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Frequently Asked Questions
Fellowship: Applicants & Program
I.
Match Registration
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?
I would like to participate in the match as a couple
with my partner. Can that be done and will the NRMP link our rank order
lists??
II. Match
Ranking
During my interview, the program director asked me about
other programs to which I had applied. Am I obligated to provide that
information?
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?
Is it permissible to ask applicants where else they
are applying?
Can I make changes or additions to my rank order list
(ROL)?
Are previous versions of my rank order list (ROL) maintained
in the R3 System?
How often are the applicant and program lists in the
R3 System updated?
Will I be able to print a copy of my rank order list
(ROL) after or before submission?
Will I get a confirmation that NRMP received my certified
rank order list (ROL)?
How does NRMP know when I've finished my rank order
list (ROL)?
Is there a limit to the number of ranks I can submit
via the Web?
Can anyone else see my rank order list (ROL)?
III. Match
Results
How will I know if I matched to
a program?
I matched to a program, but I just learned that I am
ineligible to begin training. What should I do?
What happens if I do not match?
How will I know if my program(s) filled?
What happens if my program does not fill?
How do I know if an applicant has matched to another
NRMP match-participating program?
IV.
Post-Match: Applicants
What happens if I match to program and decide not to
accept the position?
How long must I remain in my program?
What happens if I ask a program for a waiver from my
Match commitment?
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?
I've signed a contract outside the Match. What happens
now?
How can I learn whether an institution or program I
am in interested in ranking has been the subject of a violation investigation
conducted by the NRMP?
What does it mean in the R3 System when it states that
a program is the subject of "pending action"?
What is the process if I'm investigated for a Match
violation?
V. Post-Match:
Institutions & Programs
A non-match-participating program at my institution
offered a position to an applicant who has a concurrent year match to
another program. Is my institution liable?
An applicant has contacted me
about an open position in my program. What information can I share?
What do I do if an applicant who matched to my program
does not show up for training?
Do I need to request a waiver of my match commitment
to an applicant who does not show up for training?
Can I offer a position to an applicant who has been
released by his/her matched program?
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?
What does it mean in the R3 System when it states that
an applicant is the subject of "pending action"?
What is the process if I'm investigated for a violation
of the Match Participation Agreement?
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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
version 6.0 (or greater) or FireFox version 3.0 (or greater). Either a
PC or Macintosh computer can be used provided the computer has Internet
access; however, the R3 System does not support the use of Safari by Mac
users. 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.
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
- An e-mail address
Browser Requirements:
To use the Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System, users must
have Internet Explorer version 6.0 (or greater) or FireFox version 3.0
(or greater).
The System functions best on Internet Explorer version 8.0. The R3 System
uses features such as JavaScript, Java applets, and cookies, all of which
must remain enabled for the System to work. Either a PC or Macintosh computer
can be used provided the computer has Internet access; however, the R3
System does not support the use of Safari by Mac users. If you wish to
use a Mac, please download a free version of Firefox for Mac using this
link, http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html.
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 pages you have worked on. They will not be able
to do any work in R3, as soon as they click any button, there will
be a Security Violation error message. However, they may be able to
view parts of your work. This is a feature of browsers that we can not
control. Closing your browser when you are done will combat this.
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.
During my interview, the program director
asked me about other programs to which I had applied. Am I obligated to
provide that information?
Section 6.0 of the Match Participation Agreement prohibits programs from
requiring applicants to reveal the names or identities of programs to
which they have or may apply. Any program that requires an applicant to
disclose such information is in violation of NRMP policy and will be investigated
by the NRMP.
I would like to participate in the match
as a couple with my partner. Can that be done and will the NRMP link our
rank order lists?
The NRMP accommodates applicants who wished to be matched as a couple.
