers Seminars. Otherwise, students pay on a per-course basis. Many working adults prefer this pay-as-you-go method, limiting the amount of debt incurred.

Q. What is the duration of the program?
A. Academic Enhancers typically spend 1–2 calendar years taking courses, whereas Career Changers typically spend 2–3 calendar years. Depending on your situation (working full time, financial burdens, the number of prerequisite courses you need to take, etc.), this time may increase or decrease. We recommend taking advantage of the fact that the majority of our courses are offered in Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. Once you have completed your coursework, you can continue to utilize program services such as advising, the online bulletin board and the composite letter of recommendation as long as you hold an active status in the program.

Q. How may I obtain additional information regarding this program?
A. If you have any additional questions or would like to learn more about whether this program would be a good fit for you, please email us at extension-prehealth@berkeley.edu. In addition, we offer online information sessions that will give you all the information and allow you to ask staff questions in real time.

The Application Process

Q. How do I apply to the program?
A. All applicants must apply through PostBacCAS. Be sure to add the “UC Berkeley Extension” program to your application.

Items required for a complete application:

Current C.V. or résumé
Any standardized test scores (GRE, MCAT, DAT, PCAT, etc.) if already taken
Three (3) professional letters of recommendation—at least one (1) from an academic reference (i.e., a faculty member from which you earned a letter grade). All letters should be submitted on official letterhead.
Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. International transcripts must be professionally translated. Your baccalaureate degree must be listed on your transcript.
Response to all questions on the “Questions” tab of the application.

Q. I am having problems submitting my application. Who do I contact?
A. Questions regarding the application system (for example, sending transcripts, uploading your C.V., submitting letters) can be directed to PostBacCAS Help Center. Email PostBacCasinfo@liaisoncas.com or call (857) 304-2047.

Q. I graduated years ago and haven't kept in touch with my instructors. Can I have the academic letter of recommendation requirement waived?
A. If you have not taken an academic course in over five years, you may submit a third professional letter of recommendation in place of an academic letter. If you have taken a course in the last five years and would like to request that the academic letter of recommendation requirement be waived for another reason, please send an email explaining your circumstances to extension-prehealth@berkeley.edu.

Q. Who should we not use as a non-academic reference?
A. These references should be professional in nature, as they are not meant to serve as character references. Family members, family friends, personal physicians and religious leaders should be avoided. Work or volunteer supervisors and colleagues are more appropriate choices.

Q. If I apply through PostBacCAS, how will I know if the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program has received my application?
A. You should be able to see the status of your application through the Dashboard in PostBacCAS. Once we receive your verified application, we will change your status to "Application Under Review."

Q. How soon following submission of my credentials will I know the decision on my application?
A. Once your status indicates that your application is under review, you should receive a response within 3–4 weeks.

Q. What are the deadlines for submitting an application?
A. We have a rolling admissions policy, which means that we consider applications every month of the year and that there is no application deadline. However, it is advisable for applicants to submit their application at least two months prior to their intended date of matriculation.

Q. May I apply to the Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program before I complete my undergraduate degree?
A. Yes, completed applications received before an applicant has completed their undergraduate degree may still be reviewed for provisional acceptance. If you are granted provisional acceptance, you will not be fully accepted into the program or have full access to program resources until proof of your degree has been received. This can be sent either as an updated official transcript or an official letter from your institution’s Registrar bearing the notation that you were awarded your degree. Full acceptance to the program is contingent on satisfactory completion of your remaining coursework.

Current Students

Q. Where can I find information about how to enroll in classes?
A. Please visit our Student Services page for more information about how to enroll in classes, order transcripts, and other helpful Extension policies and guidelines.

Q. Where can I find information about financial aid options?
A. Please visit our Financial Assistance page for more information on private student loans and other financial discounts available to Extension students. Please note that Extension is not eligible for federal financial aid.

Q. How do I apply for / obtain a composite letter?
A. Obtaining a composite letter of recommendation is a benefit of being in the post-bacc program, but not an automatic given. The composite letter process begins in January of each year. An announcement will be sent to all active Post-Bacc students through the UNEX 1247 Canvas page. If you plan on applying to your intended health profession schools during that year's cycle, you must first submit the Intent to Apply form—the link will be in the announcement. Then consult the "Composite Letter Procedure" document found in Canvas to confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements to request and obtain a letter. This procedure document also outlines all of the required documents and their deadlines that need to be submitted.

Q. Can I take a break from coursework and remain an active member of the program?
A. Students often take a semester break in order to study and take their entrance exam (MCAT, DAT, GRE, etc.) as studying for these exams can be quite time intensive. If you would like to take a break from coursework, we request that you communicate that with the program staff beforehand. If you do not enroll in classes for more than two consecutive semesters, you risk being reclassified as inactive and removed from the program.

Q. How do I request an Award of Completion?
A. Once you have completed the program requirements (Health Careers Seminar I and II and 24 elective units), please email extension-prehealth@berkeley.edu to check on your award status. Your Award of Completion will be issued via mail.

Q. Does requesting my Award mean I have to exit the program? Will I still have access to program resources?
A. Obtaining your Award of Completion does not mean you must exit the program or are done with the program. You are welcome to continue taking classes beyond the 24-unit elective minimum, and many of our students do so. Even if you have completed the requirements for the award, we consider you a post-bacc student until you matriculate. So you will continue to have access to program resources as long as you have an active status in the program.