A charge listed as “AAMC 202-862-6260 charge” on your credit or debit card statement is a payment to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Washington, D.C. nonprofit that runs the MCAT exam, the AMCAS medical school application, the ERAS residency application, and related services. The phone number is an AAMC billing line, and the “DC” tag reflects its headquarters. If you or someone using your card is applying to medical school, registering for the MCAT, applying to residency programs, or buying AAMC prep materials, that is almost certainly what you’re seeing.
How It Shows Up on Your Statement
Banks format merchant names differently, so the same AAMC payment can appear in several forms. Common variations include “CHKCARD AAMC 202-862-6260 DC,” “POS Debit AAMC 202-862-6260 DC,” “POS PURCHASE AAMC 202-862-6260 DC,” “Visa Check Card AAMC 202-862-6260 DC MC,” “PRE-AUTH AAMC 202-862-6260 DC,” and “PENDING AAMC 202-862-6260 DC.” A refund posts as “POS REFUND AAMC 202-862-6260 DC.” The constant across all of them is the AAMC name with the 202-862-6260 number.
Match the Amount to the Service
The dollar amount is the quickest way to pin down which AAMC service generated the charge.
A charge around $180 is likely an AMCAS medical school application. That is the base processing fee for one school designation in the 2027 cycle, with each additional school adding $48 plus sales tax. An applicant sending AMCAS to 15 schools would see a total well above $800 before tax.1AAMC. How To Apply to Medical School With AMCAS2AAMC. Certifying and Submitting Your Application
A charge of $355 points to MCAT registration for the 2026 testing year. Fee Assistance Program recipients pay $145 instead. An extra $130 is added for examinees testing outside the United States, Canada, or U.S. territories, and rescheduling fees run from $55 to $210 depending on how close to the test date the change is made.3AAMC. MCAT Scheduling Fees
A charge of $105 is consistent with the AAMC PREview professional readiness exam, with a $25 rescheduling fee if applicable.4AAMC. Register for the AAMC PREview Exam
Charges between $28 and $41 are typically a Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database subscription, which runs $28 to $33 for one year and $36 to $41 for two years.5AAMC. MSAR for U.S. and Canada
Smaller or mid-range charges may be AAMC Store purchases such as MCAT prep bundles or admissions guidebooks. Larger charges, sometimes several hundred dollars or more, often reflect ERAS residency applications: $11 per program for the first 30 programs in a specialty and $30 per program after that in the 2027 ERAS season, plus a $70 USMLE transcript fee or $80 COMLEX-USA transcript fee once per season.6AAMC. Fees for ERAS Residency Applications Fellowship applications start at $115 for up to 10 programs and climb from there.7AAMC. Fees for the 2027 ERAS Season
If You Don’t Recognize the Charge
Before assuming the charge is fraudulent, check whether anyone with access to your card is pursuing medical education. A college-age child applying to medical school, a spouse studying for the MCAT, or a family member in the residency application cycle can easily generate a charge in the hundreds or low thousands on a shared card. The AAMC accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, including debit cards carrying those logos.3AAMC. MCAT Scheduling Fees
Who to Call at AAMC
The number on the descriptor, 202-862-6260, is an AAMC billing recording. For a live person, use the line that matches the service. ERAS applicant support is 202-862-6264, and ERAS school support is 202-862-6249.8AAMC. Contact ERAS General member services is 202-862-6239.9AAMC. Contact Us The AAMC Store is 202-828-0416, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.10AAMC. AAMC Store FAQs
Before You Dispute the Charge
AAMC refund rules are strict, and filing a chargeback with your bank can trigger consequences from AAMC that go beyond losing the dispute.
AMCAS applications are nonrefundable once submitted and delivered, regardless of admission outcome or whether the applicant meets a school’s requirements.11AAMC. AMCAS Refund Policy
MCAT cancellations made 30 or more days before the exam get a partial refund of $175 ($75 for Fee Assistance Program recipients). Cancellations within 10 to 29 days of the exam get nothing. Rescheduling and international fees are nonrefundable, and refunds go back to the original card only.12AAMC. Registration Fees, Cancellations, and Refunds Emergency refunds for documented medical emergencies, family deaths, or military deployment may be granted at AAMC’s discretion if requested with supporting documents within 10 days of the exam.13AAMC. Emergency Refund Requests
ERAS offers no refunds for any reason, including applications sent to nonparticipating programs. Unpaid balances can lead to revoked MyERAS access, notification to the applicant’s dean’s office, and suspension of other AAMC services.6AAMC. Fees for ERAS Residency Applications
PREview cancellations more than 48 hours before the appointment get a 50 percent refund; no-shows forfeit the full fee. The AAMC’s PREview fee page warns that if a user disputes a credit card charge, AAMC will invoice the user for the disputed amount and may revoke access to the registration system, withhold exam scores, and cancel upcoming appointments until the invoice is paid.14AAMC. PREview Fees If the charge is yours and tied to an active application cycle, calling AAMC first is safer than opening a chargeback with your bank. If the charge is genuinely unauthorized and no one in your household used the card for an AAMC service, treat it as fraud and contact your card issuer.