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Shining a Light on Match News that Matters

This issue of the Illuminator includes:

Ranking Opens February 2 at 12 p.m. ET for the 2026 Main Residency Match®

Explore NRMP’s support guides, videos, and resources about entering and certifying rank order lists for programs and applicants.

Please remember:

  • Programs should rank applicants in order of true preference, not how they think applicants will rank their program. View the newly updated How the Matching Algorithm Works video.
  • The Match commitment is binding so programs should only rank applicants they wish to train and who are eligible for the program. View our policies page for additional resources.
  • Changes can be made to a rank order list after it has been certified until the Rank Order List Certification Deadline, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET; however, any changes require the rank order list to be uncertified, edited, and re-certified by the program director. Once the Rank Order List Certification Deadline passes, no additional changes may be made to a rank order list.
  • Only certified rank order lists will be used in the Match.
  • If your program has elected to participate in the Voluntary Rank Order List Lock Pilot (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Vascular Surgery), view our guide on how to lock a program’s rank order list once ranking opens in the Registration, Ranking, and Results® (R3®) system.

Assistance is available from the NRMP Support Team Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET by emailing support@nrmp.org or calling 866-653-NRMP (6767). To offer the highest level of customer service, on March 4, the Rank Order List Certification Deadline, staff will be available until 9 p.m. ET to answer questions you may have during the final deadline hours. 

Main Residency Match® Reminders

Institutional Officials:

  • Programs with outstanding change approvals will not be able to certify a rank order list until the changes are approved by the institutional official (IO). IOs must log into the R3 system to complete the approval process. The deadline for reversions to be finalized in the R3 system and for approval of all program changes is March 4 at 9 p.m. ET.
  • IMPORTANT – IOs should confirm their active program list in the R3 system to ensure programs participating in the Match are listed correctly, that program staff have registered, program quotas are correct, and that contact information is accurate.

Medical School Officials:

  • Beginning on February 2, at 12 p.m. ET, medical schools can log into the R3 system to verify the graduation credentials of their students and graduates. A support guide and step-by-step instructions is available to assist you through the verification process. Schools must complete the graduation verification process by March 4 at 9 p.m. ET.
  • Please track your students in the R3 system and contact those who have yet to complete the registration process. The late registration deadline for applicants who intend to participate in the Main Residency Match or SOAP is March 4 at 9 p.m. ET and the cost is $120 ($70 standard registration fee and $50 late registration fee). Programs cannot see or rank applicants who are not registered for the Match.

Need additional help? Assistance is available from the NRMP Support Team Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET by emailing support@nrmp.org or calling 866-653-NRMP (6767). 

Watch and Share! Creating a Rank Order List Video

Let’s talk about rank order lists! Check out our Creating a Rank Order List video for tips from resident physicians about how they created their rank order list and what advice program directors and advisors give Match applicants.

Fellowship Match News

Welcoming Two New Specialties to the Specialties Matching Service®

The NRMP is excited to welcome Neuroendovascular Intervention and Neurosurgical Oncology to the Specialties Matching Service!

Institutional officials should reach out to their programs to ensure they are participating in the Neuroendovascular Intervention or Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship Matches, which open for registration on Wednesday, February 11. We look forward to supporting fellowship applicants and programs in a successful matching process!

Educational Webinars: Stay Informed with our Webinar Offerings

Upcoming Webinars:

Medical schools – The NRMP is partnering with the AAMC’s ERAS program and ResidencyCAS to host a Navigating Match Week and SOAP for Medical Schools webinar on February 24 at 1 p.m. ET. Geared toward medical school officials, administrators, and advisors, the webinar will include an overview of Match Week and SOAP, including important deadlines, information on how SOAP will work with multiple application services, and policy information. Registration is required.

Residency programs – The NRMP is hosting a Navigating Match Week and SOAP for Programs webinar on February 25 at 1 p.m. ET. Designed for residency program directors and coordinators, the webinar will assist program staff in preparing for SOAP and will cover important topics such as creating a preference list, policies, SOAP rounds, and more. Registration is required.

Fellowship programs – The NRMP is hosting a Fellowship Match Ranking and Results: What Program Staff Need to Know webinar on February 26 at 1 p.m. ET. The webinar will cover key topics, including the institutional user roles for entering and certifying the rank order list, how the matching algorithm works, what to expect on Match Day, and important Match policies to help you navigate the process successfully. Registration is required.

Webinar Recordings:

Medical schools – The NRMP hosted a Verifying Graduation Credentials for the Main Residency Match webinar and the recording is available on the website. The webinar includes information on how to verify the graduation credentials of your students and graduates to participate in the Match, important deadlines, using the R3 system, policy information, and ranking reminders for your students.

