ERAS Application Guide: 2027 Timeline, Documents & Tips

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The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), run by the AAMC, is the centralized online system you use to deliver your residency application and supporting documents to U.S. graduate medical education programs. For the 2027 ERAS season, the portal opened on June 4, 2026, applicants began submitting applications on September 2 at 9:00 a.m. ET, and residency programs began accessing applications on September 23 at 9:00 a.m., according to the AAMC and ECFMG. Sources: AAMC: Apply to Residencies with the ERAS System, AAMC: MyERAS Application for Residency Applicants, AAMC: Program Signaling for the 2027 ERAS Season. Last checked November 6, 2026.

What is the ERAS application and how does the system work?

The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) was established by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in 1996 so medical students and graduates could apply electronically to accredited U.S. residency programs. You enter your background once in the MyERAS portal, coordinate your supporting documents, and select which participating programs receive your file.

Three separate types of organizations handle your application. The AAMC maintains the MyERAS portal and publishes the list of participating specialties and programs. Your Designated Dean's Office issues your registration token and uploads school documents like your transcript and Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE). Finally, matching organizations such as the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) run the actual match.

Registering with ERAS does not register you for the NRMP Match or any other match. ERAS is a document and application delivery service only. You must register directly with the NRMP starting September 15 to rank programs or enter the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). Some programs participate in ERAS without participating in the Match, and some Match programs do not use ERAS. Also, Emergency Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology use ResidencyCAS rather than ERAS.

Once programs begin reviewing your ERAS file on September 23, interview invitations follow. To practice answering residency interview questions out loud before your first date, Confetto runs AI mock interviews with unscripted follow-up questions and rubric-based feedback. Start your free week.

U.S. medical students and graduates: If your school is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), your own medical school's Dean's office serves as your Designated Dean's Office.
International medical students and graduates (IMGs): ERAS Support Services at ECFMG, a division of Intealth, serves as your Designated Dean's Office through the MyIntealth portal.
Canadian medical school graduates: If you graduated prior to July 1, 2025, the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) acts as your Dean's office for U.S. residency applications. If you graduated on or after July 1, 2025, ERAS Support Services serves as your Dean's office.

2027 ERAS application timeline and key dates

The 2027 ERAS residency cycle opened in June 2026. You can start submitting applications to programs on September 2, and residency programs begin accessing them on September 23. Every application submitted between September 2 and September 23 appears to residency programs with the exact same September 23 timestamp, so you can take the time you need during that window to proofread before certifying.

For IMGs uploading documents through MyIntealth, ECFMG takes up to five business days to process an MSPE or medical school transcript. ERAS Support Services at ECFMG recommends submitting both documents no later than September 11 so they are ready on September 23.

2027 ERAS Season Official Dates (AAMC and ECFMG)
Date	Milestone	Who it affects
March 27, 2026 (5 p.m. ET)	Deadline for specialty leadership to sign the 2027 program signaling participation agreement	Specialty organizations (September residency and July fellowship cycles)
June 4, 2026	2027 ERAS season opens. Participating programs are automatically opted in to program signaling	All residency applicants and programs
June 24, 2026	ERAS 2027 Residency Tokens become available in MyIntealth for a $185 non-refundable fee	International medical students and graduates (IMGs)
July 1, 2026 (9 a.m. ET)	Registration deadline for July fellowship cycle programs to be automatically opted in to program signaling	July cycle fellowship applicants and programs
August 28, 2026	Deadline for December fellowship cycle specialties to sign the program signaling agreement	December cycle fellowship specialties
September 2, 2026 (9 a.m. ET)	Applicants may begin submitting applications to residency programs. Deadline for September cycle residency programs to register for automatic program signaling opt-in	All residency applicants and September cycle programs
September 11	ECFMG recommended deadline to submit MSPE and medical school transcript via MyIntealth	IMGs using ERAS Support Services at ECFMG
September 15	NRMP Match registration opens	All applicants participating in the Main Residency Match
September 23 (9:00 a.m.)	Residency programs begin accessing applications. All submissions from Sept 2 through Sept 23 display a Sept 23 date	All residency applicants and programs
November 12, 2026 (9 a.m. ET)	Registration deadline for December fellowship cycle programs to be automatically opted in to program signaling	December cycle fellowship applicants and programs
November 25 to November 30	ERAS Support Services at ECFMG closes at 1:30 p.m. ET on Nov 25 for Thanksgiving and reopens Nov 30	IMGs submitting documents or contacting ECFMG
December 24 to January 4	ERAS Support Services at ECFMG closes Dec 24 for winter holidays and reopens Jan 4	IMGs submitting documents or contacting ECFMG

How the MyERAS portal works (and what locks when you submit)

You access the MyERAS portal with an AAMC account and a season-specific Residency Token from your Designated Dean's Office. You can complete the sections in any order and save each section individually.

