6 Programs That Help You Get from NP to MD

You’re making $20-25k monthly as a successful Nurse Practitioner, and you’re thinking about becoming an MD? The path to becoming a physician in California needs careful planning and dedication, even with your current financial stability as an NP.

Let me share something vital – the United States doesn’t have any formal, accredited bridge programs that help NPs become MDs. Your years of clinical experience as an NP are valuable, but becoming a doctor means you’ll need to complete all standard medical school prerequisites, take the MCAT, and invest both time and money. This is a big deal as it means that the total costs can reach beyond $250,000.

Programs outside the US might seem more flexible, but they have major drawbacks, especially when you have to compete for residency placements. The good news? California has several paths you can take. UC Davis stands out with its nationally ranked programs in primary care, family medicine, psychiatry, and research.

This guide will get into six proven programs that can help you move from NP to physician. You’ll find step-by-step application instructions that match your unique background.

UC Davis ACE-PC Program

The UC Davis Accelerated Competency-based Education in Primary Care (ACE-PC) Program represents one of California’s most innovative pathways for healthcare professionals who want to advance their careers. NPs looking to transition to MD status will find this program an appealing alternative to traditional medical education.

Program overview

The ACE-PC program started in 2014 through a groundbreaking partnership between UC Davis School of Medicine and Kaiser Permanente Northern California. The American Medical Association’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education initiative provided additional support. The program addresses the critical shortage of primary care physicians by creating a faster path that cuts the traditional timeline from seven to six years (three years of medical school plus three years of residency).

The program’s unique feature lets you work in Kaiser primary care clinics during your first week. You won’t have to wait until clinical rotations to get meaningful patient experience. This early clinical exposure helps you develop your professional identity as a physician throughout your education.

Eligibility for NPs

Your NP background could make you an exceptionally strong candidate, even though the ACE-PC program doesn’t specifically target nurse practitioners. The program looks for applicants who are committed to careers in family medicine or primary care internal medicine. The selection criteria often match well with experienced NPs’ backgrounds:

• Clinical experience in primary care settings
• Ground experience in community health or leadership
• First-generation college graduate status
• Fluency in languages beyond English
• Connection to Northern California

The program has shown a steadfast dedication to diversity. Over 60% of ACE-PC students come from communities underrepresented in medicine and 80% identify as disadvantaged on their AMCAS applications. The program will start recruiting students interested in psychiatry for the 2026-2027 application cycle.

Application process

The ACE-PC program application requires these sequential steps:

1. Submit your application to UC Davis School of Medicine through AMCAS by October 1st
2. If invited, complete the UC Davis secondary application and indicate your interest in ACE-PC
3. Complete the standard UC Davis interview process
4. If selected, participate in an ACE-PC-specific interview with program directors (January-April)
5. ACE-PC applicants undergo simultaneous interviews with leadership from both the three-year MD pathway and partner residency programs

The program receives 300-400 interested applicants each year. Only 6-8 students get admitted from an entering class of approximately 120-130 students. The acceptance rate stands around 2%, making it highly competitive.

Duration and structure

The ACE-PC curriculum packs the traditional four-year medical degree into three intense years. Students begin their medical education six weeks earlier than traditional students with the Summer Fundamentals Course in mid-June.

Your accelerated education includes:

• All pre-clerkship requirements matching four-year MD students
• Primary care continuity clinic attendance three half-days weekly during summer immersion and biweekly during Years 1 and 2 with the same preceptor for three years
• USMLE Step 1 exam after a shorter study period
• A 9-month longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC) instead of traditional block rotations
• Advanced clinical rotations after a brief USMLE Step 2 study period

Program data shows ACE-PC students score similarly on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 as their four-year counterparts. The faster timeline doesn’t affect academic performance.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Faster path to practice: Get your MD in three years instead of four
• Money savings: Full-tuition scholarships available, leading to less than one-third the debt of traditional MD students
• Hands-on experience: Start patient care from week one
• Consistent learning: Work with the same preceptor throughout your education
• Guaranteed residency spots: Special NRMP tracks reserved for ACE-PC students
• High success rate: Only 10% of students switch to the four-year program, compared to 16% nationally for accelerated programs

Cons:

• Packed schedule: Shorter summer breaks (one week versus six) and brief board exam preparation periods
• Few specialty choices: Mainly focused on family medicine and primary care internal medicine careers
• Tough admission: Only 6-8 students make it annually from hundreds of applicants
• Early decision needed: You must be sure about your primary care career path

Location and affiliations

UC Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento, California runs the ACE-PC program with strong connections to Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities. This partnership creates a learning environment that blends academic excellence with healthcare system experience.

