Application Service Overview
Applications for the Match is closed. Applications will open for the 2027 Match in January, 2027.
The Application Service is a component of the Extern Match Portal that allows applicants to send applications to sites, and allows sites to organize and evaluate applications submitted by applicants.
Prior to the release of the Match results, sites must accept and consider only applications submitted by applicants through the Application Service. After the release of the Match results, sites may accept applications submitted from other sources, such as directly from applicants.
The Extern Match application provides a common set of information on applicants.
The Application Service also has a number of tools that you can use to help organize and manage your applications.
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View Tools Available to Sites
- View interested applicants and access their contact information before they submit their application information
- Search and filter applications across a wide set of criteria
- Export applicant information into Excel format
- Define and assign tags to help categorize applications according to criteria important to your site
- Create customized scoring schemes to rate your applications
- Add notes and comments about each application
- Assign statuses to applicants to indicate their progress in your review process
Only applicants who register for the Extern Match can apply to and match to sites that participate in the Extern Match. You should instruct any applicants interested in obtaining a position at your site to register for the Extern Match.
Deadlines
All sites have a default application deadline date of January 23, 2026. No applications can be received after this date.
All applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on your site's deadline date. Applicants will not be able to submit or update applications after this date. However, any outstanding reference letters can be added to a submitted application until the Rank Order List deadline.
Access Applications
The Application Service is now closed to applicants for the 2026 Match.
Application Contents
The standard Extern Match application submitted by applicants includes the components listed below. All of the information submitted by an applicant to your site will be combined into a single downloadable PDF file for the applicant.
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Applicant Information
The Applicant Information section includes:
- Applicant's name and Match Code
- Personal information, including contact information, US citizenship status, and Selective Service System status
- Education information
- Hospital-based clinical training information
- License information
- Professional liability information
You may request that applicants who are granted an interview or are matched to your site provide source documentation not already included in the application, to verify any information in their application.
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Personal Statement
Each application will include a Personal Statement uploaded by the applicant. The Personal Statement can be customized for your site if the applicant chooses to do so.
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CV
Each application will include a CV/Resume uploaded by the applicant. The CV can be customized for your site if the applicant chooses to do so.
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Letters of Reference
The applicant must include in the application three letters of reference. The applicant may select different reference writers for different sites, and reference writers may customize reference letters for each site if they wish to do so.
The reference writers are notified by email from the Extern Match of the request for a reference letter, and instructed to upload the reference letter for the applicant as a PDF document. Applicants cannot see the contents of the reference letters, but they are able to monitor the completion of the reference requests.
Applicants are allowed to submit applications to sites before their chosen reference writers have uploaded their letters. When a reference letter is uploaded for one of your applications, you will be notified by email, and the application that you subsequently download from the Extern Match Portal will include the newly provided reference letter.
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Supplemental Material
If your site has other information that it would like included as part of its application, you should add that information to your website or email applicants and ask them to attach this information to their application as Supplemental Material.
Applicants can attach one Supplement Material PDF document to each application. This document can be updated after the submission of an application; you will receive an email notification from the Extern Match if a Supplement Material document attached to any of your applications has been updated.
Application Service User Guide
View instructions for accessing and managing applications in the Extern Match Portal.
Application Service User Guide
List of Registered Applicants
Sites participating in the Extern Match have access to a List of Registered Applicants in the Extern Match Portal. The list shows the name and unique Applicant Code Number assigned to all applicants who are registered to participate in the Extern Match.
Only applicants who are registered to participate in the Extern Match can be included on your Rank Order List. Check that each applicant your site intends to rank is included in the List of Registered Applicants. If you wish to rank an applicant who does not appear in the List, contact the applicant and encourage them to register for Extern Match as soon as possible.
The List of Registered Applicants for the 2026 Match cycle is no longer available.