Each partner of a couple must enroll individually in the match and indicate
in the NRMP R3 System that they want to participate as a couple. The NRMP
allows the couple to form pairs of choices on their primary rank order
lists, which are then considered in order of preference when the matching
algorithm is processed. The couple will match to the most preferred pair
of programs on the rank order lists where each partner has been offered
a position. The algorithm considers only a couple's primary rank order
lists when attempting to find a match and does NOT treat a couple's supplemental
rank order lists as a unit in the Match. Once a couple has obtained a
match from their primary rank order lists, the algorithm searches each
supplemental rank order list independently and attempts to place applicants
in their most preferred program. Consequently, couples' supplemental rank
order lists should be assigned to programs on their primary lists based
upon the geographic locations of the programs. For More information about
Couples, click here.
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.
Is it permissible to ask applicants where else they
are applying?
Section
6.0 of the Match Participation Agreement states that applicants are
free at all times to keep confidential the names or identities of programs
to which they have or may apply. A program director may request the names
of other programs, but it is a violation of the Agreement to require applicants
to disclose that information.
Can I make changes or additions to my rank
order list (ROL)?
The ROL can be entered in one or more sessions. It can be modified or
re-ordered any number of times up until 9:00 p.m. eastern time on the
deadline day for rank order list entry. Participants in the middle
of a session at 9:00 p.m. 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 ROLs so as to avoid any problems
at the deadline.
If you change your certified ROL 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 (ROL) 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 displayed when the participant
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 in real time, so users
always have current information. Applicant and program lists are updated
in the R3 System whenever an applicant or program changes the list.
Will I be able to print a copy of my rank
order list (ROL) after or before my submission?
Yes. You can print a copy of your ROL at any step during the process
by using the Web browser print button. You also coan open a printer friendly
version of your ROL by using the View/Print ROL link that appears on the
My Rank Order List page under the Options heading. The NRMP strongly
recommends that your print a copy of your certified ROL to keep in your
records.
Will I get a confirmation that NRMP received my
certified rank order list (ROL)?
Yes. When you certify your ROL, the NRMP will send you an e-mail confirmation
that includes the number of programs or applicants on your list.
How does NRMP know when I've finished my
rank order list (ROL)?
When you have entered all of your ranks, you must certify your ROL.
Click the red Certify List button. You will then be asked to enter your
Password. If you make changes to your ROL, 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 (ROL)?
You are the only person, other than the NRMP staff, who can access your
ROL unless you give your AAMC ID and password to someone else. Your ROL
is limited to need-to-know NRMP staff.
How
will I know if I matched to a program?
Beginning at 12:00 noon eastern time on Match Day, applicants may use
their AAMC ID's and password to access the web-based Registration, Ranking
and Results (R3) System and
1) find out whether they matched and, if so, to
which program, and
2) view associated reports.
Match results information also is available to
applicants by calling the NRMP office at (202) 862-6077 or 1-866-617-5834.
I matched to a program, but I just learned
that I am ineligible to begin training. What should I do?
The Match Participation Agreement states in Section
2.1 that applicants must meet ACGME and institutional requirements
prior to the start of training in order to be eligible for the matched
position. If you learn you are ineligible to honor your match, you must
immediately notify the NRMP in writing so that the NRMP can determine
whether you and/or the program qualify for a waiver.
What happens if I do not match?
Applicants who learn at 12:00 noon eastern time on Match Day that they
did not match to a program can access the List of Unfilled Programs
that displays a list of available positions for unmatched applicants.
Sharing match information from the R3 System, including the List of Unfilled
Programs, with individuals not authorized to receive it or posting match
information to any web site or non-NRMP-related matching service is a
violation of the Match Participation Agreement.
Applicants also can access the following documents that are posted to
the web-based Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System at 12:00
noon eastern time on Match Day:
- Match Outcome for All Programs by State, displays the number
of positions offered and filled for all programs in the Match.
- Match Results Statistics, provides detailed statistical information
about the programs, positions, and applicants in the Match.
How will I know if my program(s) filled?
