Exemplary Science Preparation (comparable to pre-med) is required of all applicants, regardless of your major, with one semester-long course in each of the following disciplines:

• General Chemistry: at a level for science majors,
  
• Vertebrate Anatomy: *with mammalian (cat) dissection lab,
  
• Vertebrate Physiology: *including organ systems,
  
• Upper-Level Biological Science: **At least one of the following five specific advanced sciences: Cell Biology, Developmental Biology (Embryology), Histology, Molecular Biology, or Immunology.

*A two-semester Human Anatomy and Physiology (part 1 and part 2) course sequence which includes hands-on mammalian dissection lab may substitute for both Vertebrate Anatomy and Vertebrate Physiology. A one-semester course in Human Anatomy and Physiology may only substitute for one prerequisite, not both!

**Upper-Level Biological Science should be a Junior (300) or Senior (400) level course. A Freshman (100) level course will not be accepted.

The science courses must be of the caliber required for pre-med or biology majors.

No. This is a full-time, on-campus, twenty-two month commitment. Part-time, Online or Distanced learning is not available for this degree.

For several courses, in-person teaching is essential: Human Anatomy (cadaver lab), Operating Room Sketching (OR observation), Surgical Illustration (OR observation), Biological Illustration (Aquarium visits), and more.

With only 7 students admitted each year, each course is offered only 1 time each year. With each course building on skills from prior courses, off-sequence completion is not feasible.

Yes. If you have not graduated from an English-speaking college/university, you will need to present proof of English language ability such as scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). While the Committee does not publish a minimum score, they anticipate viewing high marks in all sections (reading, listening, speaking, and writing). Also, while you will qualify for Departmental scholarship funds, you may not qualify for US Federal Loan monies. You will need to show the ability to cover the cost of tuition, fees and living expenses as part of the F1 Student Visa. Once offered a position as a student by the Admissions Committee, the Office of International Student, Faculty, and Staff Services will assist international students with the processing of visa paperwork.

 Substantial Department scholarship funds provide partial-tuition support to all students (domestic and international). There is no separate application process for these Departmental Scholarships.

Accepted Applicants are encouraged to seek out and apply for external scholarships. Accepted Applicants who are US Citizens or Permanent Residents are also encouraged to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as a first step towards student loan funds. The Financial Aid Office of the Medical School reviews the eligibilty of students for US Federal Student Loan Programs and notifies them of US Federal Loan options. 

Financial considerations are confidential and individually determined, and do not influence admissions decisions.

The combination of artistic skill and scientific training allows medical illustrators to fill a unique niche. Professional medical illustrators are highly trained in both medicine and visual communications, making them uniquely qualified to visually represent medical and scientific information with clarity and accuracy. Medical illustrators are familiar with medical subject matter and terminology and can converse easily and efficiently with their medical clients to create effective visuals. More specifically, most medical illustrators differ from traditional artists in that they spend several years in a specialized degree program at a medical school taking coursework side-by-side with medical students. Medical illustrators take the same lectures, labs and exams, and are graded on the same curve as students aspiring to be surgeons, anesthesiologists, and pediatricians. While medical students dissect cadavers to develop an understanding of the inner workings of the body, medical illustrators-in-training go one step further. They must combine their developing medical knowledge and growing artistic abilities to visually represent what they are seeing. In addition to hands-on dissections, students of medical illustration examine radiographs, study pathologies under a microscope, and spend time in operating rooms. This combination of rigorous medical training plus course work in illustration and communication design is unique to medical illustrators.

The majority of professional medical illustrators in the United States and Canada have a Master’s degree from an accredited graduate program in medical illustration. There are currently four programs in the United States and one in Canada that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Each program accepts 4 – 16 students each year, so entrance into these schools is competitive. The following graduate programs are accredited by CAAHEP:

• Augusta University
• University of Illinois
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• University of Toronto

Accreditation is a status granted to educational programs that meet or exceed a specific set of criteria for educational quality. The Association of Medical Illustrators developed the first set of educational standards for accreditation and began accrediting graduate programs in 1967. Today, accreditation is awarded by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP), and the accreditation standards are reviewed and revised every few years to reflect changes in the profession.

High school students contemplating medical illustration as a career should take a college preparatory program with as much emphasis on art and science as possible.

In college, students should concentrate on art and biology. Art courses should include drawing, life drawing, painting, color theory, graphic design, illustration, and computer graphics. In the sciences, studies should include general biology or zoology, vertebrate anatomy, developmental biology, physiology, chemistry, and cell biology. The science courses must be of the caliber required for pre-med or biology majors. Please see the list of requirements for application to the Johns Hopkins Medical and Biological Graduate Program.

Many medical illustrators choose to enhance their careers by becoming board certified. Certification is a program endorsed by the Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) to encourage lifelong learning and to measure professional competency for practicing medical illustrators. This voluntary certification program is designed to provide the practicing medical illustrator with the recognizable and valuable Certified Medical Illustrator (CMI) credential, which assures stakeholders of their current competency in the profession. There is no relationship between certification and membership in the AMI or any other organization, so any practicing medical illustrator meeting the eligibility requirements may apply. The certification program is administered by The Board of Certification of Medical Illustrators (BCMI), an independent body that objectively measures and evaluates exam results and awards certification to applicants upon successful completion. The BCMI follows the standards of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), recognized leaders in setting quality standards for credentialing organizations to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public.

A Certified Medical Illustrator has successfully passed exams including biomedical science, business practices and ethics, and has undergone rigorous portfolio review. Competencies are maintained by meeting continuing education requirements and must be renewed every five years. For more information on certification of medical illustrators, please visit the Board of Certification Website.