Overview
The University of Washington School of Medicine (UW SOM) MD program is designed to be completed in four years. Medical students may require additional time to finish the program due to academic challenges, medical or personal circumstances, participation in extended scholarly or research activities, or enrollment in joint combined degree program.
Purpose and Scope
This policy defines the maximum allowable time for a medical student enrolled in the UW SOM MD program to complete all requirements for the MD degree. The policy applies to all UW SOM medical students, including those admitted to the Medical Student Training Program (MD-PhD) or in the OMS-MD program.
Policy Statement
MD degree: Medical students enrolled in the 4-year UW SOM MD program must complete all academic and graduation requirements for the MD degree, including successfully passing USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams, within seven years from the date of matriculation.
MD-PhD degrees: Medical students enrolled in the Medical Student Training Program must complete all academic and graduation requirements for the MD and PhD degrees, including successfully passing USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams, within eleven years from the date of matriculation.
OMS-MD degrees: Student enrolled in the OMS-MD program must complete all the academic and graduation requirements for the MD degree, including successfully passing USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 exams, within 3 years of entering the MD program.
Procedure:
- For MD and MD-PhD students: The time to degree clock begins on the student’s initial day of matriculation and continues without interruption. Once begun, a student’s clock will not be paused or reset for remediation.
- For OMS-MD students: The time to degree clock begins in January upon enrollment in the Consolidation course of the MD program and runs continuously without interruption.
- Approved leaves of absence are included in the maximum time to degree unless for military activation or protected service (Public Law 117-328).
- Students who are unable to complete all their degree requirements within the maximum number of years for the enrolled program will be automatically recommended for dismissal by the Student Progress Committee.
Effective: Current
Last updated: April 14, 2026
Policy Contact: UW School of Medicine, Curriculum Office, somgov@uw.edu; Education Quality Improvement Office, eqi@uw.edu