Information for All Applicants

All applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. (green card holders) or have deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status.

DACA is assessed case-by-case and may have some barriers to enrollment. Admitted DACA applicants must be able to provide valid IDs and work components to matriculate through clinical training curriculum due to badging requirements at our teaching sites. DACA also does not currently have access to federal financial aid and would need to seek private funding to pay for school. Finally, DACA may face limitations for residency placement sites and subsequent licensure.

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine does not accept transfer students and does not honor any medical curriculum or national testing from other allopathic programs.

Residency Criteria for Admissions Use

Applicants should know that the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV gives priority to Nevada residents and applicants with significant ties to the state.

Applicants are considered to be one of three residency statuses for the purpose of admissions review: Nevada resident, out-of-state with significant ties to Nevada (Nevada connection), or out-of-state resident.

* Please note that this varies from the residency status required to gain in-state tuition upon enrollment.

Any of the following can qualify you as a Nevada resident for the purpose of admissions review:

  • Currently enrolled, or a graduate of a Nevada university or college who is considered a legal resident of Nevada
  • Graduate of a Nevada public, charter, or private high school who is considered a legal resident of Nevada
  • Born in Nevada and considered a legal resident of Nevada
  • Current or former member of the military who claims Nevada as their primary state of residence
  • Dependent of an active-duty military member who claims Nevada as their primary state of residence
  • Physically lived in Nevada for at least 12 months prior to matriculation and has established residency

Any of the following can qualify you as an out-of-state resident with significant ties for the purpose of admissions review:

  • Graduate of a Nevada university or college but no longer considered a legal resident of Nevada
  • Graduate of a Nevada public, charter, or private high school but no longer considered a legal resident of Nevada
  • Born in Nevada but no longer considered a legal resident of Nevada
  • Lived in Nevada previously, for at least 12 months, but no longer residing in or considered a legal resident of Nevada
  • Family member(s) currently residing full-time in Nevada (must be primary residence, not secondary home)
    • Tier 1 family includes: mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, sibling(s), spouse/domestic partner
    • Tier 2 family includes: aunt, uncle, cousin(s), significant other (boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé), in-laws

Please note that friends, colleagues, or other known individuals who are not included in one of the family tiers above will not qualify you for a Nevada connection.

The following will qualify you as an out-of-state resident for the purpose of admissions review:

  • No previous residency or qualifying connection in Nevada and holds legal residency in another state.

Admissions review does consider Western-region applicants in our out-of-state category. These states include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, and Washington.

Non-Western region applicants with no qualifying connection to Nevada currently do not advance to secondary in our process.