The program has specific NRMP tracks at affiliated residency programs. The first 40 graduates showed impressive results: 48% matched in family medicine and 52% in primary care internal medicine. UC Davis retained 42%, Kaiser Permanente took 18%, and 40% joined non-affiliated programs.

The program’s workforce outcomes stand out. All 12 graduates from the first batch who completed both medical school and residency now practice in California. Among them, 66% work at Federally Qualified Health Centers, serving underserved populations.

UC Davis Rural-PRIME Program

The UC Davis Rural-PRIME Program goes beyond traditional medical education. It creates a specialized track for healthcare professionals who want to help solve California’s shortage of rural physicians. NPs looking to become MDs will find this program a unique chance to focus on rural medicine.

Program overview

The University of California started Rural-PRIME in 2007 as part of its “PRograms In Medical Education” (PRIME) initiative. The program aims to create physician leaders who can boost health equity in California’s rural communities. A major healthcare gap exists – 20% of California’s population lives in rural areas, but only 9% of physicians work there. This gap leads to worse health outcomes for rural patients. They face more chronic conditions, spend more time in hospitals, and have higher cancer death rates.

Rural-PRIME’s main goals are:

• Getting more physicians to practice in rural California communities
• Reducing health gaps in rural areas
• Making rural California residents healthier
• Creating lasting bonds with rural communities, hospitals, and clinics

The program prepares physicians for rural medicine challenges, whatever specialty they choose.

Eligibility for NPs

Each year, Rural-PRIME takes up to 12 students. While not specifically aimed at nurse practitioners, NPs bring valuable clinical experience that makes them strong candidates. Applicants need to meet UC Davis School of Medicine’s standard requirements and show:

• Deep knowledge or experience in rural settings, including work with underserved populations
• A commitment to work in rural California after graduating

You don’t need to come from a rural area to qualify. The program looks for people who want to practice in California’s rural communities after training. Your application becomes stronger if you’re interested in primary care (Family Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN) or other needed rural specialties (General Surgery, Emergency Medicine).

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Texas Tech FMAT Program (for comparison)

California has excellent pathways for NPs who want to become MDs. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) offers another great option through its Family Medicine Accelerated Track (FMAT) program.

Program overview

The 12-year old FMAT program is one of America’s first accelerated medical education tracks. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education approved it in February 2010. This groundbreaking program serves two main goals: getting more medical students to pursue family medicine careers in underserved areas and training primary care physicians faster at lower costs.

The program has shown great results since it started. By June 2022, it had graduated 83 students across 10 classes. FMAT creates a smooth transition from predoctoral to residency training. Students finish medical school in three years and start a standard three-year family medicine residency at one of TTUHSC’s three campuses.

Eligibility for NPs

NPs thinking about this program should know that FMAT doesn’t target them specifically. Your clinical background could make your application stronger. The program takes 6-16 students per class. They look for candidates who:

• Want to pursue family medicine careers
• Have strong academic records
• Know how to handle fast-paced curriculum
• Want to practice in underserved areas

You’ll need to write three short essays (300 words each). These should explain why you want to join FMAT, your relevant experiences, and what you think makes family medicine unique compared to other specialties.

Application process

You can apply through two different paths:

1. Pre-matriculation pathway: Show your interest through the TTUHSC Secondary Application when you first apply to medical school
2. First-year student pathway: Submit your application between November 1 and February 1 of your MS1 year

Qualified candidates meet with FMAT faculty in early February after applying. They usually announce decisions by mid-February. The selection committee looks at your academic performance, essays, and interview to find students who will do well in this fast-paced format.

Duration and structure

The program fits the standard four-year curriculum into three years through these innovative components:

1. FMAT1 Course: An 8-week intensive course between Year 1 and 2. Students attend 4-5 hour sessions Monday through Thursday that cover seven clinical themes
2. FMAT2 Course: A year-long family medicine clerkship in Year 2 (August-February). This includes outpatient clinic and hospital service experiences
3. FMAT3 Course: A 16-week final experience (March-June of Year 3) that meets Year 4 learning requirements

Students join May graduation ceremonies but finish coursework by June’s end. They start residency in July. FMAT graduates perform well academically, scoring an average of 221 on USMLE Step 1 and 233.5 on Step 2 CK.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Finish training one year faster
• Save money with one less year of tuition
• Get scholarship support for at least one year
• Guaranteed spot in a TTUHSC family medicine residency
• High success rate (78.2% of students graduate)
• Most graduates work in Texas, often helping underserved communities

Cons:

• You can only choose family medicine
• Year-round intense study schedule
• Must do residency at TTUHSC
• Must stay in Texas
• Scholarship becomes a loan if you leave
• Can’t do MD/MBA or MD/PhD programs together

Location and affiliations

The program runs at several TTUHSC locations:

• First two years happen in Lubbock
• Last year of medical school and three-year residency take place in Lubbock, Amarillo, or the Permian Basin campus

Graduates enter TTUHSC family medicine residency programs through the National Resident Matching Program. So far, 85 FMAT graduates have joined these programs – 22 in Amarillo, 54 in Lubbock, and 9 in the Permian Basin.

