<P> The White Coat Ceremony (WCC) is a relatively new ritual in some medical (MD, DO), dental, optometry, audiology, chiropractic, dietetic, occupational therapy, physical therapy, podiatric, pharmacy, physician assistant, pathologists' assistant, nursing, naturopathic and veterinary schools that marks the student's transition from the study of preclinical to clinical health sciences . At some schools, where students begin meeting patients early in their education, the white coat ceremony is held before the first year begins . It is an example of a matriculation . </P> <P> WCCs typically involve a formal "coating" of students . </P>

When do medical students get their white coat