Biometric Identity Verification Service
Frequently Asked Questions
In 2007, with the first administration of the new computerized
Medical College
Admission Test (MCAT) the AAMC began electronically collecting
the fingerprints of examinees, along with other information to authenticate
identity. Below are answers to common questions about this change.
How was was an examinee's identity verified
by the MCAT program in the past?
How does the new identity verification system
work?
How do biometrics improve the testing
experience?
Did fraud occur under the old system?
Why is identity verification especially
important in medical school admissions?
How long are the biometrics, digital
photographs and fingerprints, retained?
What are some examples of future uses
of biometric information?
Will the biometric information
be transferred to medical schools, medical licensure examiners,
or hospitals when this system is developed?
Are examinees aware that their photographs
and fingerprints will be retained for future use?
Isn't there a danger in collecting
this biometric information that it might be used in identity theft?
Isn't the collection of biometric
information an invasion of privacy?
The AAMC has also created a centralized Criminal
Background Check Service for students accepted to medical school.
Are biometrics collected by the MCAT program used in this service?
Will the biometrics be used by law
enforcement?
What about the Patriot Act? Won't it require
that AAMC release its information?
How was an examinee's identity verified
by the MCAT program in the past?
Under the old system, an examinee supplied a photograph when he
or she registered for the MCAT. On test day, at the examination
site, the proctor verified that the photograph matched the person
sitting for the exam. The proctor also reviewed a driver's license
or passport that the examinee brought to verify his or her identity.
The proctor collected the examinee's signature, writing sample,
and a thumbprint image as well. Later, upon that examinee's acceptance
to a medical school, the AAMC would send a copy of his or her photograph,
signature, and thumbprint to that medical school to assist administrators
in verifying the incoming student's identity.
How does the new identity verification
system work?
Under the new system, staff at the test site take a digital photograph
of the examinee and capture both index fingerprints electronically.
They also verify the examinee's identity, as before, with a driver's
license or passport; a copy of the license or passport is captured
and retained to use in resolving any future identity questions,
should they arise. If the examinee applies to or is accepted by
a medical school, the AAMC may make both the photograph and fingerprint
information available, through a secure Web-based software program,
for identity verification by the school official. The use of fingerprints
and photographs will provide a high degree of assurance that the
person appearing at the medical school is the same person who took
the MCAT exam.
How do biometrics improve
the testing experience?
In the past, when examinees returned to the testing room after
lunch or a break, they had to go through the entire identity verification
procedure again, which caused delays. With the new system, the examinee
places an index finger on the fingerprint reader, which enables
the proctor to verify the examinee's identity immediately.
Did fraud occur under the
old system?
We know of no instances in which an individual was able to enroll
in medical school fraudulently on the basis of an examination score
achieved by someone else, but there have been instances where fraud
was attempted.
Why is identity verification
especially important in medical school admissions?
Admission to medical school is highly competitive. It provides
entry to a profession that requires a high degree of professionalism
and integrity to ensure the safety of the public. Identity verification
helps to preserve the integrity of the admission process.
How long are the biometrics,
digital photographs, and fingerprints retained?
The biometric information of examinees who are not successful in
gaining entry into medical school and who make no future attempts
to do so will be destroyed after 10 years of inactivity. This period
of retention is necessary to account for individuals who might pursue
medical education internationally and later secure residency or
fellowship training positions in the United States.
The biometric information of examinees who are successful in gaining
entry into U.S. Medical schools or residency training programs may
be retained indefinitely. This is because the AAMC expects to build
additional electronic systems that can be used to verify the identity
of these individuals as they enter residency and other points of
the medical education continuum.
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What are some examples of future
uses of biometric information?
Medical students spend part of their undergraduate medical education
in clerkships in affiliated hospitals. They then proceed to graduate
medical education: residencies and fellowships in teaching hospitals.
Since the students and residents are involved with patient care,
hospitals must know for sure that these students and residents are
who they say they are. Biometrics can be used for this purpose.
Also, medical students are required to take a series of examinations,
beginning after their second year, to achieve medical licensure.
The biometric information from the MCAT may be used to verify identity
at the licensing examination site.
In the future, physicians may use biometric information to verify
identity for electronic prescribing.
Will the biometric information
be transferred to medical schools, medical licensure examiners,
or hospitals when this system is developed?
The AAMC will retain the biometric information within its secure
data facility and will allow access to it for identity verification
by medical schools and other authorized organizations, but only
in a way by which the information cannot be transferred.
Are examinees aware that their
photographs and fingerprints will be retained for future use?
The MCAT Essentials, which is required reading for every MCAT examinee,
includes the following disclosure:
These measures help prevent fraud and protect the integrity of
the exam. The Test Center Administrator will capture your identification
electronically, including your fingerprints and photograph (biometrics).
Electronic capture of your biometric data allows for easier and
quicker return to the testing facility after breaks. The biometric
and other identity data will be retained by the AAMC and made
available for identity verification at future MCAT administrations,
should you choose to retake the examination. Should you continue
to pursue a medical career, these data may permit you to verify
your identity when you arrive at a medical school or health care
facility.
Isn't there a danger in
collecting this biometric information that it might be used in identity
theft?
Identity theft is becoming a serious problem in our society. Biometrics
can serve as an important defense against it. Its use precludes
someone from using information, such as name, social security number,
or date of birth, to assume another's identity.
Isn't the collection of
biometric information an invasion of privacy?
Any person who wants to be a health care provider must agree to
be identified as this protects patients' safety and the integrity
of the entire medical profession. The Biometric Identity Verification
Service permits verification of identity.
The AAMC has also created a centralized
Criminal Background Check Service for students accepted to medical
school. Are biometrics collected by the MCAT program used in this
service?
No. For the Criminal
Background Check Service, the AAMC engages a contractor that
searches county, state, and federal records for evidence of criminal
violations, using names and social security numbers. Biometrics
are not involved in this process.
Will the biometrics be used
by law enforcement?
The AAMC will not share with law enforcement the biometric information
it collects through the MCAT program, unless required by court order
or needed for an investigation of attempted fraud on the MCAT.
What about the Patriot Act? Won't
it require that AAMC release its information?
Many people are concerned that the Patriot Act permits the government
to seize bank account records, telephone records, and even library
records. It is conceivable that it could be used to seize MCAT records
as well. The AAMC would resist turning over such records, but if
required by law, the AAMC would comply.
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