About the NRMP

The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) is a private, not-for-profit corporation established in 1952 to provide a uniform date of appointment to positions in graduate medical education (GME). It is governed by its Board of Directors, which includes representatives from national medical and medical education organizations. Among the nineteen Board members are three medical students, three resident physicians, two graduate medical education program directors and one public member. Each year, the NRMP conducts a Main Residency Match and more than twenty fellowship matches that are designed to optimize the rank-ordered choices of applicants and program directors.

The NRMP is not an application processing service; rather, it provides an impartial venue for matching applicants' and programs' preferences for each other consistently. Each year, approximately 16,000 U.S. medical school students participate in the Main Residency Match. In addition, another 20,000 "independent" applicants compete for the approximately 25,000 available residency positions. Independent applicants include former graduates of U.S. medical schools, U.S. osteopathic students and graduates, Canadian students and graduates, and students and graduates of international medical schools.

In 2010, the NRMP enrolled 4,176 programs in The Match, which altogether offered 25,520 positions. A total of 37,556 applicants participated in The Match. Of those, 16,427 were 2010 graduates of accredited U.S. medical schools and 21,129 were independent applicants.

Specialties Matching Service

The NRMP also conducts matches for fellowship positions in 38 subspecialties through its Specialties Matching Service. Those positions involve further training after completion of the initial residency program and lead to certification in a subspecialty (i.e., cardiology).

The fellowship Matches are conducted throughout the year. Please verify each fellowship's respective Schedule of Dates.

Please contact the NRMP at (202) 862-6077 or 1-866-617-5834 if you have questions about fellowship Matches

Updated 05/08/2012