News

The National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) is excited to announce the launch of the 2026 Voluntary Program Rank Order List (ROL) Lock Pilot initiative for the 2026 Main Residency Match. Launched in partnership with Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Vascular Surgery specialties, this initiative will make it possible for the NRMP, and programs participating in these three specialties, to explore the merits and utility of voluntary functionality that would allow programs to “lock” their certified rank order lists in the NRMP’s Registration, Ranking, and Results® (R3®) system and establish a window when interviewed applicants could visit – or not – the program without concern that it might alter the program’s ROL. Execution and evaluation of the pilot will help inform improvements to the applicant-program relationship and efforts to bring more trust and transparency to the transition. 

Read the NRMP’s full announcement on the Voluntary Program ROL Lock Pilot. The opportunity for the three specialties to participate in the pilot commences with the 2026 Main Residency Match® cycle.  

If you have any questions, please contact pilot@nrmp.org.