Application Calendars
Applying for medical residency is a structured process that typically begins in the summer before a student’s final year of medical school. Applicants receive a token and submit materials through an application portal, including personal information, transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and board scores. Interviews usually take place from October through January. In March, applicants learn where they have matched through the NRMP (National Resident Matching Program) during “Match Week,” with Match Day typically occurring in mid-March. Residency training then begins in July.
Traditional Match Calendar: ERAS, ResidencyCAS
Early Match Calendar: SF Match, AUA Match, Military, Canadian Match
General Timeline
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Overview of Timeline – see general advising calendars and checklists below for more details |
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January-March |
Refine or Confirm Career/Specialty Choice Schedule the Advanced Clinical Phase Schedule the USMLE Step 2 examination |
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April – June |
Begin application prep – update CV OSA advising – group specialty meetings and 1:1 advising sessions Access MyERAS application (Tokens issued in April) |
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June 3, 2026 |
ERAS opens at 9 AM EST |
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June – August |
Take USMLE Step 2 (no later than July 31, 2025) Complete the application |
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September 2, 2026 |
Applicants can apply to programs via MyERAS at 9 AM EST |
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September 23, 2026 |
Programs can view residency applications at 9 AM EST |
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September – January |
Register for the Match/NRMP Go on interviews Confirm graduation requirements |
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February |
Attend optional program visit days Submit rank order list Complete the OSA Advising Survey and the AAMC GQ Survey |
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March |
Match Week – Third week in March Celebrate Match Day – March 20, 2026 |
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April – June |
Attend Transition to Residency Participate in Graduation and Senior year events Prepare to move |
NRMP
National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®), also known as The Match®
- An independent, non-profit organization whose responsibility is to place the nation’s medical school talent into clinical training programs
- NRMP Match Calendar | nrmp.org/match-calendars
ERAS
Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®)
- Centralized online platform for medical students and graduates applying to residency programs in the United States
- Most specialties in the Match
- Apply through ERAS, Match through NRMP
- AAMC ERAS Calendar
- OSA | ERAS Checklist for Main Match
ResidencyCAS
ResidencyCAS
- Centralized online platform for medical students and graduates applying to residency programs in the United States
- Emergency Medicine and Ob/Gyn
- Applications through ResidencyCSA; Match through NRMP
- ResidencyCAS Calendar
- OSA | ResidencyCAS Checklist for Main Match
SF Match
SF Match
- Centralized online platform for medical students and graduates applying to residency programs in the United States
- Ophthalmology
- Application through SF Match and Match through SF Match
- SF Match Calendar
- OSA | SF Match Checklist for Ophthalmology
AUA
AUA
- Centralized online platform for medical students and graduates applying to residency programs in the United States
- Urology
- Application for urology through ERAS, Match through AUA
- AUA Match Calendar
- OSA | AUA Checklist for Match