This site uses cookies for analytics. By continuing to browse this site, you agree to this use. Read our Privacy Policy to learn more.

Residency Program Welcome Newsletter

Dear Residency Program Directors and Coordinators,

The National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) is pleased to welcome you to the 2025 Main Residency Match®! Registration opens at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, September 16.

The NRMP hosted an Introduction to the 2025 Main Residency Match webinar earlier this week and a recording is posted on the website. The webinar provided an overview of Match processes and policies. It also covered specific topics such as program staff roles and responsibilities, managing the program’s participation in the Match, ranking applicants, and policy information.

Below is information about Match preparation as well as links to important resources.

Review the 2025 Main Residency Match Calendar to keep track of Match deadlines throughout the process. Match Week and the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®) will be March 17-21, with Match Day occurring on March 21, 2025. The Match Week and SOAP schedule can be found on the NRMP website along with FAQs, step-by-step support guides, and Match checklists to help you navigate the Match process.

The NRMP is looking forward to a great Match!

Welcoming Two New Specialties

We are excited to welcome two new specialties to the 2025 Main Residency Match!

  • Occupational and Environmental Medicine
  • Public Health and General Preventive Medicine

Getting Started

On Monday, September 16, designated residency program directors and coordinators will receive an email with instructions for registering their individual user account in the Registration, Ranking, and Results® (R3®) system. The R3 system is used by all Match participants to register for the Match, submit rank order lists of preferred programs or trainees, and access Match results and statistics. 

Once registered, programs should get started on the Program Match Checklist. Below are links to other resources to help programs prepare for the Match season.

Designate Your Program’s Application Service in the Program Directory

In light of the various application services being used by some specialties and programs, there is a new requirement for residency programs to disclose to applicants, at the start of recruitment, the application service or process their program will require applicants to use for both the matching algorithm and SOAP.

The NRMP gathered application service information from programs via a survey this summer. For residency programs that did not complete the survey, the program director will be required to choose which application service(s) their program(s) will be using when they register with the NRMP for the Main Residency Match. After registration, this information will be displayed to applicants in the Program Directory.

Policies

During registration, program directors and coordinators will be asked to read and electronically sign the Match Participation Agreement (MPA) for Programs. The MPA outlines the rights and responsibilities of programs that participate in the Main Residency Match.

Every program director and coordinator should read the MPA thoroughly because it is binding. That said, here are some important policies to keep in mind:

Section 6.1 Duty to Act in an Ethical and Professional Manner: Programs must always conduct their affairs responsibly, starting with the application and extending through the interview and matching processes, SOAP, and through the 45th day following the start date of training in their appointment contract.

Section 6.2 Interview Period: Programs must extend interview offers that equal, not exceed, the total number of available slots, and they must provide applicants no less than 48 hours to accept or reject an invitation.

Section 6.3.1 Completeness, Timeliness, and Accuracy of Information: At all times, programs must be transparent with applicants about program and institution eligibility requirements, which application service will be used, and any other information, including a copy of the contract the applicant would be expected to sign, that could impact an applicant’s ability to commence training or that an applicant would otherwise reasonably rely upon when determining whether to rank the program.

Section 6.5 Restrictions on Persuasion: Programs are prohibited at all times from asking applicants to disclose any identifying information about the programs to which they have or may apply, programs to which they may have sent preference signals, interviews attended, or ranking preferences.

NEW THIS YEAR!

Section 12.2 Reporting of Violations: Programs are encouraged to report known or suspected violations of the MPA within one year of learning about the incident. If the incident involves a matched applicant, it must have occurred no later than the 45th day after the start date of the appointment contract.

Section 19.0 Dispute Resolution: The NRMP has modified language to clarify the requirements for pursuit of dispute resolution for parties to the Match Agreement that are identified as state entities.

To foster and provide clarity on Match etiquette, the NRMP also maintains a Match Code of Conduct for Programs. In addition to language codified in the Match Agreement, the NRMP expects every program director and recruitment team member to:  

  • Refrain from asking illegal questions, including those related to demographics such as race and sexual orientation but also more nuanced questions about tribal affiliations, first language, and parent or spousal religious cultural or tribal affiliations.
  • Respect an applicant’s right to privacy and confidentiality.
  • Decline to require second visits.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to policy@nrmp.org with any questions. We are here to help you throughout the transition. 

Improved Match Data Section on the Website

The NRMP has a variety of data and research reports available to assist Main Residency Match participants. To make the information easy access, the new Match Data section has been improved to feature curated, timely content and now offers a robust filter option to help you find current and previously archived data reports by various reports, topics, themes, and years.

A few specific data reports to highlight as your program participates in the Main Residency Match:

New Video Series

The NRMP has launched a series of advising videos to assist applicants in navigating the application, interview, and matching process. Our recent videos include Choosing Programs and Different Paths to Residency.

Stay tuned for more videos throughout the Match season!

Fees

Institution and program fees will be invoiced to the NRMP institutional official (IO) and billing contact, if one has been designated, at the conclusion of the Match.

Programs

  • $60 per program/program track
  • $60 per applicant matched to the program

Support Services

Assistance is available from the NRMP support staff Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time by emailing support@nrmp.org or calling 866-653-NRMP (6767).