Residency programs – The NRMP hosted a Ranking Applicants in the 2026 Main Residency Match webinar and the recording is now available. The webinar provides an overview of the ranking process and how the matching algorithm works as well as understanding the roles and responsibilities of program staff in ranking applicants using the R3 system.

Fellowship programs – The NRMP hosted an Introduction to the Fellowship Match webinar and the recording is posted on the website. The webinar provides an overview of Match processes and policies, program staff roles and responsibilities, managing the program’s participation in the Match, and policy information.

Residency applicants – The NRMP published a Ranking Programs in the 2026 Main Residency Match webinar for residency applicants and the recording is available on the website. The webinar explores how the matching algorithm works, the ranking process for applicants, and important ranking reminders and tips.

Policy Corner: Ranking Reminders

With ranking for the 2026 Main Residency Match opening on February 2 at 12 p.m. ET, here are some key reminders about the rank order list submission process.

Important Considerations for Programs:

Before finalizing your rank order list:

  • Ensure each applicant placed on your rank order list meets requirements for licensure, as published by the appropriate state Licensure Board. 
  • Confirm and accurately message your institution’s willingness and/or ability to sponsor the visa type requested or intended by any non-U.S. citizen applicant you rank. 
  • Communicate, in writing, all institutional policies regarding eligibility criteria (e.g. expected credentials, pre-employment screenings, background checks, etc.) applicants must meet if matched to your program. Programs shall obtain signed acknowledgment from interviewees that all pertinent information has been provided. 

Important Considerations for Applicants:

Before finalizing your rank order list:

  • Confirm the willingness of any institution you rank to sponsor the appropriate visa if you are in need. 
  • Rank only those programs where you are willing to start training in good faith (i.e., with the intent to complete training) on the date specified in the appointment agreement.
  • Adhere to the withdrawal deadline if you no longer wish to participate in the Match. The deadline to withdraw from the Match is March 4 at 9 p.m. ET. Independent applicants can withdraw by logging into the R3 system and completing the withdrawal process; however, sponsored applicants (U.S. MD and DO seniors) must be withdrawn by their school official. 

Please keep in mind that applicant and program ranking preferences are confidential. While parties are free to voluntarily communicate how they may rank each other, neither party is obligated to share ranking intentions and preferences, nor should they be asked to do so. 

For questions regarding Match policies, please visit the Match Policies page on the NRMP website for access to Match Participation Agreements as well as the Match Codes of Conduct for best practices during recruitment and ranking. You also can contact NRMP Policy at policy@nrmp.org. We are here to help and look forward to supporting you throughout the 2026 Main Residency Match.

Coming Soon! Main Residency Match Program Director and Applicant Surveys

The NRMP will be administering both the Program Director and Applicant Surveys in 2026. Invitations will be sent by email, and the survey will be open from March 5 to March 15. The information gathered will help inform the decision-making processes of future applicants and programs and educate the broader community on the transition to residency process. To read previous NRMP survey reports and to learn more, please visit our website. If you work with applicants directly, please remind them to mark their calendars for March 5.

Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Vascular Surgery program directors who elected to participate in NRMP’s Voluntary ROL Lock Pilot this year should be on the lookout for a separate survey specific to the Pilot. The more survey responses we get, the better we can inform the community about the merits and utility of the rank lock functionality and the experiences of programs and applicants. 

For questions about any of the surveys, please reach out to research@nrmp.org.

Preparing for SOAP

Match Week will be here before we know it! On Monday, March 16, at 10 a.m. ET, program directors learn if their program(s) filled, applicants learn if they matched, and SOAP begins.

SOAP provides a uniform system for programs to offer unfilled positions to eligible unmatched or partially matched applicants through a series of offer rounds during Match Week. With multiple application services participating in SOAP, we wanted to share resources available to you to prepare.

Programs and Institutions:

Medical Schools:

Residency Applicants:

Assistance is available from the NRMP Support Team Monday – Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm ET by emailing support@nrmp.org or calling 866-653-NRMP (6767).

Upcoming Deadlines

Laryngology, Pathology, Pediatric Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Vascular Neurology

  • February 4, 12 p.m. ET: Match Opens

Epilepsy & Clinical Neurophysiology, Hand Surgery, Neuroendovascular Intervention, Neurosurgical Oncology

  • February 11, 12 p.m. ET: Match Opens

Careers

NRMP is growing to meet the needs of the community. We currently have two positions open:

  • Data Analyst
  • Senior Business Intelligence Analyst

For more information, please visit our Careers page. NRMP is an equal opportunity employer.