Frequently Asked Questions
What will I need to use the NRMP R3 System?
What are the system requirements to access the R3 System?
Why does NRMP want my e-mail address?
Why have I not received any e-mail from NRMP?
Can I make changes or additions to my rank order list?
Are previous versions of my rank order list maintained in the R3 System?
How often are the applicant and program lists in the R3 System updated?
Can couples use the R3 System?
Will I be able to print a copy of my rank order list after or before submission?
Will I get a confirmation that NRMP received my certified rank order list?
How does NRMP know when I've finished my rank order list?
Is there a limit to the number of ranks I can submit via the Web?
Can anyone else see my rank order list?
How late can I add a new program or change my program's quota?
Can program directors make quota changes, additions, and withdrawals via the Web?
What happens if I match to program and decide not to accept the position?
What happens if I ask a program for a waiver from my Match commitment?
I've signed a contract outside the Match. What happens now?
What does it mean in the R3 System when it states that a program is the subject of "pending action"?
How do I know if an applicant has matched to another NRMP match-participating program?
What do I do if an applicant who matched to my program does not show up for training?
Can I offer a position to an applicant who has been released by his/her matched program?
What is the process if I'm investigated for a Match violation?
What will I need to use the NRMP R3 System?
If you can surf the Web and print from your browser, you should be able to use NRMP's interactive web site. Users must have Internet Explorer 4.5 or higher, Netscape 4.7 or higher, or a browser from another source compatible with one of those browsers. The NRMP Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System and the release of Match Week results use such features as Java Script, Java applets, and cookies that must remain enabled for the systems to work. If you need to upgrade your browser, free upgrades are available at www.microsoft.com or www.netscape.com. No other special software is necessary.
What are the system requirements to access the R3 System?
System Requirements:
- Access to a computer that is able to connect to the World Wide Web
- Modem 28.8 bps or faster (or network connection)
- 16 MB of RAM (or the requirements of the browser you use)
- An e-mail address is required.
Browser Requirements: Internet Explorer version 6.0 (or greater) or FireFox 2.0 (or greater) or other Mozilla compatible browsers are required. The System functions best on Internet Explorer 6.0 (or greater).
Users with browsers below Internet Explorer version 6.0 or FireFox version 2.0 or browsers other than those supported by the NRMP (such as Safari) may experience problems. The NRMP recommends these users upgrade their browsers to the latest version of Internet Explorer or FireFox.
For optimal performance, users of AOL or similar internet service provider that combine the internet service with a browser should connect to the System in Internet Explorer version 6.0 (or greater), Firefox 2.0 (or greater), or another Mozilla compatible browser.
JavaScript:
- You must have JavaScript enabled.
Important usage information for using R3:
- Please do not use your browser's Back and Forward buttons. Use the navigational buttons made available to you on the Web page.
- It is recommended that you close the Web browser after you have logged out of R3. R3 will "time out" after a short period of time, but if you work in R3 in a public location, someone else may be able to use the Back button to view your pages. They will not be able to work in R3 because a Security Violation error message will appear as soon as any button is clicked; however, they may be able to view parts of your work. This is a feature of browsers that we cannot control. Closing your browser when you are done will combat this problem. Closing your browser when you are done will combat this problem.
Why does NRMP want my e-mail address?
E-mail is the primary mode of communication used by NRMP, so change your e-mail address as often as necessary to keep an updated email address on your personal profile in R3.
To change it, simply log into the R3 System with your AAMC ID and Password, go to Update My Profile, enter the corrected e-mail address, and click Submit.
Why have I not received e-mail from NRMP?
Many e-mail messages from NRMP are sent simultaneously to multiple applicants.
Some e-mail providers use filters to ensure that users do not receive
spam (junk e-mail). In some cases those filters can prevent NRMP e-mails
from getting through to participants.
The good news: the majority of providers that offer such filters generally
provide the user with the option to turn the filter on or off. Other providers
make a "junk mail file" or a "bulk mail folder" that
includes all messages sent to the user but identifies multiple-addressee
e-mails. If Hotmail sends an NRMP e-mail message to the Junk Mail box,
you can tell Hotmail to add nrmp@aamc.org
to your Save List or to send it to your in-box.
If you are not receiving e-mail from NRMP and your provider does not offer
such options, we recommend that you either contact your providers to determine
the best way to access such messages, or consider using an additional
or replacement provider during your matching process.
For additional information on spam filtering for Hotmail or Yahoo e-mail please visit the sites below.
Can I make changes or additions to my rank order list?
The rank order list (ROL) can be entered in one or more sessions. It can be modified or re-ordered any number of times up until 9:00 PM on the deadline day for rank order list entry. Participants in the middle of a session at 9:00 PM will not be able to complete their session and will be forced off the server. Participants are advised not to wait until the last minute to enter their rank order lists so as to avoid any problems at the deadline.
If you change your rank order list by adding, moving, or deleting a program, the change is saved and the previous rank order list is deleted from the R3 System. You must certify your ROL again for it to be used in the match.
Are previous versions of my rank order list maintained in the R3 System?