The MyERAS system does not let you customize the core application form for individual programs. Every program you apply to receives the exact same MyERAS application form. You tailor your submission by assigning specific Personal Statements, Letters of Recommendation (LoRs), and program signals to each program.

Before you click Certify and Submit, complete and save every required field marked with a red asterisk, and use the Application section on your Dashboard to spot unsaved sections. Programs view your certified application inside the Program Director's WorkStation (PDWS) as either a PDF in APA format or a Curriculum Vitae (CV) format built from the same entries. Preview both by clicking View/Print MyERAS Application.

Irrevocable lock: Certifying and submitting your MyERAS application is a one-time action that cannot be undone. Once you submit, you cannot make any changes outside of the Personal Information section, with no exceptions.
No spell check: The MyERAS portal does not include a built-in spell or grammar check feature. Proofread the PDF preview carefully before you certify.
Updating contact details: You can update the Personal Information section at any time during the season. Click Save Personal Information to make updates immediately available to your applied-to programs.
Monitoring your files: The Applied-to Programs section of MyERAS shows the exact date and time each document was made available to each program, though it will not show whether a program has viewed your file.

Required ERAS supporting documents: MSPE, letters, transcripts, and photo

Your supporting documents verify your clerkship grades, board exams, and clinical readiness. If a program requests extra documents that are not part of ERAS, such as a diploma or a separate CV, send those directly to the program. ERAS and ECFMG will not process them.

Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE): Replaces the term Dean's letter and evaluates your academic performance relative to peers. It must be on medical school letterhead with the school seal affixed, include your full name, and be signed by a designated medical school official. Never upload or assign the MSPE in an LoR slot. If your school cannot provide an MSPE, indicate this on the Additional Documents page before certifying, and ERAS will provide a neutral placeholder letter stating the document is provided in lieu of your MSPE so your application appears complete.
Letters of Recommendation (LoRs): You can upload an unlimited number of LoRs, but you can assign a maximum of four LoRs to any single program. Assigned letters cannot be unassigned after you apply. Letters should open with a general salutation like "Dear Program Director," or "To whom it may concern:." First, confirm your LoR Authors in MyERAS to generate a Letter Request Form. If you waive your right to view the letter, your author must upload it via the AAMC Letter Writer Portal. If you do not waive your right, you or the author can upload it via the AAMC Letter Writer Portal, though programs can see who uploaded the file. If your school cannot provide a medical school transcript, you can also request a neutral placeholder letter on the Additional Documents page before certifying.
Medical School Transcript: Shows your subjects, length of study, and exam grades. It must show your full name and be copied onto plain paper before scanning, because security paper with busy backgrounds makes the scan illegible. Your transcript is assigned to all applied-to programs automatically once submitted.
USMLE Transcript: Request an official transcript through the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) USMLE portal, verify your USMLE ID under Personal Information in MyERAS, and click "Initiate Score Retrieval" on the Additional Documents page. If a new score posts after you apply, return to Additional Documents and click "Resend My Scores."
Applicant Photograph: Used for interview identification and as a rank order list memory aid. Provide a clear, centered, full front view of your head and shoulders with a natural expression and eyes open in JPEG format, maximum 150 KB, and maximum 2.5 by 3.5 inches. Manually assign your photo on the Additional Documents tab.
Personal Statement: Write and save multiple versions directly in MyERAS and assign one to each program.

