As your clinicals come to an end, you'll start preparing for the next step in your journey - securing a medical residency program. You’ll need to earn your license by passing the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 3 before the end of residency year one. During this time, you can practice in your preferred specialization and gain paid experience.
Medical school typically takes around four years to complete, while medical residency can add anywhere from three to seven extra years of training. Before we go too far with what to expect, let's take a step back and discuss the residency match process.
Getting Matched with a Residency Program
The residency match process is an exciting milestone in your medical career. The National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP) pairs four year medical students with residency programs across the country. Although this will be your first paying medical job, the application process is similar to what you experienced when applying to medical school.
Step 1: Submit Your Application Package(s)
You'll need to submit your medical school transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, licensing exam transcript, and medical student performance evaluation (MSPE) alongside your application to the residency programs of your choice.
Step 2: Attend Interviews for Prospective Programs
The interviews will typically happen in the fall and winter of your last year in medical school. While prospective programs are interested in seeing if you're a good fit for them, this is also a chance for you to do the same. Not every program on your list will be your first choice, but it's important to make sure you feel confident in your decision after the interview process.
Step 3: Submit Your Ranked List and Wait for the Match
After your interviews, you and the residency programs will submit ranked lists to the NRMP. The algorithm will match you, and other candidates, to residency programs based on mutual preferences. These results will be released on Match Day.
Match Day at Ross University School of Medicine
Match Day is an exciting time for Ross University School of Medicine (Ross Med) students! It marks the transition from a medical student to a working medical professional in your desired specialty. Held every March, Match Day is filled with excitement, hope, and celebration as students discover where they'll be spending the next few years of their career.
At Ross Med, preparing for Match Day starts long before your final year. Throughout your clinicals, you'll work closely with a team of advisors who are well-versed in residency placement. They'll help you refine your application, prepare for upcoming interviews, and create personalized strategies to help you match into your chosen specialty.
We're committed to our student's success, and we're proud this is reflected in our 2024 Match results
- 572 residency placements across the U.S.
- Residency placements in 40 states and territories
- Ross Med graduates placed in 22 different specialties
Whether wanting to work for a large urban hospital or a community-based program, we're here to help our students make their goals a reality.
How Long Are Medical Residency Programs?
Residency program length isn't always the same across the board. Depending on the program, specialty, and even your career path, your residency program can last anywhere from three to seven years. If you decide to tackle a combined residency program rather than focusing on one specialty, that can also impact the length of your residency program.
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the general length for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is as follows:
| Residency Program Length by Speciality |
|---|
| Specialty | Length |
| Anesthesiology | 4 Years |
| Child Neurology | 5 Years |
| Dermatology | 4 Years |
| Diagnostic Radiology | 5 Years |
| Emergency Medicine | 3 to 4 Years |
| Family Medicine | 3 to 4 Years |
| General Surgery | 5 Years |
| Internal Medicine | 3 Years |
| Internal Medicine (Pediatrics) | 4 Years |
| Interventional Radiology | 6 to 7 Years (depends on program) |
| Medical Genetics and Genomics | 3 Years |
| Neurology | 3 to 4 Years |
| Neurological Surgery | 7 Years |
| Nuclear Medicine | 4 Years |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | 4 Years |
| Ophthalmology | 5 Years |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 5 Years |
| Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine | 3 to 5 Years (depends on program) |
| Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery) | 5 Years |
| Pathology (Anatomic and Clinical) | 3 to 4 Years |
| Pediatrics | 3 Years |
| Plastic Surgery (Integrated) | 6 Years |
| Preventive Medicine | 3 Years |
| Psychiatry | 4 Years |
| Radiation Oncology | 5 Years |
| Vascular Surgery | 5 Years |
| Urology | 5 Years |
| Thoracic Surgery | 6 to 7 Years (depends on program) |
Data pulled from the American Medical Association (AMA) in Dec. 2024
After residency, you may choose to complete additional training in a subspeciality of your choice. Fellowships can last up to three years which would further extend your medical education timeline.
Don't see your preferred specialty listed above? Check out FREIDA™ to explore more ACGME approved residency programs.
What to Expect During Your Residency Program
Throughout your residency, you'll take on more responsibilities in patient care and slowly make the shift from supervised learning to independently managing caseloads. Each day, you'll practice evaluating patients, creating treatment plans, and mastering procedures related to your specialty. While the experience you gain is highly rewarding, it often comes with 60-, sometimes even 80-, hours a week.
As you adjust to the emotional demands of caring for patients, you should also make time to take care of your personal wellbeing. It can be a steep learning curve but remaining flexible and resilient can help you get through stressful times. Forming bonds with your peers and mentors can also create an invaluable support system you can rely on and learn from throughout your residency.
What to Expect After Residency
After your residency, you can apply to be a fully licensed physician with several years of experience under your belt. You may be able to obtain a full-time position at the same place you completed your residency or pursue a role at another location. This is also a great time to pursue a fellowship if you want to pursue a subspeciality.
Curious how Ross Med has helped other graduates prepare for their residency? Check out our residency placement rates by specialty and year. When you’re ready to take the first step on your medical journey, apply today