Once the currently displayed ROL has been modified online, the previous versions of the list are not retained in the R3 System, regardless of whether they were certified. The ROL that is diplayed when the particpant logs in is the only version on file with the NRMP.. Once the last updates have been made, the participant must certify the final version by the rank order list deadline in order for it to be used in the Match.
No changes can be made to your rank order list after the rank order list deadline. The NRMP will not add, delete, or move programs in any way modify your rank order list.
How often are the applicant and program lists in the R3 System updated?
Applicant and program information is displayed is in real time, so users always have current information.
Can couples use the R3 System?
Applicants in the same fellowship match notify the NRMP of their desire to participate as a couple by providing their partner's AAMC ID through the NRMP R3 System and paying an additional $15 per partners couples fee. Applicants who are members of a couple can link their program choices on their rank order lists so that they can be matched into a combination of programs suited to their needs. Applying as a couple should not influence the selection decisions made by program directors.
Will I be able to print a copy of my rank order list after or before my submission?
Yes. Applicants and programs can print a copy of their rank order list at any step during the process by using your Web browser print button or the View/Print ROL link on the My Rank Order List page which opens a printer-friendly version.
Will I get a confirmation that NRMP received my certified rank order list?
Yes. When you certify your rank order list, NRMP will send you an e-mail confirmation that includes the number of programs on your list.
How does NRMP know when I've finished my rank order list?
When you have entered all of your ranks, you must certify your rank order list (ROL). Click the red Certify List button. You will then be asked to enter your Password. If you make changes to your rank order list, you must recertify it. A Match Status of CERTIFIED ROL in the header (where your name, AAMC ID, etc. are displayed) is the indication that you have finished your rank order list.
Is there a limit to the number of ranks I can submit via the Web?
There is no limit and no extra charge to programs or applicants for entering their rank order list.
Can anyone else see my rank order list?
You are the only one, other than the NRMP staff, who can access your rank order list unless you give your AAMC ID and password to someone else. Your rank order list is limited to need-to-know NRMP staff.
How late can I add a new program or change my program's quota?
You can add a program and change program quotas up until the quota change deadline. Please check the schedule of dates for the quota change deadline date. After the quota deadline, the quota can be changed in cases of extreme emergency such as loss of funding or accreditation In such cases, programs must send a written request to the NRMP.
Can program directors make quota changes, additions, and withdrawals via the Web?
Program changes can be made on the Web by the program director, but must be approved on the Approve Changes screen by the institutional official. Program quotas cannot be changed after the quota change deadline. Please check the schedule of dates for the quota change deadline date.
What happens if I match to a program and I decide not to accept the position?
The Match Participation Agreement to which you affixed your password when you registered for the Match states that a match between an applicant and a program creates a binding commitment to accept or offer a position. A decision not to honor that commitment is a breach of the Agreement and will be investigated by the NRMP in accordance with the Policies and Procedures for the Reporting, Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP Agreements. Penalties may be levied if a violation is confirmed.
Under certain limited circumstances, the NRMP may grant an applicant or program a waiver of the match commitment if honoring the Match outcome would result in undue hardship. Waivers must be requested from, and can be granted only by, the NRMP.
What happens if I ask the program for a waiver from my Match position?
The program cannot grant you a waiver from your Match commitment. Program directors must report all waiver requests to the NRMP, which will investigate to determine whether the waiver should be granted. If a waiver is not granted by the NRMP, you will be expected to accept the matched position. If your waiver is denied and you do not accept the position to which you matched, you may be prohibited from accepting a position in another NRMP match-participating program if training would being within one year from the date of the NRMP's decision; in addition, the NRMP will initiate a violation investigation in accordance with the Policies and Procedures for the Reporting, Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP Agreements. If an NRMP match-participating program offers you a position to begin training during the one-year prohibition, that program also will be investigated to determine whether it violated the Match Participation Agreement.
What happens if I match to a program and begin training, but then decide I want to leave the program to change specialties and/or accept another position?
The commitment a participant undertakes in the Match Participation Agreement is to accept the results of the Match. To meet that obligation, you must sign a residency contract and begin training at the program to which you matched. Your subsequent obligations are determined by the terms of that residency contract, not the Match Participation Agreement. However, if the NRMP receives what it considers to be credible evidence that you did not enter your contract in good faith and that you began training in the program as a way to circumvent NRMP policy, the NRMP can initiate a violation investigation of your actions even though your training already has begun.
I've signed a contract outside the Match. What happens now?
Under the terms of the Match Participation Agreement, an independent applicant who accepts a position outside the Match must withdraw immediately. Failure to do so is a material violation of the Agreement and will be investigated by the NRMP in accordance with the Policies and Procedures for the Reporting, Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP Agreements. Penalties may be levied if a violation is confirmed. No applicant can withdraw from the Match after the rank order list deadline.
How can I learn whether a program I am in interested in ranking has been the subject of a violation investigation conducted by the NRMP?
The NRMP maintains a Program Violations Report in the Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System that is available to applicants who register for any NRMP match. The report lists all programs found in violation of the Match Participation Agreement and provides a brief statement summarizing the nature of the violation and the penalty levied by the NRMP. As stipulated in the Match Participation Agreement, the penalty levied against a program is reflected permanently in the report, and term limits of any sanction(s) imposed for the violation are included to identify the length of time the action is in effect.
