Key facts
- Match Week runs from Monday morning to Friday midday Eastern time in NRMP's materials for the 2027 Match.
- On Monday you learn whether you matched but not where; on Friday you learn where.
- Tuesday to Thursday is SOAP for eligible unmatched or partially matched applicants.
- NRMP publishes the exact dates and times each year on its Match Week and SOAP pages.
Match Week is five days in which you learn whether you matched, and unmatched applicants use SOAP to pursue open positions. The structure is stable year to year, but NRMP sets exact dates and times annually. This page describes what happens each day. To see the dates for your cycle, use the Match Week and SOAP calendar linked from NRMP's Match Week and SOAP pages.
Before Match Week #
Several things must be settled before Monday, not during the week.
- Your rank order list is certified. After the certification deadline you cannot change it. See building your rank order list.
- Your NRMP verification is complete. NRMP requires IMGs to be verified by ECFMG as having met the examination requirements for certification by the rank order list certification deadline. Unverified IMGs are withdrawn from the Match and cannot take part in SOAP. Verification status shows in NRMP's R3 system.
- Your SOAP materials are ready, in case you need them: ERAS application, letters, transcript, personal statement and a plan for your limits. See SOAP explained.
- Your contact details are current in R3 and ERAS, since programs and NRMP will email you.
Day by day #
| Day | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | In the morning (Eastern time), applicants are told whether they matched, but not where. Notification is by email and visible in R3. SOAP begins for eligible applicants. | Check R3. If unmatched or partially matched and eligible, view the List of Unfilled Programs. |
| Tuesday | Programs review SOAP applications in their application service, interview, and begin creating preference lists in R3. | Apply to unfilled programs, respond to contacts, prepare for fast interviews. |
| Wednesday | SOAP continues. | Keep responding promptly. |
| Thursday | Offers go out in the final rounds. NRMP describes a series of four SOAP offer rounds across the SOAP period. | Respond to offers within each round's window. |
| Friday | At midday Eastern, applicants and programs receive match results by email and in R3. | Confirm your program and note instructions from NRMP and the program. |
Monday: matched or not #
At the start of Match Week you get one piece of information: matched or not matched. If matched, you wait for Friday to learn where. If unmatched or partially matched, SOAP opens for you. NRMP also warns that applicants who are not eligible for SOAP cannot contact Match-participating programs until SOAP concludes.
Tuesday to Thursday: SOAP #
Programs with unfilled positions are listed in R3. Eligible applicants apply through the application service the program designates, programs contact those they want, and positions are offered to applicants in rounds based on programs' preference lists. Accepted offers are binding. Details are in SOAP explained.
Friday: Match Day #
Results are released at midday Eastern time per NRMP's materials. Your match is a binding commitment under the Match Participation Agreement, enforced by NRMP. Read the glossary entry for Match Day.
What 2026 looked like #
NRMP's 2026 report gives context for the scale of Match Week: 48,050 active applicants competed for 41,126 PGY-1 positions in the Match. The algorithm left 2,862 positions unfilled, and with 109 positions in programs that did not submit a rank list, 2,971 were unfilled; 2,851 were placed in SOAP. The overall fill rate after SOAP was 99.3 percent.
After Friday: what an IMG needs to do next #
- Contact the program to learn onboarding steps: contract, documents, start date and health requirements.
- ECFMG certification. You must hold ECFMG certification before starting training. If any requirement is still pending, tell the program and ECFMG (ECFMG certification).
- Visa. Most IMGs need a visa. The program tells you whether it sponsors J-1, H-1B, or neither, and the steps start immediately. See your visa timeline after the Match and J-1 vs H-1B.
- Expect deadlines. Programs have strict dates for paperwork, and delays can put your start date at risk.
If you did not match #
Read if you do not match for a decision tree, backup options and how to plan the next cycle.
Frequently asked questions
When do I find out where I matched?
At the end of Match Week. NRMP's materials say Match Week ends around midday Eastern time on Friday, when applicants and programs learn the results. Check NRMP's calendar for your cycle.
Will I know on Monday if I matched?
You will learn whether you matched, but not where. NRMP sends notification by email and shows it in the R3 system.
What if I matched but my visa or certification is not ready?
Contact your program and ECFMG as soon as you can. Certification and visa steps follow the match and have their own timelines.
Is Match Week the same every year?
The structure has been stable, but dates and times are set annually. Always check the current NRMP calendar.
Sources
- NRMP: Match Week
- NRMP: Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP)
- NRMP: Introduction to the 2027 Main Residency Match
- ECFMG Certification Overview
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