Residency Match Day: Your Complete Guide
Match Day is an important milestone for medical students and graduates on their journey to becoming licensed medical professionals in the U.S. Each year, tens of thousands of applicants register for the Match, including graduates of U.S. MD and DO programs and graduates of international medical schools (IMGs). In this guide, we break down how the medical residency match works and answer frequently asked questions about the Match. We’ll also discuss how to prepare for Match Day and what to do if you do not match into a residency program. Keep reading to learn more about the National Resident Matching Program® and what to expect on Match Day.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- What is the National Resident Matching Program?
- How does the Main Residency Match work?
- What is Match Day?
- How to Prepare for Match Day
- 2026 Medical Residency Match Rates
- What if I don’t match with a residency program?
- Match Day FAQs
What is the National Resident Matching Program?
The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) is a non-profit organization that facilitates an annual process for pairing medical students with U.S. residency programs. This process is known as the Main Residency Match, but often shortened to “the Match.” The NRMP’s matching algorithm considers the preferences of applicants and residency directors using rank order lists to determine the best matches for all participants. It is an impartial process and the results of the Match are final and binding.
How does the Main Residency Match work?
While the Main Residency Match may seem intimidating, it’s an organized and highly trusted process. Here is a quick step-by-step overview of how the Main Residency Match works:
Step 1: Apply to residency programs through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
Step 2: Interview with residency programs (by invitation-only).
Step 3: Create your rank order list (ROL) of preferred residency programs in order of preference. Simultaneously, residency program directors will create their own ROLs.
Step 4: Submit your ROL to NRMP.
Step 5: The matching algorithm attempts to place you into your most preferred residency program while also considering residency programs’ ROLs. If a match is not possible for your first choice, the algorithm will move down your ROL until a match is made. If a match cannot be made, you will be notified that you did not match into a residency program.
Step 6: During Match Week, applicants find out whether or not they have matched with a program (but not where).
Step 7: On Match Day, applicants learn where they have been matched for their medical residency.
[ RELATED: Medical Residency Roadmap ]
What is Match Day?
Match Day is an annual, highly anticipated event for medical students and graduates hoping to match into a residency program in the U.S. Match Day is the day when applicants who have participated in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Main Residency Match find out which residency program they’ve paired with. Each year, on the third Friday in March, applicants eagerly await the results of the matching algorithm, which will reveal where they will spend the next phase of their medical training.
What is Match Week?
The week leading up to Match Day is known as “Match Week.” Match Week always takes place during the third week of March. On Monday, students will find out if they have been matched with a residency program, but will not know where. For those who are unmatched, the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) begins. Friday of Match Week is always Match Day, the day when applicants learn which residency program they have matched into.
How to Prepare for Match Day
Match Day can be an exciting and stressful time for applicants. Set yourself up for success by preparing for Match Day with these tips:
2026 Medical Residency Match Rates
During the 2026 Main Residency Match, 48,050 applicants submitted a rank order list and competed for 44,344 positions.
Listed below are the 2026 PGY-1 match rates, according to NRMP data:
- U.S. MD seniors: 93.5%
- U.S. DO seniors: 93.2%
- U.S. citizen IMGs: 70%
- Non-U.S. citizen IMGs: 56.4%
Are you an international medical school graduate? Visit our IMG Match Rates Guide >>>
What if I don’t match with a residency program?
Not all applicants match into a residency program on Match Day. If this happens to you, don’t panic! You still have options:
- Participate in SOAP: The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) allows unmatched applicants to apply to unfilled residency programs.
- Re-apply in next year’s Match: If SOAP is unsuccessful, look ahead to next year’s Match. Focus on strengthening your application and gaining additional experience.
- Take USMLE Step 3. Completing USMLE Step 3 early can help you stand out as a dedicated and competitive applicant the next time you participate in the Match. Dedicate time to USMLE Step 3 prep so you can earn a good score and impress residency programs.
How does the SOAP process work?
The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program is a critical part of the NRMP. The program exists to give unmatched applicants another chance to match into a residency. The following is a quick step-by-step overview of how the SOAP process works:
Step 1: On Monday of Match Week, you are notified that you did not match into a medical residency. Following this result, you will immediately be eligible to participate in SOAP.
Step 2: Review the list of residency programs with unfilled positions. The process moves quickly as you will be competing with other unmatched applicants for a select number of unfilled residency spots.
Step 3: As soon as possible, choose which programs you want to apply to and submit your application through ERAS.
Step 4: After receiving applications, residency programs select applicants to interview. Due to the short timeframe, these interviews are often conducted virtually or by phone.
Step 5: Residency programs create preference lists of candidates in the NRMP system. The system then automatically issues official position offers to applicants across multiple SOAP offer rounds.
Step 6: Applicants decide whether to accept or decline the offer.
Match Day FAQs
Below, we answer some frequently asked questions about Match Day.
What is the easiest residency to match into?
Some medical residencies are easier to match into, especially those that typically offer a large number of residency positions each year. Some of the easier medical residencies to match into generally include Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry.
What is the hardest residency to match into?
Some medical residencies are more competitive than others. A few of the hardest residencies to match into are Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, and Neurosurgery. These specialties are typically in high demand, offer a limited number of positions, and attract top medical students and graduates.
Can I match into multiple residencies?
If you participate in the NRMP, you can only match into one medical residency on Match Day. The matching algorithm pairs each applicant with the highest-ranked program on their list that also ranked them. Therefore, it is designed to produce only one optimal match for each applicant.
Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Shannon Magee, Executive Director, Medical Programs at Kaplan North America.
