Residency Match Results

During their fourth year of medical school, UMHS students pursue post-graduate residency positions in prestigious hospitals throughout the United States and Canada.

After graduating, students begin their internship year alongside their North American counterparts as practicing Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) in numerous specialties and diverse residency training programs. 

In 2024, 92% of first-time applicants obtained a residency in the United States or Canada. UMHS students have participated in the residency match every year since 2011.

Our team of specialists are fully dedicated to supporting the needs of our students, and their experience and knowledge have guided countless graduates to obtain their residency of choice. The Department of Academic and Student Affairs has created a residency guide for students that offers a road map to successfully matching. Starting in the Basic Sciences and throughout the academic program, UMHS provides guidance, counseling, and support to our students.  We are so proud of our graduates and their accomplishments!

Residency Match Program

The National Resident Match Program (NRMP) is a national placement service that most programs and applicants participate in, as it greatly optimizes the chances of getting a residency position. Students apply to programs through The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and then must also participate in the NRMP to match with one of those programs. Students may begin their ERAS application in July and begin submitting it between September and each program’s autumn or winter deadline.

In order to participate in the Match process, students must have successfully passed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK as well as completed a significant portion of the clinical program. In addition to the USMLE requirements, students must also satisfy either Pathway 3 or 6, which were established as an alternative to Step 2 CS by ECFMG in 2021. After applying to the NRMP, students must apply to each residency program in which they are interested and participate in interviews.

In February, students must submit a “rank order list” to the NRMP. The rank order list is a list of the programs where students are interviewed, ranked from most to least desirable. Simultaneously, all residency programs submit their rank order lists of the candidates they interviewed. After the computerized matching process, results are released in March. If a student matches a specific program, it is a binding contract. Students normally begin in their respective programs on or before July 1.

If a student fails to match or is not eligible to enter the NRMP, the student can still apply to residency programs to obtain a position “outside the match.” Students who participated in NRMP but did not match will be sent a publication listing all unfilled residency positions.

National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)

Like students from U.S. medical schools, UMHS students apply for residencies through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) in order to obtain a position, or “Match,” in the United States. Canadian UMHS students have the option of applying to the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) alternatively, or in addition to, the U.S. NRMP program. Students prepare and submit applications to ERAS in the summer and fall prior to their match year in order to interview with prospective programs between September and January.

In February, Canadian students submit “rank” lists of their preferred programs to the NRMP and CaRMS. Similarly, programs submit lists of their preferred applicants. Both the NRMP and CaRMS then apply an algorithm to determine a Match based on those preferences. The results are released in March, prior to graduation.

Requirements for Beginning Residency

Both U.S. citizens and Canadian students seeking U.S. residency must pass the USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 CK and CS, the UMHS 78-week clinical curriculum, and present their diploma and certification from the Educational  Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to their program. Beginning in 2021, graduates must go through ECFMG Pathways 3 or 6 as a substitute for the CS, which is no longer offered. A certificate from the ECFMG ensures a foreign medical school and its students have achieved a comparable acumen to United States institutions and meet the standard expected by United States residency programs. Canadian students are also required to pass the Medical Council of  Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) and the National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) examination in order to meet the requirements of most Canadian residency programs.