The Role of the NRMP in Graduate Medical Education

The NRMP is a mechanism for matching residency applicants to programs according to the preferences expressed by both parties on their individualized rank order lists. The NRMP is not a centralized application service for individuals applying to graduate medical education programs and does not advise applicants in selecting specialties or programs.

The NRMP Directory, available in the NRMP's secure, web-based Registration, Ranking, and Results^SM (R3^SM) system to all registered participants, lists all of the hospitals and programs currently enrolled in The Match.

Types of Positions Offered Through the Main Residency Match

• Categorical (C) positions are programs that expect applicants who enter in their first post-graduate year to continue until they have completed all of the training required for specialty certification, provided their performance is satisfactory.

• Primary Care (M) positions are categorical primary care or generalist positions offered in some Internal Medicine and Pediatric specialty programs.

• Preliminary (P) positions provide one or two years of prerequisite training for entry into an advanced positions in specialty programs that require one or more years of broad clinical training. Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Transitional programs commonly offer preliminary positions.

• Advanced (A) positions begin in the year after The Match and are in specialty programs that begin training after completion of one or more years of preliminary training. Applicants without prior graduate medical education can apply for these positions while also applying for preliminary positions that are compatible with their plans.

• Physician (R) positions are advanced positions in specialty programs that start in the year of The Match and are reserved for physicians who have already had some previous graduate medical education. Physician positions are not available to senior U.S. medical students.

Updated 10/11/2012