ERAS Support Services for Applicants
National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®)
NRMP Main Residency Match®
The NRMP matches applicants with available residency positions. You are required to register with NRMP by the NRMP Late Registration deadline in March in order to participate in this season’s Match.
Additionally, to participate in the Match, NRMP requires that the passing results of all exams required for ECFMG Certification (USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS*) are available by the NRMP Rank Order List Certification deadline. You must also certify your NRMP Rank Order List by this deadline. You do not need to be ECFMG certified in order to participate in the Match.
*IMPORTANT NOTE FOR 2022 MATCH: In response to the suspension and subsequent discontinuation of the USMLE Step 2 CS exam by the USMLE program, ECFMG|FAIMER has identified Pathways that will allow qualified IMGs who have not passed Step 2 CS to meet the clinical and communication skills requirements for ECFMG Certification. For IMGs who apply for and satisfy all requirements for a Pathway and have passing performances on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK that are valid for ECFMG Certification, ECFMG will verify to the NRMP that they have met the examination requirements for ECFMG Certification. Please review the Requirements for ECFMG Certification for 2022 Match for detailed information.
For information on Match registration and requirements, visit the NRMP website.
The ECFMG Certificate Holders Office (ECHO) offers several NRMP-related resources to assist residency applicants with the process. Visit the ECHO Resources page to access these resources.
NRMP Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP)
The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) is a standardized and uniform process for those applicants who do not secure a residency position or who are only partially matched through the NRMP Main Residency Match and for those residency training programs that have training positions unfilled by the Main Residency Match and are seeking eligible applicants. SOAP takes place during Match Week each year, and typically begins immediately following NRMP’s notification to applicants of whether or not they have matched.
What is SOAP?
- SOAP is a series of rounds during which programs make offers; it is not a second Match.
- Applicants express preferences by applying to programs through ERAS.
- Programs express preferences with lists of applicants in the NRMP Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System.
- Through the R3 System, program offers are extended to applicants.
- Applicants could receive multiple offers in any round.
- Positions offered and accepted during SOAP establish a binding commitment enforced by the NRMP Match Participation Agreement.
SOAP Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in SOAP, an international medical student/graduate must, among other requirements:
- Have registered with AAMC’s MyERAS 2022.
- Have registered with the NRMP for the 2022 Main Residency Match.
- Be fully or partially unmatched.
- Have met all eligibility requirements for the Match.
During SOAP, eligible applicants:
- Can access the List of Unfilled Programs for those positions for which they are eligible.
- Can apply only to unfilled Match-participating programs.
- Must use ERAS to apply to programs.
- Cannot use phone, fax, e-mail, or other services to contact programs.
- Cannot have another individual/entity (including medical school) contact programs.
- Can accept positions only through SOAP during Match Week.
- Cannot apply to non-Match participating programs until after Match Week.
Applicants who are not eligible to participate in SOAP will not have access to the List of Unfilled Programs.
To obtain detailed information on SOAP, visit the SOAP page on the NRMP website.
The ECFMG Certificate Holders Office (ECHO) also provides information about SOAP in the Ask the Experts: NRMP’s Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) resource.
For additional SOAP resources, including an applicant checklist and instructions on how to apply and reapply to programs during SOAP, please monitor the AAMC website as Match Week approaches.