What does it mean in the R3 System when it states that a program is the subject of "pending action"?
When a violation investigation of a program results in an adverse decision, the program is designated with "pending action" in the R3 System. The designation remains in place until the program has waived or exhausted the opportunity to contest the action pursuant to the Violations Policy. Once the Final Report of the investigation has been issued, the program will be listed on the Program Violations Report if the NRMP has concluded that the program breached the Match Participation Agreement.
How do I know if an applicant has matched to another NRMP match-participating program?
The NRMP's Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System includes an Applicant Match History that should be used by fellowship program directors and NRMP institutional officials to determine whether an applicant has a binding match commitment to another NRMP match-participating program. The Applicant Match History lists the fellowship match status of an applicant and indicates whether an applicant has requested a waiver of the match commitment and/or been involved in an NRMP violation investigation. This feature is available throughout the year so that programs can determine an applicant's eligibility for appointment.
To access the Applicant Match History, you must log in to the R3 System using your AAMC ID number and password. From the left menu bar, click the 'Applicant Match History' link. System users can search for records by an applicant's AAMC ID, SSN, or name.
What do I do if an applicant who matched to my program does not show up for training?
The Match Participation Agreement states that a match between an applicant and a program creates a binding commitment to accept or offer a position, and a decision not to honor that commitment is a breach of the Agreement. Accordingly, fellowship program directors are expected to report to the NRMP the name of any applicant who does not honor his/her match commitment and must request a waiver of the Match commitment. The NRMP will initiate a violation investigation of the applicant in accordance with the NRMP's Policies and Procedures for the Reporting, Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP Agreements.
Do I need to request a waiver of my match commitment to an applicant who does not show up for training?
If for any reason a program wishes to recruit a candidate for a position left vacant by a matched applicant, the program must submit to the NRMP a written waiver request, even if training for other residents already has begun. The NRMP has sole discretion over the waiver review process, and programs may not negotiate with or offer the matched position to another candidate until the NRMP has granted a waiver.
Can I offer a position to an applicant who has been released by his/her matched program?
As stated in Section 3.3 of the Match Participation Agreement, applicants and programs are not authorized to release each other from their binding match commitment. A decision to grant or deny a waiver is at the sole discretion of the NRMP; accordingly, applicants released by their matched program are not eligible for appointment to another program until the NRMP has granted a waiver. Programs that offer positions to applicants who have not received a waiver from the NRMP will be subject to a violation investigation.
An applicant who matched to my program has asked to be released. It would not jeopardize my program to release her, and I have another candidate to whom I could offer the position. Can I release the matched applicant and offer the position to another candidate?
The NRMP has sole discretion over the waiver review process; applicants and programs are not authorized to release each other from their binding match commitment. If the NRMP approves a waiver request, the applicant is free to accept a position in another program and the program is free to recruit another candidate. If the NRMP does not approve the waiver request, the applicant and program are expected to honor the match. Moreover, Section 5.1 of the Match Participation Agreement prohibits a program from negotiating with or offering a position to an applicant who is matched to a concurrent year position in another program and who has not been granted a waiver by the NRMP. If an NRMP match-participating program offers a position to an applicant who has not been granted a waiver, the NRMP will initiate an investigation to determine whether the applicant or the program has violated the terms of the Agreement.
What does it mean in the R3 System when it states that an applicant is the subject of "pending action"?
When a violation investigation of an applicant results in an adverse decision, the applicant is designated with "pending action" in the R3 System. The designation remains in place until the applicant has waived or exhausted the opportunity to contest the action pursuant to the Violations Policy. Once the Final Report of the investigation has been issued, a summary of the nature of the violation and any sanctions imposed will be accessible in the Applicant Match History in the if the NRMP has concluded that the applicant breached the Match Participation Agreement.
What is the process if I'm investigated for a Match violation?
Subsequent to receiving a report of an alleged violation, the NRMP will contact the applicant and any other individuals with knowledge of the situation and prepare a Preliminary Report that documents the nature of the allegation.
If the results of the investigation indicate that a material violation has not occurred, the case will be closed and all parties will be so notified.
If the results of the investigation indicate that material violation occurred, the Preliminary Report will be distributed to the subject of the investigation, the individual who reported the violation, and any other parties who provided information material to the investigation for their review and to correct the additional information provided to the NRMP.
The Preliminary Report will be reviewed by a Review Panel of the NRMP's Violations Review Committee, which will make the final determination of whether a violation occurred and, if so, the appropriate penalty. A Review Panel Report will be issued to the subject of the violation, who will have ten business days to appeal the decision on procedural grounds or to request arbitration. If the subject of the violation does not appeal or request arbitration within ten business days, the Review Panel Report will become the Final Report, and it will be issued to all parties listed on the Report. If the subject of the violation initiates arbitration, he/she has thirty days from the date of the Review Panel Report to file with the American Arbitration Association. All Match registrants should review carefully the Policies and Procedures for the Reporting, Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP Agreements.
Updated 09/01/07
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