Georgia is home to two prestigious public medical schools: the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Augusta University (AU) and the upcoming University of Georgia School of Medicine in Athens. These institutions are integral to the state's healthcare system in providing top-tier education and training to future physicians.
The University System of Georgia (USG) plays a crucial role in developing a robust workforce of physicians who can meet the medical needs of the state. By offering comprehensive medical education programs, fostering research and innovation and promoting community engagement, these universities work to ensure graduates are well-prepared to address the diverse healthcare challenges faced by Georgians.
Become a Physician
Complete an undergraduate degree: Students start by earning a bachelor's degree, typically in a science-related field like biology or chemistry. This usually takes about four years.
Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): During undergraduate studies, students who plan to apply to medical school need to prepare for and take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). This standardized exam assesses their readiness for medical school. The test focuses on critical thinking and reasoning skills; knowledge of behavioral, social and natural sciences; and chemical and physical foundations of biological systems.
Attend medical school (known as UME, or Undergraduate Medical Education): After passing the MCAT, students can apply to medical schools. USG has two medical schools: the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and the upcoming University of Georgia School of Medicine in Athens, which has been granted Candidate Status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and is undergoing formal accreditation review. Medical school typically lasts four years and includes both classroom education and clinical experience.
Match to a residency program: This process pairs medical school graduates with residency programs based on the student’s preferences and ranking. “Matching” is a process in which a medical student submits applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), completes an interview process and is ranked against other medical students for Graduate Medical Education residency positions. Students are matched to their program based on this ranking process.
Complete a residency program (known as GME, or Graduate Medical Education): After graduating from medical school, the graduate enters a residency program based on the matching process. Residency programs provide hands-on training in a clinical setting and can last between three to seven years, depending on the specialty.
Pursue a fellowship (optional): A medical fellowship is additional training in subspecialties. This training may take an additional 1-3 years, depending on the subspecialty. Examples of a subspecialty include Nephrology, Endocrinology, Cardiology and Oncology.
Obtain a medical license: To practice medicine in Georgia, a medical school graduate must obtain a medical license from the Georgia Composite Medical Board. This involves passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and meeting other state-specific requirements.
The Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Augusta University:
Founded in 1828, the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) is the oldest public medical school in Georgia. As the only public medical school with an academic medical center, Wellstar MCG Health, MCG offers students access to 23 clinical and six basic science departments, 51 ACGME-accredited residency programs, and seven research centers—providing a robust academic and clinical environment from day one.
The educational experience is anchored by the main campus in Augusta and supported by a statewide network that includes two four-year campuses in Savannah and Athens plus regional clinical campuses in Albany, Brunswick, Rome/Dalton, and Wellstar-Kennestone in Atlanta. This model allows students to train in diverse healthcare settings—from large academic hospitals to rural community practices—preparing them to meet the needs of patients across the state. Given the continued demand for doctors in Georgia, our 4-year campus in Athens, in partnership with the University of Georgia (AU/UGA Partnership) will transition to an independent school of medicine at UGA over the next few years (see UGA school of medicine below).
MCG’s commitment to educational excellence is reflected in its student outcomes: consistently strong USMLE performance, a residency match rate above the national average, and successful placements in competitive residency training programs across Georgia and the nation.
Central to this mission is MCG’s 3+ curriculum—an approach that ensures students are practice-ready while offering flexibility to customize their education to fit their career goals. With a class size of 304 students—making it the fourth largest in the nation—MCG offers a dynamic learning environment supported by innovative pathways in primary care, advanced residency preparation, research, and dual-degree programs.
Locations: Albany, Athens, Augusta, Brunswick, Dalton/Rome, Savannah, Wellstar-Kennestone
Admission Criteria: https://www.augusta.edu/mcg/admissions/application-procedures.php
MCG’s 3+ program provides students with multiple fourth-year options designed to enhance their careers and/or facilitate UME-GME transitioning:
Georgia PGY-1 Pathway:
In this pathway, students earn the MD degree in three years by taking the three-year core curriculum uninterrupted. Then, they immediately enter an affiliated primary care residency program, thus progressing directly to the first year of residency (PGY-1). Students apply for this pathway after enrolling at MCG and have two options for the PGY-1 Pathway. The first option, Peach State Scholars, is scholarship-supported in one of seven primary care specialties (emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery). Two years of scholarship carry a requirement for two years of practice in a medically underserved community in Georgia after residency. The second option is not scholarship-supported and is available for students choosing to do clerkship and residency in internal medicine, family medicine or psychiatry at MCG's Northwest or Southwest Regional Clinical Campuses.
Dual-Degree Pathway:
Students apply to this pathway after enrolling at MCG and can choose from the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Health (MPH), or Master of Clinical and Translational Science (MCTS) degree offered in collaboration with other colleges at Augusta University. Students complete the MD and master's degree, which requires no additional tuition, in four years by arranging their clerkship and enrichment MD courses to accommodate overlaying the master's coursework.
Advanced Residency Preparation Pathway:
Students complete most of the core MD curriculum in the first three years. In the fourth year, the enrichment phase includes electives that students take in their chosen specialty to enhance their readiness for residency. Most students complete the MD degree under this pathway.
Advanced Research Pathway:
All MCG students avail themselves of diverse research opportunities beginning early in the curriculum through the scholarly project graduation requirement. Students interested in a more robust research experience can complete most of the core MD curriculum in three years and add up to five consecutive months of research during the enrichment phase in year four.
University of Georgia School of Medicine:
As a top 20 public university with a thriving research enterprise and vast public service network, the University of Georgia (UGA) is well positioned to produce more highly trained physicians, alleviate physician shortages and improve the state's ability to provide quality healthcare for its citizens.
With USG Board of Regents approval, UGA is now establishing a new independent School of Medicine in Athens, building on the success of an existing Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership, which has been educating physicians in Athens since 2010. The School of Medicine will be located on UGA's Health Sciences Campus in Athens, home to UGA's College of Public Health and the UA/UGA Medical Partnership. The Medical Partnership currently enrolls 60 students per class, but a $100 million new medical school building currently under construction will enable the UGA School of Medicine to grow to 120 students per class in the future.