Organizations Involved

In the US, a greater number of organizations are involved in the residency match process than in Canada:

• Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA): a searchable database of all residency programs that will be offering positions in the current match year with detailed program information.
• Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS): the agency that hosts applicant electronic residency applications and distributes them, along with attached supporting documentation, to NRMP-participating residency programs.

ERAS Residency Application Timeline

• Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS): the agency that serves as your “designated Dean’s Office” for ERAS, providing you with an ERAS registration token and processing all of your residency application supporting documentation to the ERAS system.
• National Resident Matching Program (NRMP): the agency that receives applicant rank order lists and actually runs the match for most US residency positions.

NRMP Match Timeline

• San Francisco Matching Program (SF Match): the application agency and matching service for US residency positions in Child Neurology and Ophthalmology.
• American Urological Association (AUA): the application agency and matching service for US residency positions in Urology.

Most US residency applicants participate in ERAS/NRMP (see timelines linked above). As a Canadian medical school graduating senior applying to residency in the US, you will pay fees to three different organizations:

1. CaRMS – to serve as your designated ERAS Dean’s Office.
2. ERAS – to host and distribute your electronic residency application.
3. NRMP – to run your rank order list through the match.

It is strongly suggested that you submit your applications as early as possible, as some programs in the US offer interviews on a rolling basis beginning in September.