Overview for Applicants

Overview

The Central Application Service for Podiatric Residencies (CASPR) is an Application Service and Matching Program that provides an orderly process to help applicants obtain positions of their choice, and to help programs obtain applicants of their choice.

Key Dates

①  Register

To participate in CASPR, you must register through the NMS Match System. As part of the registration process, you must complete the registration form, sign the Applicant Agreement, and pay a registration fee. The registration fee is $725 USD. This covers your CASPR registration, credits to send applications to twelve (12) programs, and participation in Match and in MP II if you do not obtain a position in Match.

In order to register for CASPR, you must provide the APMLE ID associated with your most recent passing APMLE Part I examination. If you provide an incorrect APMLE ID, AACPM will not be able to obtain your board scores and you will not be able to submit applications to programs.

It is recommended that you register for CASPR by September 9, 2026. You must be registered for CASPR in order to send applications to programs.

②   Manage Your Account

Once registered, you are assigned a 5-digit Code Number that uniquely identifies you in CASPR. You should use this Code Number in all future correspondence pertaining to CASPR.

You can log into the NMS Match System to manage your Account, Profile, and Status Information for CASPR.

If you no longer intend to participate in the 2027 CASPR, you must withdraw from CASPR and not submit a Rank Order List.

③   Application Process

You must use the NMS Match System to prepare and submit all applications. The default application deadline is October 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, though some programs set a later deadline. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline date specified by the program. Submit well before your deadline to allow time to resolve any issues.

The List of Participating Programs identifies all podiatric residency programs that are registered for the 2027 CASPR. Consult the CASPR Program Directory on the AACPM website for information about programs, application procedures, and any supplemental material that may be required. You can customize portions of your application for each program if you desire.

You will need to have passed the APMLE Part I examination in order to submit an application. AACPM will obtain your Part I scores and upload passing results directly to the NMS Match System. You will be notified by email when your passing result has been uploaded. Once uploaded, the National Board Score section will be marked complete and you can begin submitting applications.

④   Interview Process

AACPM organizes the Centralized Residency Interview Program (CRIP), held in Rosemont, IL from January 14 - 19, 2027, where applicants and programs conduct interviews. Most programs attend CRIP; those that do not may not conduct interviews before January 20, 2027.

Programs will use NMS Interview, which is part of the NMS Match System to schedule interviews. Programs can send interview invitations to applicants starting on November 30, 2026. Once you receive interview invitations, you can schedule (or reschedule) interviews with each program using NMS Interview.

You are reminded that, according to the Applicant Agreement and Rules, you may not make any commitments to, or require any commitments from, any residency before release of the CASPR results.

⑤   Ranking Process

The CASPR matching process is conducted in two phases, Match and MP II. Once interviews and evaluations are complete, all registered applicants and programs submit their Rank Order Lists for Match by the deadline, February 19, 2027. The Rankings User Guide has step-by-step instructions for submitting your Rank Order List.

Applicants must pass their APMLE Part II examination in order to participate in the Match or MP II.

Your Rank Order List should include every track you applied to that you would accept, ordered by your true preferences. Do not factor in how a program might rank you - see the optimal ranking strategy for details.

Any certified Rank Order List that is not withdrawn before the deadline will be used in the matching process. If matched, you must accept the position, as outlined in the Agreement and Match Rules.

Applicants who do not obtain a position in Match may participate in MP II. In MP II, applicants apply to programs with positions available, and these applicants and programs submit new Rank Order Lists for a second matching process.

⑥   Match Results

NMS uses an established and proven matching algorithm to process the Rank Order Lists submitted by applicants and programs. You will be matched to the most preferred track on your Rank Order List that ranks you and does not fill all its positions with applicants it prefers to you. Similarly, each track will be matched with their most preferred applicant(s) that do not match to tracks the applicants prefer.

Match Status Day (March 8, 2027): You will receive your Match Status result, which indicates whether you obtained a position in Match. If you are matched to a position, you will find out which program you are matched with on Match Results Day. If you do not match, you will participate in a second matching process, MP II, to obtain a position that remains available. See the Results page for details on results distribution.

MP II (March 8-15, 2027): Applicants who do not obtain a position in Match use the NMS Match System to prepare and submit applications to programs with positions available in MP II. The default MP II application deadline is 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 10, 2027. All applicants and programs participating in MP II must submit their Rank Order Lists by the MP II Rank Order List deadline, 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time March 15, 2027.

MP II Status Day (March 18, 2027): Applicants participating in MP II are notified of whether they obtained a position in MP II. Applicants who do not obtain a position in MP II should contact their college for assistance in obtaining a position that remains available.

Match Results Day (March 19, 2027): All applicants who obtained a position in Match or MP II are notified in Match Day ceremonies at their college of the program and track where they were placed. Applicants can also log in to the NMS Match System to view their result.

If you obtain a position, you are committed to accept the appointment and begin training. The appointment is subject to your satisfying all lawful institutional employment and onboarding requirements. Failure to honor this commitment, absent a waiver from AACPM, is a breach of the CASPR Applicant Agreement.

If you do not obtain a position in CASPR, a list of programs with positions available in the Post-Match Process will be available on the AACPM website.