Rankings User Guide for Applicants

Key Dates

You will not be able to access the Extern Match Portal to enter or certify your Rank Order List after the Rank Order List deadline. You are strongly advised to enter your rankings and certify your Rank Order List well before the deadline to avoid potential problems near the deadline.

Enter Your Rankings

Each site offers one or more tracks in the Extern Match. A track refers to a distinct stream or training opportunity offered by a site (e.g., positions offered at different locations, or different types of training, or different scheduling requirements, may be offered as separate tracks). You must rank, and will be matched to, a specific track offered by a site.

The Rankings summary on the Dashboard shows the number of ranks on your Rank Order List and whether or not your Rank Order List is certified for use in the Match.

To enter ranks into your Rank Order List, select the Rankings option from the menu in the Extern Match Portal, or select Edit in the Rankings section of the Dashboard. You can add tracks to your Rank Order List by importing them from your applications or interviews, or by adding them one at a time.

• Add a Track

  • Start typing in the search box to find the track you want to rank. Tracks can be searched by Match Code Number, Primary Contact name, track label, or city.

    You can use the available Filter to restrict your search results to a specific state.

  Tracks that are withdrawn from the Extern Match will have a Withdrawn flag next to their track name. You should leave the withdrawn track ranked on your list. If it becomes active again before the Rank Order List deadline, that ranking will be used in the Match. If the track remains withdrawn, that ranking will not be used in the Match, and your list will be processed as if you had not ranked the withdrawn track.

  • Select the Track you want to rank from the search results. Since the match processing is based on the Code Numbers, make sure the 5-digit Match Code Number shown for the track you select correctly identifies the track you wish to rank.
  • Press the Add to List button to add the track to the end of your list. Tracks should be entered in rank number sequence if possible, with your most preferred track as rank 1, your next most preferred track as rank 2, and so on. You may add as many tracks as you wish to your list, and reorder the tracks on your list if necessary to reflect your true preferences.

  
  

  

• Delete a Track
  • Press the 'X' next to the track name to delete it from your list.

  

• Reorder a Track
  • To move or reorder a rank, use the drop-down menu attached to the rank number. You should select from the drop-down menu the rank number where you want to move the track.

  

• Import Rankings From Your Applications

  When you submitted your application to each site, you selected one or more of the tracks offered by the site to which you wanted to apply. You can import all the tracks you selected into your Rank Order List.

  Only tracks to which you submitted applications will be imported; tracks with pending applications will not be included. Similarly, if you applied to only one of multiple tracks offered at a site, only the selected track is imported.

  After the import, review your list carefully and arrange the tracks in your true order of preference. You can use the web interface to add additional acceptable tracks (e.g., from other sites), remove any unacceptable tracks, and reorder your list.

  Instructions

  1. Log in to the Extern Match Portal.
  2. Select Rankings from the menu.
  3. Near the top of the page, select the link to import from Your Applications. This link is only shown if no tracks are on your Rank Order List.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the import.

  You must order the tracks on your list according to your true preferences and certify the list for it to be used in the matching process.

• Import Your Rankings From Your Interviews

  If you scheduled interviews using , you can import into your Rank Order List the tracks offered by the sites where you interviewed. The import includes all tracks at those sites, including some you may not be considering or for which you are not eligible. After the import, remove any tracks that are unacceptable or for which you are not eligible. You can also add tracks from other sites and reorder your rankings using the web interface.

  Instructions

  1. Log in to the Extern Match Portal
  2. Select Rankings from the menu
  3. Near the top of the page, select the link to import rankings from Your Interviews. This link appears only when your Rank Order List has no tracks.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the import.

  You must order the tracks on your list according to your true preferences and certify the list for it to be used in the matching process.

• Print Your Rank Order List

  You should print a copy of your final certified Rank Order List for your records.

  • Click on the Printer-Friendly link (provided at the top or bottom of your Rank Order List) and then use the print function of your browser.

  

  
  

  You will be able to view and print your Rank Order List until 4 days after the Extern Match results are released.

• Dual Position Applicants

  Applicants who are interested in ranking PENDELDOT sites that offer part-time positions (8 or fewer hours per week), and who therefore require two part-time positions to satisfy their externship training requirements, should submit rankings as a Dual Position applicant in order to be placed into two part-time positions.

  Currently, the only sites offering part-time positions are:

  • 353 - ABC Parenting Institute
  • 414 - CHOP - ADHD
  • 440 - CHOP - Cardiac Psychology Outpatient Consultation
  • 420 - CHOP - Endocrinology & Diabetes
  • 471 - CHOP - Feeding
  • 441 - CHOP - Gastroenterology & Urology Programs
  • 415 - CHOP - Health & Wellbeing Clinic
  • 442 - CHOP - Inpatient/Outpatient Consult & Intervention
  • 390 - CHOP - Neurology Intervention
  • 421 - CHOP - Oncology
  • 424 - CHOP - Sleep Program
  • 165 - HARBOR
  • 226 - Nemours Childrens Health, Delaware Valley
  • 309 - St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

  If you are not seeking a part-time position at one of the sites listed above, the instructions below do not apply to you.

  • Instructions for Submitting Rankings as a Dual Position Applicant

Certify Rankings

Certifying your Rank Order List tells NMS that your rankings are complete and ready to be used in the Match. You must certify your Rank Order List in order for it to be used in the Match.

Your Rank Order List must be certified by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 24, 2026. You will not be able to certify your Rank Order List in the Extern Match Portal after the Rank Order List deadline.

• To Certify Your Rank Order List
  • Press the Submit for Certification button at the bottom of your Rank Order List, once you have added all your tracks and they are in the desired order of preference.
  • The Extern Match Portal will alert you if any issues or problems exist in your Rank Order List and prompt you to certify your list by re-entering your password and pressing Submit.

  
  

  

  
  
  

  There are three ways to verify that the list has been certified:

  • A green banner will be displayed at the top of the Rankings page
  
  
  
  • In the Rankings section of your Dashboard, it will indicate that the Rank Order List has been certified
  
  
  
  • You will be sent an email from NMS confirming the certification

You can make changes to your list even after it is certified. If you make changes to a list after it is certified, the list will become uncertified and you simply have to certify your list again before the Rank Order List deadline in order for it to be used in the Match.

You are strongly encouraged to certify your completed Rank Order List well before the deadline date to avoid potential system access problems near the deadline.

Browser Requirements

The Extern Match Portal is designed to be used with the security and features of modern web browsers.

• Browser Requirements

  We recommend using the most up to date version of one of the following browsers:

  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Microsoft Edge

  If you access the system with a browser that is not in the list above, or with a browser that is significantly out of date, you may see warning messages and experience problems.

  You must have JavaScript enabled and accept cookies for the Extern Match Portal to function correctly.