Key facts
- IMGs get an ERAS token through ECFMG / Intealth before they can register in MyERAS.
- ERAS opens for application building before it opens for submission, so you can prepare early.
- Official dates change every year. Always confirm them with AAMC and NRMP.
- The Match is run by NRMP, separately from ERAS, which is run by AAMC.
The residency application runs on a fixed annual calendar. For IMGs the calendar is tighter than it looks, because several steps (ECFMG tokens, letters, exam results, visa sponsorship) depend on other people. This page gives you the order of events so you can work backward from the deadlines that matter.
Who does what #
| Organization | Role in your application |
|---|---|
| ECFMG / Intealth | Certifies IMGs, issues your ERAS token, transmits your certification status |
| AAMC (ERAS) | Application service where you build and submit your application |
| NRMP | Runs the Main Residency Match and your rank order list |
| Programs | Review applications, invite interviews, rank applicants |
The season at a glance #
The calendar below describes the usual shape of a season. Months are approximate.
A year or more before: build the foundation #
- Take your USMLE exams on a schedule that lets results arrive before applications are reviewed.
- Secure US clinical experience and the relationships that turn into letters. See the USCE glossary entry for what counts.
- Start or continue research you can describe honestly, including your role.
- Decide on your target specialty and a realistic range of backup options.
Spring and early summer: register and get your tokens #
- Create or confirm your ECFMG / Intealth account and request your ERAS token when the process opens.
- Register in MyERAS with the token, and begin building your application.
- Ask your letter writers early, and give them what they need to write something specific.
- Start drafting your personal statement and your experiences section.
Summer: build and finalize #
- Applicants can typically build their application before submission opens.
- Collect your transcripts, medical school documents and your Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) if your school provides one.
- Build your list of programs. Use program websites, not just aggregator lists, to check IMG eligibility, visa sponsorship and exam requirements.
- Decide how you will use any program signals available to you.
Early autumn: submit #
- Submit your application when submission opens. Programs begin reviewing applications on a fixed release date, so being ready on the first day matters, but a rushed application is worse than one submitted a few days later.
- Confirm that every component has arrived: exam scores, letters, transcripts, photo if used.
Autumn into winter: interviews #
- Programs send interview invitations over several weeks. Respond quickly: slots fill.
- Prepare for virtual interviews, which are now the norm in many programs. Test your technology and your setting.
- Keep your visa timeline in mind. Some programs only sponsor one type of visa, which can limit your options.
Winter: rank list #
- After interviews, you create your rank order list in the NRMP system. Rank every program you would be willing to train at, in the order you prefer them.
- Never rank a program you would not attend, and do not rank based on what you think programs want to hear.
Late winter to March: the Match #
- Match Week brings the outcome. If you do not match, the supplemental process (SOAP) begins the same week, and you must be ready to act immediately.
- Match Day is when you learn where you matched.
After the Match: onboarding and visa #
- Programs begin the contract and onboarding process. IMGs also begin the visa process, often with tight timelines. See the visa guides once published.
Planning backward: a checklist #
- List the date your exams, letters and experience must be complete.
- Subtract the time each step really takes (not the time you hope it takes).
- Mark the dates that cannot move: token requests, submission, interview invitations, rank list deadline.
- Review the plan every month and adjust early rather than late.
Common timeline mistakes #
- Waiting for an exam result before starting everything else.
- Asking for letters only weeks before the application is due.
- Applying without checking each program's IMG, visa and exam rules.
- Assuming the dates from last year still apply.
- Having no plan for what to do the week the Match results come out.
Where USMLE Wise fits #
If you want a second pair of eyes on your timeline and application, our Match mentorship team reviews profiles and builds a plan around your dates. This page and the rest of the wiki are free to use either way.
Frequently asked questions
When should an IMG start preparing for ERAS?
Long before the application opens. Letters of recommendation, US clinical experience, research and exam scores take many months to build, and they cannot be rushed in the final weeks.
Who runs ERAS and who runs the Match?
AAMC runs ERAS, the application service. NRMP runs the Match, the matching algorithm that pairs applicants and programs. You register with both.
Do I need to have passed every exam before applying?
No, but programs have different expectations about which exams must be passed before the application or before the start date. Check each program's requirements and your ECFMG certification timing.
Sources
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