Residency programs serve as vital postgraduate training for medical students who have completed their medical education and obtained either an M.D. or D.O. degree. These programs offer specialized training in various medical fields such as internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and family medicine. To apply to residency programs in the United States, medical students must first register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), a computerized service that matches applicants with residency programs based on their preferences. Given the competitiveness of the residency application process, applicants need to conduct thorough research on their preferred programs and submit competitive applications, typically including:

Medical school transcripts
USMLE scores
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Curriculum vitae
Some programs may also require additional materials such as research experience or proficiency in foreign languages. In the U.S., over 14,000 residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), with program durations ranging from three to seven years depending on the specialty. Notable residency programs in the U.S. cover a wide array of specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, radiology, dermatology, orthopedic surgery, and ophthalmology.