ERAS Supporting Documents Summary (AAMC and ECFMG Rules)
Document	Where it is uploaded	Processing time	Assignment limit and rule
MSPE	Designated Dean's Office (or MyIntealth Entity/Applicant Portal for IMGs)	Up to 5 business days via MyIntealth	Automatic once processed. Neutral placeholder available if school does not issue one
Medical School Transcript	Designated Dean's Office (or MyIntealth for IMGs. Plain paper required)	Up to 5 business days via MyIntealth (up to 8 business days if transferred from ECFMG Certification)	Assigned to all applied-to programs automatically
Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)	AAMC Letter Writer Portal (by author if waived. By author or applicant if not waived)	Immediately available upon upload	Unlimited uploads in MyERAS. Maximum of 4 assigned per program. Cannot be unassigned after applying
USMLE Transcript	Requested via FSMB USMLE portal, then triggered via "Initiate Score Retrieval" in MyERAS	Processed when you apply to programs	Must manually click "Resend My Scores" if a new score arrives after you apply
Photograph	MyERAS / MyIntealth (JPEG, max 150 KB, max 2.5 x 3.5 inches)	Within 24 hours via MyIntealth	Must be manually assigned on the Additional Documents tab. Can be replaced anytime
ECFMG Status Report (IMGs only)	Transmitted automatically by ECFMG	Automatic (and updates automatically)	Included in the $185 Token fee. Does not include USMLE scores

Program signaling, ERAS fees, and tokens for 2027

A program signal lets you express genuine interest in a specific residency or fellowship program at the time of application as one data point in a program's holistic review. The AAMC notes that applicant interest can change after interviews or life events, and advises programs not to use a missing signal to screen out applicants. Check the Program Signal box on the AAMC's ERAS Participating Specialties and Programs page to see participating programs. Residency programs registering between April 2026 and September 2, 2026 by 9 a.m. ET are automatically opted in unless they opt out in the PDWS.

The AAMC advises MD, DO, and IMG applicants alike to signal the programs they are most interested in attending, regardless of whether they completed a home or away rotation there.

ERAS residency application fees are calculated automatically in MyERAS based on the number of programs you apply to per specialty, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. IMGs also pay a non-refundable $185 fee in ECFMG's MyIntealth Applicant Portal for an ERAS 2027 Residency Token. One Token covers all specialties and programs for the 2027 season, including clinical PGY-1 positions starting in 2027 and advanced PGY-2 positions starting in 2028, plus automatic updates to your ECFMG Status Report. Prior-season tokens cannot be reused, and fellowship tokens must be requested through the ERAS Fellowships Documents Office (EFDO).

Special rules for IMGs, transfer students, and repeat applicants

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Follow these ECFMG and AAMC workflows early to avoid document processing delays.

MyIntealth Entity Portal vs. Applicant Portal (IMGs): If your international medical school uses ECFMG's MyIntealth Entity Portal, the school must upload your MSPE and transcript directly, and MyIntealth will block you from uploading them yourself. Confirm your school's method with your Dean's office.
Last-resort transcript transfer: Your transcript does not carry over automatically from ECFMG Certification. If your school does not use the Entity Portal and you cannot get a copy, select "Request a Medical School Transcript Transfer from ECFMG Certification" on the Document Upload tab in MyIntealth. Review takes up to three business days and MyERAS upload takes up to five business days, for up to eight business days total.
English translations: Any MSPE, transcript, or LoR not in English must be translated and certified as correct by a medical school official, government official, or professional translation service (ECFMG recommends Straker Translations). Upload only the English translation.
Transfer students: Submit transcripts from every medical school attended. If your graduating school does not use the Entity Portal, merge all transcripts into a single PDF and upload it in MyIntealth. If an Entity Portal school cannot merge your transfer transcript due to school policy, you or your transfer school may email the transfer transcript PDF to erasfax@ecfmg.org (third-party services like Parchment are not accepted) for ECFMG to merge.
Reusing documents and importing prior applications: If you certified and submitted a MyERAS application within the past seven years, you can import your application data and saved LoRs from the History section. For IMGs who participated in ERAS 2026, ECFMG automatically uploads your stored MSPE, transcript, and photo within five business days of registering your 2027 Token unless you upload replacements.
Banking confidential LoRs a year early (IMGs): Buy and register an ERAS Token, confirm your LoR Authors, have them upload waived letters via the AAMC Letter Writer Portal, and certify and submit the MyERAS application form before the season closes (no program applications or fees required). Letters are not saved unless you certify and submit the MyERAS form.

Pre-submission checklist and official support contacts

Use this six-step checklist built from AAMC and ECFMG rules to stay on schedule from June through September.

