Things to Know
- Prior to the Rank Order List deadline, you must provide applicants with information about eligibility requirements for appointment, including vaccination requirements.
- The list of preferred applicants you submit to the NMS Match System is called a Rank Order List.
- You must enter and certify a Rank Order List in the NMS Match System by the Rank Order List deadline for each track offered by your program.
- If you have no acceptable applicants to rank for a track, you should certify a Rank Order List with no ranks.
- If a track no longer has positions available, you must withdraw the track.
Key Dates
The Match
| NMS Match System Opens For Rankings | January 15, 2025 |
| Rank Order List Deadline | February 18, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time |
MPII
| NMS Match System Opens for Rankings | March 12, 2025 |
| Rank Order List Deadline | March 17, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time |
Strategy
The Matching Algorithm is designed such that it cannot be gamed or manipulated.
The only strategy is to rank your choices in order of your true preferences, without considering how you expect to be ranked by any applicant.
Rank all applicants that would be acceptable. Submitting a longer list of applicants may reduce your chances of being left with unfilled positions.
Do not rank any applicant that you consider unacceptable (i.e., you would not want to be matched to that applicant, even if you may not fill a position). You can only be matched to applicants that appear on your Rank Order List.
Certify Your Rank Order List
Certifying your Rank Order List indicates that the rankings are complete and the Rank Order List is ready to be used in the matching process. You must certify your Rank Order List in the NMS Match System in order for it to be used in the matching process.
You can make changes to a list even after it is certified, until the Rank Order List deadline. If you make changes after a list is certified, the list will become uncertified and you will have to certify the list again before the Rank Order List deadline in order for it to be used in the matching process.
Special Cases
No Applicants to Rank
If a track has position(s) available that you would like to fill but you have no acceptable applicants to rank, you should certify a Rank Order List with no ranks. This indicates the track is still active and you want your position(s) to be shown as available to applicants for MPII or the Post-Match Process.
Reversions
It is possible within the matching process to move unfilled positions from one Rank Order List to another, so that an attempt can be made to fill the positions from the second list. This is referred to as "reverting" unfilled positions from one list (the "Donor") to another list (the "Receiver").
Multiple Lists
Some tracks need to recruit a mix of applicants with different characteristics, or have other unique recruiting requirements. Often, these special requirements can be satisfied by submitting Multiple Lists for a single track.
Unique Requirements
If your track has specific recruiting objectives that you are unsure of how to handle in the NMS Match System, please contact CASPR Support.
Rankings User Guide
Consult the Rankings User Guide for detailed instructions for submitting your Rank Order List in the NMS Match System. Separate user guides are also available for submitting Reversions and Multiple Lists.
Rankings User Guide