The FMAT program differs from California options because it focuses only on training family doctors for Texas communities. All the same, it gives great insights to NPs who want to become MDs quickly, especially those interested in primary care.

NYU Grossman 3-Year MD Pathway

NYU Grossman School of Medicine created one of the nation’s first accelerated three-year MD pathways. This program gives healthcare professionals with clear career goals a chance to advance. NPs looking to become physicians will find this innovative solution particularly appealing.

Overview

The 10-year old accelerated three-year MD pathway at NYU brings a fresh approach to medical education. Students spend less time and money in school. The program helps students who know their specialty choice start their careers earlier while reducing their debt.

NYU is known as the first nationally ranked academic medical center to give early, conditional acceptance into any of 21 NYU Langone Health residency programs. This opens quick entry paths into medical specialties of all types. By 2017, the program had accepted 86 students, and 34 graduates completed their residency placements.

Eligibility for NPs

NPs can join the program at several points:

• When first applying to medical school
• During their first year
• Midway through clerkship year
• After finishing a PhD (for MD/PhD students)

The program looks for students with excellent academic records, including strong MCAT scores, GPA, and Multiple Mini interview performance. Students must show they’re committed to a specific specialty through online applications and interviews with residency program directors and faculty.

Application process

Here’s how to apply:

1. Submit your application to NYU Grossman School of Medicine through AMCAS
2. Send in a tertiary three-year MD application with your secondary application
3. Write two specialty-focused essays about your interest and qualifications for your chosen residency program
4. Selected candidates interview with medical school admissions and residency program staff

Early applications boost your chances of getting into your preferred residency program. Meeting academic and professional requirements puts you in line to match into your chosen NYU Langone residency program through the National Resident Matching Program.

Duration and structure

The program fits the traditional four-year curriculum into 130 intensive weeks. The schedule includes:

• 18 months of pre-clerkship training
• 12 months of core clerkships
• 6 final months covering sub-internship, critical care clerkship, electives, and specialty experience

Students spend their first summer doing research in their intended residency department. This helps build relationships with future mentors. The program runs only 18 weeks shorter than the four-year path because 3-year students complete 8 weeks of requirements during summer breaks.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Big cost savings: One year less tuition plus earlier practice time saves about $250,000 over a career
• Better mentoring with four assigned mentors: Violet Society Mentor, Departmental Mentors, and Peer Mentors
• Quick conditional acceptance into chosen specialty through 21 residency options
• Room to change specialties if spots are open
• Great academic results: 5 of 34 early graduates made it into Alpha Omega Alpha

Cons:

• Packed schedule requiring year-round study
• Must take part in the National Resident Matching Program
• Less time for research or dual degrees
• Very selective admission process
• Best for students sure about their specialty choice
• Small number (4 of 86) of students moved back to four-year program

Location and affiliations

NYU Langone in New York City serves as the main campus, offering varied clinical settings. Training happens at:

• Tisch Hospital
• Kimmel Pavilion
• NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital
• Perlmutter Cancer Center
• Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital
• NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn

Students also train at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, and NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island. The program connects with other accelerated MD programs nationwide through the Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs.

This pathway gives NPs a quick route to becoming physicians. Location and specialty preferences need careful thought before committing.

Post-Baccalaureate Premed Programs in California

Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Programs help NPs get physician credentials when they can’t directly enter accelerated MD programs. These programs are a vital path toward medical school admission.

Program overview

Post-baccalaureate premedical programs emerged in the mid-1990s. Their original purpose was to help underrepresented students move from undergraduate education to medical school. These non-degree programs now let you complete prerequisites or boost your academic record without getting a second bachelor’s degree. Programs come in two types: “career changer” programs for those who need science background and “academic enhancer” programs for students who want to improve their science GPA.

