Healthcare education is filled with acronyms, abbreviations, and specialized terminology that can be confusing even for experienced students. This glossary defines the terms used throughout Pathway to Medicine. Use your browser’s search function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to find a specific term quickly.
A
AACOM: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. The national organization representing osteopathic medical schools in the United States.
AACOMAS®: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service. The centralized application system for DO medical schools.
AADSAS: Associated American Dental Schools Application Service. The centralized application system for dental schools.
AAMC®: Association of American Medical Colleges. The organization representing U.S. medical schools, teaching hospitals, and academic societies. Administers the AMCAS® application and the MCAT®.
ACGME: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The body that accredits all U.S. residency and fellowship programs.
ACT®: A standardized college admissions test accepted by most U.S. colleges and universities.
ADN: Associate Degree in Nursing. A 2-year nursing degree that prepares graduates to take the NCLEX-RN®.
AMCAS®: American Medical College Application Service. The centralized application system for MD medical schools.
APA: American Psychological Association. The professional organization for psychologists in the United States.
AP®: Advanced Placement. College-level courses and exams offered during high school through the College Board.
B-C
BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. federal agency that publishes employment and salary data used throughout this site.
BS/MD: Combined baccalaureate-MD program. See our BS/MD programs page.
BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A 4-year nursing degree.
CAPTE: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Accredits DPT programs.
CASPA®: Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants. The centralized application system for PA programs.
CNA: Certified Nursing Assistant. An entry-level healthcare role involving direct patient care.
COCA: Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. Accredits DO medical schools.
COMLEX-USA®: Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination. The licensing exam sequence for DOs.
COPPA: Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Federal law protecting online privacy of children under 13.
D-F
DAT®: Dental Admission Test. The standardized admissions exam for dental schools.
DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. A fully licensed physician who graduated from an osteopathic medical school.
DPM: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. A physician specializing in foot, ankle, and lower extremity care.
DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy. The entry-level degree for physical therapy practice.
ECFMG: Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. Certifies international medical graduates for U.S. residency.
EIN: Employer Identification Number. The IRS-assigned tax identification number for organizations. Pathway to Medicine’s EIN is 41-4916973.
EMT: Emergency Medical Technician. A pre-hospital emergency care provider.
EPA: Entrustable Professional Activity. A clinical task that a student can be trusted to perform independently.
FAP: Fee Assistance Program. The AAMC® program that reduces application costs for low-income students.
FSMB: Federation of State Medical Boards. Co-administers the USMLE® with the NBME.
G-L
GPA: Grade Point Average. Calculated differently by AMCAS® (no grade replacement) and AACOMAS® (allows grade replacement).
GRE®: Graduate Record Examination. A standardized test accepted by some medical, PA, and graduate programs.
HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Federal law protecting patient health information privacy.
HOSA: Health Occupations Students of America. A student organization for future health professionals.
HPSP: Health Professions Scholarship Program. Military scholarship for medical, dental, and other health professions students.
HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration. Federal agency focused on healthcare access for underserved populations.
IB: International Baccalaureate. An international educational program offering college-level courses during high school.
IMG: International Medical Graduate. A physician who completed medical school outside the U.S. and Canada.
LCME: Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Accredits MD medical schools in the U.S. and Canada.
M-N
MCAT®: Medical College Admission Test. The standardized admissions exam for U.S. and Canadian medical schools. Score range 472-528, competitive score 510+.
MD: Doctor of Medicine. A physician who graduated from an allopathic medical school.
MPH: Master of Public Health. A graduate degree in public health.
MSTP: Medical Scientist Training Program. NIH-funded MD-PhD programs.
NBME: National Board of Medical Examiners. Co-administers the USMLE® and offers self-assessment exams.
NBOME: National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. Administers COMLEX-USA®.
NCCPA: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Administers the PANCE®.
NCLEX-RN®: National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.
NCSBN: National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Administers the NCLEX®.
NHSC: National Health Service Corps. Provides scholarships and loan repayment for providers in underserved areas.
NP: Nurse Practitioner. An advanced practice registered nurse with prescribing and diagnostic authority.
NPTE®: National Physical Therapy Examination. The licensure exam for physical therapists.
NRMP: National Resident Matching Program. Administers the residency Match.
O-R
OAT®: Optometry Admission Test. The standardized admissions exam for optometry schools.
OMM/OMT: Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine/Treatment. Hands-on diagnostic and treatment techniques taught in DO programs.
OT: Occupational Therapist. A healthcare professional focused on helping patients perform daily activities.
PA: Physician Assistant. A healthcare professional who practices medicine under physician collaboration.
PA-C: Physician Assistant-Certified. The credential held by PAs who have passed the PANCE®.
PANCE®: Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam.
PCAT®: Pharmacy College Admission Test.
PT: Physical Therapist. A healthcare professional specializing in movement, rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal health.
PTCAS: Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service.
PSLF: Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Federal program forgiving student loans after 120 qualifying payments while employed in public service.
RN: Registered Nurse. A licensed nursing professional who has passed the NCLEX-RN®.
S-Z
SAT®: A standardized college admissions test administered by the College Board.
SDOH: Social Determinants of Health. The social, economic, and environmental conditions that affect health outcomes.
SMP: Special Master’s Program. A graduate program designed to demonstrate medical school academic readiness.
SNMA: Student National Medical Association. A national organization supporting Black medical students.
URM: Underrepresented in Medicine. Populations underrepresented in the physician workforce relative to their general population numbers.
USMLE®: United States Medical Licensing Examination. The three-step licensing exam sequence for physicians (Step 1 pass/fail, Step 2 CK scored, Step 3 during residency).
USU: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The military’s medical school in Bethesda, Maryland.
WHO: World Health Organization. The United Nations specialized agency for international health.
This glossary is updated regularly. If you encounter a term on this site that is not defined here, please let us know through the contact form.
References
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). “Glossary.” AAMC, 2025. https://www.aamc.org/. Accessed March 2026.