Step 1 (June): Get your Residency Token (available June 24 in MyIntealth for $185 for IMGs) and compare programs using the AAMC's Residency Explorer tool (covering 40+ specialties) and the AMA's FREIDA database.
Step 2 (July): Confirm LoR Authors in MyERAS to generate Letter Request Forms and request plain-paper medical school transcripts.
Step 3 (August): Draft your MyERAS entries and proofread the APA-formatted PDF using View/Print MyERAS Application.
Step 4 (September 2 to September 11): Submit applications starting September 2, and upload IMG MSPEs and transcripts in MyIntealth by September 11.
Step 5 (September 15 to September 22): Register for the NRMP Match starting September 15 and assign your photo, Personal Statement, up to four LoRs per program, program signals, and USMLE score retrieval before September 23.
Step 6 (September 23 onward): Verify document availability timestamps under Applied-to Programs and prepare for residency interviews, letters of interest, and second look visits.

Support phone numbers and browser requirements

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For technical help with MyERAS, call the AAMC Support Center (ASC) at 202-862-6264, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (closed Wednesday, 3 to 5 p.m. ET). Direct content questions to your Designated Dean's Office. IMGs can contact ERAS Support Services at ECFMG at 215-966-3520 or eras-support@ecfmg.org (closed at 1:30 p.m. ET on November 25 until November 30, and December 24 until January 4).

AAMC services support Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, though Safari is not fully supported by the PDWS, and Firefox or Chrome is recommended for Mac users. Once your application is in, rehearse your residency interview stories out loud with Confetto's AI mock interviews. Start your free week.

Practice question

You sent our residency program a program signal and highlighted your community hospital clerkship on your MyERAS application. Walk me through one patient case from that rotation that shows why our training environment fits you.

See an example answer

I signaled your program because my third-year internal medicine rotation was at a 250-bed safety-net hospital where residents managed complex discharges directly with county clinics, and I saw that same structure in your outpatient continuity curriculum. Halfway through my clerkship, I followed a 58-year-old man admitted twice in one month for decompensated heart failure. On rounds, it was easy to assume he simply was not taking his loop diuretic. When I sat down with him before discharge, he told me he worked 10-hour shifts driving a delivery van without regular restroom stops, so he skipped his morning dose on workdays. With my senior resident, we adjusted his dosing schedule around his route and arranged a 2-week check-in at the hospital's bridge clinic. He stayed out of the hospital for the rest of my rotation. That experience taught me that good inpatient care falls apart if you do not ask what a patient's Tuesday morning actually looks like. I want to train in a program where residents take ownership of that transition, which is why your program was at the top of my signal list.

Example answer written by our team. The applicant is invented. This response works because it answers both parts of the prompt in under 2 minutes. It ties the program signal directly to a specific curriculum feature and tells one concrete clinical story with a clear takeaway rather than repeating the CV.

Frequently asked questions

Can I edit my MyERAS application after I certify and submit it?

No. Certifying and submitting is a permanent, one-time action that locks your MyERAS application so every program receives the exact same form. After you submit, you cannot change any section outside of the Personal Information tab, with no exceptions.

When can residency programs start viewing my ERAS application for the 2027 cycle?

You can begin submitting applications to programs on September 2 at 9:00 a.m., and residency programs begin accessing them on September 23 at 9:00 a.m. Every application submitted between September 2 and September 23 appears to programs with a September 23 submission date.

How many Letters of Recommendation can I submit and assign in ERAS?

You can upload an unlimited number of Letters of Recommendation to your MyERAS account, but you can assign a maximum of four letters to any individual residency program. Once you assign a letter to a program and submit your application to that program, the letter cannot be unassigned.

Does registering for ERAS automatically register me for the NRMP Match?

No. ERAS is a document and application delivery service run by the AAMC and does not provide matching services. To participate in the Main Residency Match, you must register separately with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) beginning on September 15.

Should I send an ERAS program signal to my home institution or away rotation programs?

Yes, if they are among the programs you most want to attend. The AAMC advises all MD, DO, and IMG applicants to signal the programs they are most interested in, regardless of whether they completed a home or away rotation there.

Can I reuse my ERAS application and Letters of Recommendation if I am reapplying?

Yes. If you certified and submitted a MyERAS application in a prior cycle within the past seven years, you can import your previous application data and associated Letters of Recommendation into the current season.