Overview for Programs

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

Participation in the 2027 CASPR requires programs to complete registration in two separate systems — AACPM and the NMS Match System. Programs that do not complete their registration with AACPM and set up their account with NMS will not be able to receive applications or participate in the 2027 CASPR Match until both of those steps are completed.

A list of participating programs will be posted on the CASPR website by July 13, 2026.

②   Manage Your NMS Match System Account

Once your account is set up, you can log into the NMS Match System to manage your Account, Profile, and Status Information for CASPR, including updating contact information, modifying the number of positions offered, or adding secondary users to your account. If your program will not offer any positions in 2027, it must be withdrawn from CASPR.

The List of Participating Programs identifies all podiatric residency programs that are participating in 2027 CASPR. You should also ensure all your information is accurate in the CASPR Program Directory on the AACPM website, as applicants will consult that directory to learn about your program.

③   Application Process

All applications are submitted to programs through the NMS Match System. The NMS Match System provides online tools to help programs organize and evaluate applications submitted by applicants.

Prior to release of the CASPR results, programs must accept and consider only applications submitted by applicants through the NMS Match System. The default application deadline set for all programs is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2026, but you have the option of extending your deadline if you desire. The NMS Match System opens for programs to review applications on November 2, 2026.

④   Interview Process

All programs must schedule interviews with applicants using the NMS Match System. AACPM organizes a Centralized Residency Interview Program (CRIP) where applicants and programs meet and interview with each other. The CRIP event is held in Rosemont, IL from January 14 - 19, 2027. Most programs attend and interview at CRIP. Programs that are not participating in CRIP may not conduct interviews before January 20, 2027.

Starting on November 2, 2026, programs can use the NMS Match System to add their interview event timeslots and select the candidates who will be invited to interview. Beginning on November 30, 2026, programs can use the NMS Match System to send interview invitations to applicants, and applicants will begin self-scheduling into available timeslots.

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 into the NMS Match System for Match by the deadline, February 19, 2027. You will submit a separate Rank Order List for each track you are offering in the 2027 CASPR. The Rankings User Guide has step-by-step instructions for submitting your Rank Order List.

Your Rank Order List for each track should include every acceptable applicant who applied to the track, ordered according to your true preferences. Do not factor in how an applicant might rank the track — see the optimal ranking strategy for details.

If you certify a Rank Order List and do not withdraw prior to the Rank Order List deadline, the Rank Order List will be used in the matching process. Your institution/program must offer a residency appointment to all applicants matched with your track, as outlined in the Program Agreement.

Programs that do not fill all their positions, and applicants who do not obtain a position in Match, 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. The algorithm will match each track with the most preferred applicants on its Rank Order List, up to the number of positions to be filled, that ranked the track and did not obtain positions at tracks the applicants prefer.

Match Status Day (March 8, 2027): Your program will receive its Match Status result, which indicates the number of positions filled and unfilled in Match for each of your tracks. Any track that did not fill all its positions will participate in the second matching process, MP II, to fill positions that remain available.

MP II (March 8-15, 2027): Programs with unfilled positions will use the NMS Match System to obtain applications from applicants participating in MP II. The default MP II application deadline is 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 10, 2027, although programs can extend this deadline if desired. All programs and applicants 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): All programs will be provided with their full result information in CASPR. The results will indicate the number of positions offered and filled and the list of applicants matched to the program in Match or MP II. Colleges will have access to information on positions that remain available and will assist unmatched applicants to obtain positions that remain 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 in CASPR. A list of programs with positions available in the Post-Match Process will be posted on the AACPM website.

The results of CASPR constitute a binding obligation between the applicant and the program. Appointment of an applicant to a position may be contingent on the applicant satisfying any institution and program eligibility requirements for appointment specified to the applicant by the program. An institution/program cannot avoid offering appointment to a matched applicant without a waiver from AACPM.