Independent Applicants

Withdrawal from the Match

Independent applicants who are appointed to positions in programs sponsored by the U.S. military services or any other matching service or who accept positions outside the NRMP must withdraw. Applicants who wish to withdraw may do so through the NRMP R3 System.

Withdrawals must be entered in the R3 System by the applicant before the rank order list deadline. Applicants who have submitted certified rank order lists and do not withdraw by that deadline will be included in the Match and will be obligated to accept an appointment if matched, provided all program prerequisites are satisfied. An applicant who accepts a position outside the Match and does not withdraw is in violation of the Match Participation Agreement and may be subject to penalties under Section 8.0 of that Agreement.

Reasons Why NRMP May Withdraw Applicants from the NRMP

• Applicants who participate in both the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) and the NRMP are expected to accept a position if matched into a Canadian program. Applicants may register for both the CaRMS and the NRMP. In those years in which CaRMS has an earlier schedule than the NRMP, individuals who match through CaRMS will automatically be ineligible to match to and participate in the Match Week Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) for concurrent-year NRMP positions.

• Applicants who participate in the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Match are are prohibited from participating in the NRMP Match for concurrent NRMP positions. The earlier schedule of the AOA Match allows applicants to compete for an osteopathic position and, if unsuccessful, continue to participate in the NRMP. The AOA informs the NRMP of the dual participants who have matched into an osteopathic program, and those individuals are withdrawn automatically from the NRMP Match for concurrent year PGY-1 and PGY-2 positions. Due to its earlier schedule, individuals who match through the AOA will be automatically ineligible to match to and participate in SOAP for concurrent-year NRMP positions.
   
• Applicants receiving positions in the Military Match will be withdrawn from the NRMP Match based on information forwarded by their service to the NRMP and will be ineligible to participate in SOAP.
   
• Applicants who obtained advanced positions (PGY-2) to begin in the current Match year either in the NRMP Specialties Matching Service or the previous year's NRMP Match must receive a waiver of their binding commitment in order to participate in the current year's Match.
   
• Students or graduates of international medical schools who are not confirmed by ECFMG® as having passed all examinations necessary for ECFMG certification will be withdrawn automatically by the NRMP and will not be eligible to participate in SOAP or have access to the List of Unfilled Programs unless prior to Match Week their examination results are verified by the ECFMG®.
   
• Fifth Pathway program students or graduates not confirmed by ECFMG as having passed the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 (or their equivalents) will be withdrawn automatically by the NRMP and will not be eligible to participate in SOAP or have access to the List of Unfilled Programs unless prior to Match Week their examination results are verified by the ECFMG®.
   
• Applicants whose attendance or graduation from medical school, or a Fifth Pathway program is not confirmed by their institutions will be withdrawn automatically by the NRMP and will not be eligible to participate in SOAP or have access to the List of Unfilled Programs unless prior to Match Week their medical school confirms they will be eligible to enter graduate medical education on July 1 in the year of the Match.

• Applicants whose graduation from a U.S. medical school is not verified by their institutions will be withdrawn automatically by the NRMP and will not be eligible to participate in SOAP or have access to the List of Unfilled Programs unless prior to Match Week their medical school confirms they will be eligible to enter graduate medical education on July 1 in the year of the Match.
   
• Applicants with unpaid fees for any services provided by the NRMP will be withdrawn automatically and will not be eligible to participate in SOAP or have access to the List of Unfilled Programs.

Updated 09/13/2011