The Match® 2021 Timeline

Friday, March 12, 2021, prior to Match Week®, all residency candidates registered with NRMP® will receive an email confirming their Post-Match SOAP® Eligibility. Post-Match Eligibility does not signify whether or not you have Matched.

Eligibility Checklist by Candidate Type:

  • Will be sponsored by their medical schools
  • Must be able to start an ACGME® residency program on July 1st the year of The Match
  • Will be verified for graduation by their medical school
  • Must be able to start an ACGME® residency program on July 1st the year of The Match®
  • Must have their USMLE® Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, and USMLE Step 2 CS (or Alternative Pathway) verified by ECFMG
  • Must have their credentials fully verified by ECFMG® by the week before The Match® (ECFMG communicates with NRMP® weekly to update candidate verification.)
  • Includes previous US Medical Graduates, Canadian, DO, and Fifth Pathway
  • Must be able to start an ACGME® residency program on July 1st the year of The Match
  • Will have their credentials verified by their medical school

All residency candidates must be registered with NRMP® by the Rank Order List deadline.

Match Week

All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Day 1

Monday, March 15, 2021

  • 11 a.m. — Applicants are notified through NRMP® if they are Matched, Unmatched or Partially Match. SOAP-Eligible applicants will receive the List of Unfilled Programs.

  • 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. — ER Zone: Time to use Electronic Residency! Applicants have time to research programs on the List of Unfilled Programs

  • 12 p.m. — ERAS® opens for applicants to select programs, prepare their applications, and submit applications.

  • 3 p.m. — Residency Programs begin receiving applications and contacting applicants.

Day 2

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

  • All Day — Continue applying to programs and keep an eye out for interview invitations. Programs will begin creating preference lists.

Day 3

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

  • 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. — Programs begin to offer positions for applicants to Accept or Deny. (Offer Round 1)

  • 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Programs continue extending offers. (Offer Round 2)

Day 4

Thursday, March 18, 2021

  • 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Programs continue extending offers. (Offer Round 3)

  • 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. — Programs continue extending offers. (Offer Round 4)

  • 3 p.m. — SOAP Concludes: List of Unfilled Programs updates to include unfilled residency programs that did not participate in SOAP and becomes available to all residency candidates registered to NRMP®.

Day 5

Friday, March 19, 2021

  • MATCH DAY

  • 12 p.m. — Match results released through NRMP®

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NATIONAL RESIDENT MATCHING PROGRAM®, NRMP®, SUPPLEMENTAL OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE PROGRAM®, and SOAP® are registered trademarks of National Resident Matching Program. THE MATCH™ is a trademark of National Resident Matching Program. Electronic Residency, Inc and this website are not sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with National Resident Matching Program.