Key terms & organizations
The residency Match comes with its own alphabet soup. Here's what the major acronyms mean, with links to each organization's official site.
NRMP National Resident Matching Program
The organization that runs the Match algorithm, pairing applicants with residency programs based on both sides' ranked preferences (the Rank Order List).
nrmp.org →ERAS Electronic Residency Application Service
The AAMC platform applicants use to build and submit their residency applications — CV, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and program selections — via MyERAS.
AAMC ERAS site →ECFMG Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
The body that certifies international medical graduates as eligible to enter US graduate medical education, and issues the token that activates a MyERAS account.
ecfmg.org →USMLE United States Medical Licensing Examination
The multi-step licensing exam (Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3) required for medical licensure in the US. Step scores are a major factor programs weigh in applications.
usmle.org →FREIDA AMA Residency & Fellowship Database
The American Medical Association's searchable database of accredited residency and fellowship programs — useful for researching program details while building your list.
freida.ama-assn.org →IMG International Medical Graduate
A physician who received their medical degree from a school outside the United States or Canada — regardless of citizenship.
SOAP Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program
The process run during Match Week that lets eligible unmatched or partially matched applicants apply to unfilled residency positions.
ROL Rank Order List
The ranked list of programs an applicant submits to NRMP, in order of preference. Along with each program's own rank list, it drives the Match algorithm.
MSPE Medical Student Performance Evaluation
A summary letter from an applicant's medical school describing academic performance, professionalism, and class ranking context — submitted as part of the ERAS application.
Want help making sense of it all?
A free consultation is a good place to ask questions specific to your situation.