Eligibility for NPs

California post-bacc programs need an undergraduate GPA between 2.50-3.25. NPs have an advantage with their clinical experience, but academic requirements still apply. UCSF requires California residency and proof that you’ll work in medically underserved communities. New applicants must complete core science prerequisites including biology with lab, general and organic chemistry with lab, physics, and biochemistry.

Application process

Programs have different deadlines between January and May for summer/fall enrollment. The California Post Baccalaureate Consortium’s joint online application needs:

• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• Personal statement (1-2 pages)
• Letters of recommendation (typically 2-3)
• Application fees ranging from $90-$125

California programs are competitive, so take time to match your goals with each program’s focus.

Duration and structure

California post-bacc programs usually last 12-24 months. Scripps College offers a well-laid-out 12-month curriculum that starts in May. Students begin with summer courses in general chemistry and introductory biology. Fall semester covers vertebrate physiology, organic chemistry, and physics. Spring semester wraps up with more organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry. Part-time options take 24 months with fewer classes but need about 20 hours weekly of clinical work.

Pros and cons

Benefits:

• Access to specialized pre-health advisors throughout application process
• Built-in MCAT preparation courses at many programs
• Medical school linkage programs with conditional acceptance
• Strong networks and mentoring opportunities

Drawbacks:

• Costs range from $10,000-$40,000 without guaranteed medical school admission
• Few financial aid options since these are certificate programs, not degree programs
• Career transition and academic pressure can be stressful
• Many programs don’t share clear statistics on outcomes and dropout rates

Locations in California

California has many respected programs. UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley Extension, UCLA Extension, Scripps College, Mills College, USC, CSU East Bay, CSU Los Angeles, CSU San Marcos, and CSU Fullerton offer these programs. Scripps College’s students have a 98% acceptance rate into medical, dental, and veterinary schools. UCSF boasts a 93% success rate for students entering U.S. allopathic or osteopathic medical schools.

University of California Postbacc Consortium

The University of California Postbacc Consortium creates a shared pathway between multiple postbaccalaureate premedical programs. This initiative aims to increase physician numbers in California’s shortage areas.

Overview

Programs at Charles R. Drew University, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UCSF, and Tribal Health – Cal Poly Humboldt form the consortium. Member institutions provide intensive MCAT preparation, upper-division science coursework, and detailed medical school application guidance.

Eligibility for NPs

NPs who want to pursue the MD path must be California residents. They need to show their dedication to practicing in underserved communities. The programs need specific GPA minimums from 2.7-2.94 overall and 2.7-2.8 for sciences. California residents who are AB-540, DACA, and undocumented students can apply.

Application process

The joint application starts December 1, 2025. First-time applicants must submit by March 2, 2026. You’ll need three letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and personal statements through one central system.

Duration and structure

These full-time academic programs help boost your preparation within one year. Students should avoid outside employment to focus on their studies.

Pros and cons

Free MCAT preparation and high matriculation rates are major benefits. The success rate of 96% in the last decade makes this program stand out. However, students need significant financial investment with few aid options available.

Participating campuses

Each campus has its own admission requirements. Yet they all share the consortium’s mission to serve California’s medically underserved communities.

Next Steps

Becoming a medical doctor from a nurse practitioner takes serious commitment, time, and money. While there are no formal NP-to-MD bridge programs in California or anywhere else in the US, you have several paths to reach your goal of becoming a physician.

These programs each come with their own benefits based on what you want to do. UC Davis ACE-PC lets you complete your MD in just three years with a focus on primary care. UC Davis Rural-PRIME trains doctors specifically for rural areas that need them most. Other schools like Texas Tech FMAT and NYU Grossman’s 3-Year MD Pathway show different ways to speed up physician training in all specialties.

Your NP clinical experience gives you an edge when you apply. But getting in is tough – programs like ACE-PC take only 2% of applicants. These fast-track programs need top grades and quick mastery of board exams and clinical rotations.

Money plays a big role in your decision. You’ll save about a year’s tuition in accelerated programs, but most paths still cost over $250,000. The good news is many programs offer scholarships if you plan to work in underserved areas after graduating.

The University of California Postbacc Consortium offers great options if you need to complete prerequisites or boost your GPA before med school. These programs help 96% of students get into medical school and focus on serving California’s communities that need doctors most.

You should think carefully about this career change. Ask yourself if the benefits – doing more for patients, having more independence, and potentially earning more long-term – are worth the extra years of school and high costs. Your current NP career already lets you help patients in meaningful ways.

The programs in this piece show how California leads in creative medical education. Through faster programs, rural focus areas, or post-bacc preparation, these six proven paths can help you move from NP to MD. You just need the drive and resources to make this big professional change happen.