Beginning at 12:00 noon eastern time on Match Day, program directors
and institutional officials may use their AAMC IDs and password to access
the Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System and obtain match results
and associated reports. Program directors can learn who matched to their
program, as well as the number of unfilled positions, if any, by accessing
the Confidential Roster of Matched Applicants report. The
Confidential Roster of Matched Applicants report can be
found under the "My Reports" option on the left bar menu. Institutional
officials also may gain access to Match Day reports under the "My
Reports" option on the left bar menu.
What happens if my program does not fill?
Program directors who learn at 12:00 noon eastern time on Match Day that
they did not fill their positions can access the List of Unmatched
Applicants that displays a list of potential candidates for programs
that went unfilled. In addition, programs can access the following documents
that are posted to the web-based Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3)
System at 12:00 noon eastern time on Match Day:
- Match Outcome for All Programs by State, displays the number
of positions offered and filled for all programs in the Match.
- Match Results Statistics, provides detailed statistical information
about the programs, positions, and applicants in the Match.
- Match Results by Ranked Applicant, displays the match results
for each applicant ranked by the program; the NRMP's confidentiality
policy restricts it from releasing information about how specific applicants
rank specific programs.
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 must be used by program directors and NRMP
institutional officials to determine, prior to offering the applicant
an interview, whether that applicant has a binding commitment to another
NRMP match-participating program. The Applicant Match History lists the
appointment status of an applicant and indicates whether that applicant
has requested a waiver of the binding commitment and/or been involved
in an NRMP violation investigation.
The Applicant Match History is available throughout the year. To access
it, 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 happens if I obtain a binding
commitment 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 a position if a match results and to start training in good
faith (i.e., with the intent to complete the program) on the date specified
in the appointment contract. 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 to an applicant
or program a waiver of the match commitment if honoring the Match outcome
would result in serious and extreme hardship. Waivers must be requested
from, and can be granted only by, the NRMP. Click here for additional
information on the waiver review process.
How long must I remain in my program?
Section 5.1 of the Match Participation Agreement states that an applicant
who terminates or resigns a position within 45 days of the start date
specified in the appointment contract shall be presumed to have breached
the Agreement.
What happens if I ask the program for a
waiver from my binding commitment?
The program cannot grant you a waiver from your binding commitment. Once
a party has matched, a waiver of the binding commitment may be obtained
only from the NRMP. If you submit to the NRMP a request for a waiver,
the NRMP 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 position. If your waiver is denied and you do not accept the position,
you may be prohibited from accepting or starting a position in any program
sponsored by a match-participating institution if training would being
within one year from the date of the NRMP's final decision to deny the
waiver; in addition, the NRMP will initiate an investigation in accordance
with the Policies and Procedures for the Reporting,
Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP Agreements. If
any program at an NRMP match-participating institution 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.
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 concurrent
year position outside the Matching Program or through another national
matching service must withdraw from the Matching Program. Withdrawal must
be completed prior to the rank order list deadline. Failure to do so is
a violation of the Match Agreement, which will be investigated by the
NRMP in accordance with the Policies and Procedures
for the Reporting, Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP
Agreements. Independent applicants who elect to participate in the
match are prohibited from discussing, interviewing for, or accepting a
concurrent year position outside the Matching Program or through another
national matching service after the rank order list deadline.
How can I learn whether an institution or program
I am interested in ranking has been the subject of a violation investigation
conducted by the NRMP?
The NRMP maintains an Institution and Program Violations Report in the
Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System that is available to applicants
who register for any NRMP match. The report displays information about
graduate medical education programs and sponsoring institutions that have
violated the Match Participation Agreement.
Term limits of any sanction(s) imposed for the violation are included
to identify the length of time the sanction 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 an institution or program results
in an adverse decision and the adverse action is contested, the institution
or program is designated with "pending action" in the R3 System.
The designation remains in place until the institution or 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
Institution and Program Violations Report if the NRMP concluded there
was a breach of the Match Participation
Agreement.
