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April 2025 Illuminator

Shining a Light on Match News that Matters

This issue of the Illuminator includes:

  • NRMP celebrates Match Day for the 2025 Main Residency Match
  • Institution and program registration opens on May 1 for the 2026 Main Residency Match
  • NRMP-DIO call on April 21
  • Important policy information about waivers and deferral of Match results
  • USMLE/COMLEX score verification for medical schools
  • NRMP article published in Academic Medicine
  • Upcoming deadlines

NRMP Celebrates Match Day for the 2025 Main Residency Match

On Friday, March 21, the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) proudly announced the results of the 2025 Main Residency Match® (“the Match”), the largest in its 73-year history. A total of 52,498 applicants registered for the Match, an increase of 2,085 (4.1 percent) over last year, and 47,208 of those applicants submitted a certified a rank order list (“active applicant”). This year’s active applicant pool competed for 43,237 positions, an increase of 1,734 (4.2 percent) from 2024.

“This year’s Main Residency Match marks a milestone of continued success for the graduate medical education community as a record number of applicants and residency training programs matched,” said NRMP President and CEO Donna L. Lamb, DHSc, MBA, BSN. “The NRMP continues to be a service that welcomes all who wish to participate, capably advocating for and supporting the aspirations of young physicians and the priorities of residency training programs to collectively address the varied heath needs of communities across the nation.”  

Read the entire press release, including record breaking program participation and applicant and specialty highlights. View the Advance Data Tables, Match by the Numbers overview, Match infographic, and additional data reports for further information about the 2025 Main Residency Match.

Program and Institution Registration Opens on May 1 for the 2026 Main Residency Match

After a very successful 2025 Main Residency Match®, the NRMP is looking towards registration opening for the 2026 Main Residency Match. 

Historically, registration for the Match opened in September for all participants. This year, registration for institution and program users will open on Thursday, May 1 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Medical school users and residency applicants will continue to register for the Match on September 15.  

The NRMP’s decision to modify the Match registration timeline for institutions and programs allows updates to the public Program Directory launched last year. With multiple application services, the Program Directory serves as an important, additional resource for residency applicants to begin searching for the application service requirements, program location, links to institution and program websites, NRMP program code, and program types. Opening registration early allows institution and program users to update their Program Directory information in the Registration, Ranking, and Results® (R3®) system in advance of the application, ensuring residency applicants have access to accurate information when researching the programs to which they may apply.  

There is no action you need to take currently. Institution and program users will receive an email from the NRMP on Thursday, May 1 at 12:00 p.m. ET, with instructions on how to register their individual user accounts, activate the institution and programs, and update their program information for the Match. Program directors in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Vascular Surgery may also begin signing up to participate in the Voluntary Program ROL Lock Pilot for each participating program/track when registration begins.

View the 2026 Main Residency Match calendar for the complete schedule. 

The NRMP remains committed to assessing and modifying its matching processes to better support the UME and GME communities. We look forward to supporting you in the Match and welcome you to contact the NRMP Support Team at support@nrmp.org for assistance. 

NRMP-DIO Call on April 21

NRMP President and CEO, Dr. Donna Lamb, and staff will host a NRMP-DIO Zoom call on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET.

The NRMP established these calls between NRMP leadership and the DIO community to create a forum in which to discuss NRMP policies, Match activities, and issues relevant to the transition to residency that affect institutions and programs. During this call, we will share the outcomes of the 2025 Main Residency Match, changes in Match process (e.g. early opening of 2026 Main Residency Match registration), updates on the Voluntary Program Rank Order List pilot project, NRMP’s annual Transition to Residency conference, and more.

All DIOs registered with the NRMP should have received an email invitation to the meeting. Since these meetings are only for the DIOs invited, please do not forward the meeting invite to others.

Policy Corner: Waiver or Deferral of Match Results

The 2025 Main Residency Match has concluded, and as matched applicants and programs pivot toward onboarding activities, we wish to call out a few policy reminders. All matched positions and offers extended and accepted through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) constitute a binding commitment. If for any reason an applicant or program cannot honor the binding commitment, a waiver or one-year deferral must be obtained from the NRMP. 

Here are some key elements regarding the NRMP’s policies on waivers and deferrals:

  • Neither applicants nor programs may release each other from a binding commitment. A waiver or deferral of the binding commitment may be requested only from the NRMP.
  • A deferral is not a waiver. A deferral allows for a one-year delayed start to training and requires mutual agreement between the applicant and program. 
  • Until a waiver is approved by the NRMP, applicants cannot apply, interview, or accept another position.
  • Until a waiver is approved by the NRMP, programs cannot discuss, interview for, or offer the matched position to other candidates.
  • Waivers may be requested for unanticipated serious and extreme hardship, applicant change of specialty, applicant ineligibility, applicant visa issues, or program closure/loss of accreditation. Waivers based on change of specialty are approved for applicants with an advanced position that begins the year after the Match or those with a fellowship position.
  • If a waiver is not granted, the applicant and program are expected to honor the binding commitment. 

For more information and to review a copy of the Waiver/Deferral Policy, please visit the NRMP policies page on the NRMP website. Questions regarding the Match Waiver and Deferral Policy or other NRMP policies should be sent to policy@nrmp.org. We are happy to provide whatever assistance and support you need. 

Medical School USMLE/COMLEX Score Verification Opens on April 15

The NRMP asks medical school officials and administrators to verify, and update if necessary, the USMLE and COMLEX pass status and scores of students and graduates who participated in the Main Residency Match by May 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET. Verification in the R3 system ensures that we possess the most accurate applicant data for our reports and publications, including the Charting Outcomes in the Match publications.

Although verification is voluntary, each school that completes the verification process will receive a Characteristics of Matched Seniors report this fall comparing the characteristics of the school’s matched senior students with national percentile information.

Additional information and support resources to assist you in verifying scores will be sent when score verification opens on April 15.

To address confidentiality concerns, the Match Participation Agreement states that applicants authorize their medical schools to release, verify, and transmit COMLEX and USMLE test scores to NRMP. In addition, during the Match registration process, applicants may elect not to enter their scores in the R3 system and/or opt out of having their scores used for research.

NRMP Published in Academic Medicine

The NRMP is excited to share our recently published article in Academic Medicine, Vol. 100, No.3., Prevalence and Correlates of Prohibited Questions in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Fellowship Interviews During 1 Appointment Year. The study investigated the frequency with which applicants to internal medicine (IM) and pediatrics fellowships are subjected to prohibited questions during interviews, how correlates of these interview questions compare between IM and pediatrics fellowship applicants, and which applicant subgroups are most affected.

For more information, please visit the NRMP Insights and view the Research tab.

Upcoming Deadlines

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

  • April 2, 11:59 p.m. ET: Quota Change Deadline

Radiology, Surgical Oncology

  • April 16, 12:00 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Opens

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

  • April 16, 9:00 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Certification Deadline

Epilepsy & Clinical Neurophysiology, Hand Surgery

  • April 16, 11:59 p.m. ET: Quota Change Deadline

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

  • April 30, 12:00 p.m. ET: Match Day

Epilepsy & Clinical Neurophysiology, Hand Surgery

  • April 30, 9:00 p.m. ET: Rank Order List Certification Deadline