Overview for Applicants

Overview

ORMatch 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 ORMatch, you must register through the NMS Match System. As part of the registration process, you must agree to comply with the ORMatch Rules, Applicant Agreement, the Schedule of Dates, and pay a registration fee. The registration fee is $350 USD which covers your ORMatch registration and ten (10) credits to send applications to residencies using the ORMatch Application Service.

In order to register for ORMatch, you must provide your OE Tracker Number issued to you by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.

You should register for ORMatch by December 31, 2026. You must be registered for ORMatch in order to send applications to residencies using the ORMatch Application Service.

②   Manage Your Account

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

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

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

③   Application Process

You must use the NMS Match System to prepare and submit all applications. Each residency sets its own application deadline date and requirements. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the application deadline date specified by the residency. If possible, you should submit your applications before the NBEO score cutoff date (January 29, 2027) so that NMS can obtain your verified examination scores from the NBEO and send them to the programs where you apply.

The List of Participating Programs and ASCO Residency Directory have information about residencies, their application requirements, and deadlines. As soon as you find a program of interest, add the program to your list of pending applications in the NMS Match System. The program will be notified of your interest and will have access to your contact information, even before you submit your application, so they can reach out to you with information if they choose to do so.

Required components of the application include a Letter of Intent, CV, your NBEO Part I Examination score, a copy of your NBEO Score report, OD Transcript, and requests for reference letters from at least 3 individuals. You can customize parts of your application for each program if you desire.

Applications do not need to be sent all at once, and you can submit your application before your reference writers upload their letters.

④   Interview Process

Applicants and programs interview and evaluate each other independently of ORMatch. All interviews must be completed prior to the Rank Order List Deadline. You are reminded that, according to the Applicant Agreement and Rules, you may not make any commitments to, or require any commitments from, any participating residency prior to the release of the Match results.

⑤   Ranking Process

Once interviews and evaluations are complete, each applicant and program submits a Rank Order List of their preferred choices into the NMS Match System by the Rank Order List deadline. The Rankings User Guide has step-by-step instructions for submitting your Rank Order List.

Your Rank Order List should include every program you applied to that would be acceptable, ordered according to your true preferences. Do not consider how a program might rank you - see the optimal ranking strategy for details.

If you certify a Rank Order List and do not withdrawn before the deadline, the Rank Order List will be used in the matching process. If matched, you must accept the position, as outlined in the Applicant Agreement and Match Rules.

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 program on your Rank Order List that ranks you and does not fill all its positions with applicants it prefers to you. Similarly, each program will be matched with their most preferred applicant(s) that do not match to programs the applicants prefer.

Your ORMatch result will be available online and by email on the Match Results Day. The ORMatch result constitutes a binding obligation between you and the program. You cannot avoid accepting appointment to the program, nor may you accept another residency position, without a written release from ASCO.

Applicants who do not match and programs with unfilled positions may participate in the Post-Match Process to fill any positions that remain available after the Match.