Getting into a healthcare program can be competitive. Schools are looking to admit applicants who can thrive in challenging academic settings and handle the demands of clinical training. If you’re pivoting into healthcare or returning to school after time away, a Pre-Health Certificate can help you stand out. It signals to admissions teams that you’re academically prepared, deeply committed, and ready to take the next step toward a healthcare career.

Prove You’re Ready for Graduate-Level Work

Healthcare programs in nursing, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, and related fields require a strong foundation in the sciences. Many students use a pre-health program to complete or refresh key prerequisites such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, or microbiology.

At the MGH Institute of Health Professions, these courses are taught by experienced faculty who understand what graduate programs expect. You’ll strengthen your transcript and gain the study skills, academic confidence, and mentorship that prepare you for success in graduate school.

“Students come to us with a vision of where they want to go,” says Kim Mace, Program Director of the Pre-Health Certificate program. “Our role is to help them get there. We work to build or rebuild their academic foundation, establish a reasonable plan, and connect them with the resources that make those goals attainable.”

Show Your Commitment to the Field

Completing a pre-health certificate is more than completing prerequisite courses, it’s proof of persistence and purpose. Taking this extra step shows you’re serious about your goals and ready to invest in your future.

Students often find that time in a pre-health program helps confirm their path before applying to a specific discipline. By the time you’re ready to apply, you can articulate exactly why you’re drawn to a particular discipline. You’ll also hve the coursework to show that you have the ability to be academically successful in a healthcare program.  

Strengthen Every Part of Your Application

A pre-health program helps you build a stronger, more complete application package. Advisors work with you to map coursework to your intended graduate program, ensuring you meet prerequisite requirements and demonstrate academic readiness.

You’ll also benefit from personalized support when it comes to requesting letters of recommendation, refining your personal statement, or understanding how admissions committees evaluate candidates. Faculty and staff can help you frame your story effectively by showing not just what you’ve studied, but how those experiences shaped your commitment to healthcare.

The MGH Institute Advantage

As the only degree-granting member of Mass General Brigham, the MGH Institute offers access to a world-class healthcare network. Students in the Pre-Health Certificate program learn alongside expert faculty and gain early exposure to the standards and expectations of leading hospitals and research centers.

The Institute’s connections across Mass General Brigham also help students understand the realities of working in modern healthcare, what it means to collaborate in interprofessional teams and to serve diverse patient populations with skill and empathy.

Take the Next Step with confidence. You’ll leave with the coursework required for graduate study and confidence in your ability to thrive in the classroom, clinic, and beyond.