What is the process if I'm investigated for a violation
of the Match Participation Agreement?
Subsequent to receiving a written report of an alleged violation, the
NRMP will solicit information from the applicant or program and any other
individuals with knowledge of the situation. A Preliminary Report that
documents the nature of the allegation is prepared.
If the results of the investigation indicate that a violation has not
occurred, the case will be closed and all parties will be so notified.
If the results of the investigation indicate a 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 notify the NRMP of the intent to initiate arbitration.
If the subject of the violation initiates arbitration, the NRMP will note
in the Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System that the party is
the subject of a "pending action". That designation will remain in place
for the duration of the arbitration process. In addition, if the subject
of the violation initiates arbitration, he/she has thirty days from receipt
of the Review Panel Report to file with the American Arbitration Association.
If the subject of the violation does not 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. All Match registrants
should review carefully The Policies and Procedures
for the Reporting, Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP
Agreements.
A
non-match-participating program at my institution offered a position to
an applicant who has a concurrent year match to another program. Is my
institution liable?
Institution officials are responsible for ensuring that none of their
programs, regardless of match participation status, discusses or offers
a position to an applicant who has matched to a concurrent year position
in another program and who is ineligible because a waiver has not been
granted and/or a violation has been confirmed. If any of the institution's
programs discusses or offers a position to an applicant who has matched
to a concurrent year position, the institution will be in breach of the
Match Agreement and subject
to a violation investigation.
An
applicant has contacted me about an open position in my program. What
information can I share?
Prior to discussing, interviewing for, or offering a position to an applicant,
program directors shall determine the applicant's eligibility for appointment.
Any program that discusses, interviews for, or offers a position to an
applicant who has binding commitment to a concurrent year position in
another program and who has not been granted a waiver by the NRMP will
be subject to a violation investigation by the NRMP. Programs must determine
the applicant's eligibility by verifying the applicant's appointment status
in the Applicant Match History that is available in the Match Site and/or
by calling the NRMP to obtain that information.
What do
I do if an applicant who has a binding commitment to my program does not
show up for training?
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 offer and accept a position if a match results and to begin training
on the date specified in the appointment contract. A decision not to honor
that commitment is a breach of the Agreement. Accordingly, program directors
are expected to report to the NRMP the name of any applicant who does
not honor his/her match commitment. Program directors also must request
a waiver of the match commitment if they wish to recruit another candidate
for the position. 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 request for a waiver, even if training for other residents already
has begun. The NRMP's decision to grant or deny the waiver is at the sole
discretion of the NRMP and is not subject to arbitration. Programs may
not discuss, interview for, or offer the matched position to another candidate
prior to the NRMP issuing its decision as to whether to grant the requested
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. Once a party has matched, a waiver
of the binding match commitment may be obtained only from the NRMP;
accordingly, applicants released by their matched program are not eligible
for a concurrent-year appointment to another program until the NRMP has
granted a waiver. Programs that offer concurrent year positions to applicants
who have not received a waiver from the NRMP will be subject to a violation
investigation. The NRMP's decision to grant or deny the waiver is at the
sole discretion of the NRMP and is not subject to arbitration.
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
may accept a position in another program and the program may 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 discussing 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 discusses or 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 and the adverse decision is contested, 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 if the NRMP 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 a 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 notify the NRMP of the intent to initiate arbitration.
If the subject of the violation initiates arbitration, the NRMP will note
in the Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System that the party is
the subject of a "pending action". That designation will remain in place
for the duration of the arbitration process. In addition, if the subject
of the violation initiates arbitration, he/she has thirty days from receipt
of the Review Panel Report to file with the American Arbitration Association.
If the subject of the violation does not 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. All Match registrants
should review carefully The Policies and Procedures
for the Reporting, Investigation, and Disposition of Violations of NRMP
Agreements.
Updated 08/30/2011
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