Please click the buttons below to learn more about each Match timeline.
The opening of applicant registration for MyERAS® in June marked the start of another exciting Match season for DO seniors and graduates. The NBOME has provided this summary of timelines for the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) as well as numerous specialty matches.
Please check for specific medical specialty or program deadlines through AAMC’s Residency Explorer Tool or AMA’s FREIDA™, which are great resources for this information.
2026 NRMP MAIN MATCH with ERAS application service
New specialty specific questions are required for applications to Anesthesiology, Neurological Surgery and Plastic Surgery-Integrated programs.
Expansion of postgraduate training content is available for applications to allow applicants to include training beyond programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Extended or interruption to education/training language was revised to “Interruptions and Extensions” for clarity so that a “Yes” response allows for collection of 2 answers for academic and professional.
June 4, 2025, 9 am ET | MyERAS® applicant registration opens
Register for and create your profile and master residency application in the MyERAS portal. Your master application is designed to streamline the residency application process. Contact your designated dean’s office for your one-time access code to start the registration process.
ERAS has created pre-recorded applicant webinars to provide you with a better understanding of how to successfully navigate MyERAS.
July 2025 | Thalamus applicant registration opens
Thalamus provides the centralized platform to manage applicants and program interview scheduling. You will receive an email to create your Thalamus account after you register your MyERAS account.
September 3, 2025, 9 am ET | MyERAS® program application opens
Start applying to the residency programs. Before submitting, review the specialty signal requirements to express your interest.
September 15, 2025, 12 pm ET | NRMP® applicant registration opens
The National Residency Main Matching Program (NRMP®) is the mechanism for matching applicants to programs. Once registration is open, create your profile and register for both the Main Match and the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) Match. Your AOA ID and NBOME ID are both required for registration. Additional fees apply after January 31st so save money by registering early.
September 24, 2025, 9 am ET | MyERAS® program application review begins
Residency programs will begin reviewing submitted applications, and depending upon the program or specialty, some will start to send out interview invitations by the end of September. Refer to each specialty’s timelines to ensure your application is complete by the due date.
October 2025 – January 2026 | Interviewing
During this period residency programs issue interview invitations and interview applicants. Refer to each specialty’s application timeline for details regarding interview scheduling. Some specialties, institutions, or programs will recommend virtual interviews, but others may require them in person. Make sure you are aware of the expectation and plan accordingly, and use these important tips to help ace your interview.
February 2, 12 pm ET – March 4, 2026, 9 pm ET | NRMP® Rank Order List (ROL) submission and certification ends
Now is the time to enter and certify your ROL to the NRMP® which has some tips on how to do it right. The final deadline to submit and certify your ROL is Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 9 pm ET.
March 16, 2026 – March 20, 2026 | NRMP Match Week
Match Week begins March 16 at 10 am ET. This is when you will receive an email from the NRMP stating whether you have matched to a program. If not, you will have another chance in the post-Match SOAP process beginning at 11 am ET. SOAP creates a uniform system for unmatched applicants and unfilled programs to match prior to Match Day. There are four rounds of SOAP; a full schedule is here.
Friday, March 20, 2026, 12 pm ET | NRMP MATCH DAY!
Today’s the day you learn where you will spend the next several years of your training. Celebrate this important milestone in your journey to become an osteopathic physician with your classmates and loved ones—you’ve earned it! And don’t forget to share your Match stories with us using #IMatchedwithCOMLEX!
2026 SPECIALTY MATCH CYCLES
2026 NRMP MAIN MATCH with ResidencyCAS
For the 2026 cycle, you will use Residency Centralized Application Service (ResidencyCAS) to apply for Obstetrics and Gynecology and Emergency Medicine. More detailed information can be found here.
June 4, 2025 | ResidencyCAS applicant registration opens
Register for and create your profile and master residency application in the ResidencyCAS portal. Contact your designated dean’s office for your one-time access link to start the registration process.
August 25, 2025 | Applicants can begin requesting COMLEX-USA scores from NBOME to all programs to which you are applying
September 3, 2025, 9 am ET | Applicants’ submission to programs opens
September 24, 2025, 11:59 pm ET | Applicants’ submission to programs closes
October 1, 2025 | Programs begin reviewing submitted applications. From October through January, programs issue interview invitations and interview applicants. From February on, the ResidencyCAS timeline follows the 2026 NRMP Main Match timeline above.
Urology Match
June 24, 2025 | Urology Residency Match cycle opens
The American Urological Association, in conjunction with the Society of Academic Urologists, oversees the Urology Residency Match Program. Registration is now open for applicants to create their profile and upload application materials.
September 24, 2025 | Programs start receiving applications via ERAS
October 24, 2025 | Programs extend interview offers
October 27, 2025 | Applicants apply to interview offers
November 21, 2025 | Rank list begins for programs and applicants
February 2, 2026 | Match results are released
Check here for more important dates, timelines, and other valuable program-specific information.
Military Match
July 1, 2025 | Military Residency Match cycle opens
The Joint Service Graduate Medical Education Selection Board encompasses the Air Force, Army, and Navy branches of the United Stated Armed Forces. Physicians representing residency programs in each branch meet annually to review applicants.
Applicants must submit their applications using the Medical Operational Data System. See below for specific information for each branch:
December 10, 2025 | Military match results are released
Ophthalmology Match
July 1, 2025 | The San Francisco Match for Ophthalmology Residency Match cycle opens
The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology established and sponsors the Ophthalmology Residency Matching Program and uses the San Francisco Match Central Application Service (SF CAS) to provide application and match services.
October 27 – December 19, 2025 | Interview Period
All interviews are virtual.
January 22, 2026, 12 pm PT/3 pm ET | Applicant Rank List Deadline
January 29, 2026, 5 am PT/8 am ET | Match results are released
Detailed timeline information is here.
Plastic Surgery Match
The American Council of Educators in Plastic Surgery has outlined the following recommendations:
Integrated programs and applicants utilize ERAS for the current recruitment cycle, which is a change from last year.
Independent programs and applicants utilize the San Francisco Central Application Service for the current recruitment cycle. Find the detailed timeline here.
Good luck to all the DO seniors and graduates who will participate in the 2025-2026 Match cycle. Here’s to another record-setting year!