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ResidencyCAS Application Guide: Everything You Need for the 2027 Match
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Applicants applying to emergency medicine (EM) or obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) for the 2027 Match will submit their applications through ResidencyCAS rather than MyERAS. This guide explains how to complete and strengthen each section of the ResidencyCAS application.
If you are also applying to a specialty that continues to use ERAS, such as internal medicine or family medicine, you will need to complete both ResidencyCAS and MyERAS separately. The two platforms do not share application data.
Applicants applying to other specialties should continue to use MyERAS. You can find our guide to ERAS here.
Table of Contents
- What Is ResidencyCAS?
- How to Register
- ResidencyCAS Timeline
- What Is New for the 2027 Match Cycle?
- Personal Information
- Academic History
- Experiences and Activities
- Most Important Experiences
- Nonmedical Employment
- Hobbies and Interests
- Optional Reflective Statement
- Personal Statement
- Publications and Presentations
- Honor Societies
- Honors and Awards
- Transcript and MSPE
- Evaluations and Letters
- Program Signaling
- Certifying and Submitting Your Application
What Is ResidencyCAS? Everything Applicants Need to Know
The ResidencyCAS (Residency Centralized Application Service) application is the online platform used by medical students and graduates to apply for specific residency programs in the United States. Starting with the 2024–2025 cycle for OB-GYN and the 2025–2026 cycle for EM, both specialties moved off the AAMC’s ERAS system onto ResidencyCAS. This includes all combined EM programs (EM-IM, EM-Peds, EM-Anesthesia, EM-FM, etc.).
Like ERAS, you submit one application with all of your materials, and ResidencyCAS transmits it to every program you choose to apply to.
ResidencyCAS Registration
- U.S. MD and DO fourth-year students and graduates should contact their degree-granting medical school for an individual access link.
- International and Canadian medical graduates should contact ECFMG for an invitation.
Once you have your access link, create your account and bookmark the application portal.
ResidencyCAS Timeline and Important Dates
| Event | Date/Deadline |
| ResidencyCAS application cycle opens | June 4, 2026 |
| ECFMG begins sending access links to IMGs | June 24, 2026 |
| Applicants can begin requesting USMLE/COMLEX score transmission | August 24, 2026 |
| Applicants can begin submitting applications to programs | September 2, 2026 |
| Application deadline | September 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET |
| Programs gain access to view applications | September 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET |
| Ranking opens for Match applicants | February 1, 2027, at noon ET |
| Rank Order List certification deadline | March 3, 2027, at 9:00 p.m. ET |
| Applicants learn whether they matched/SOAP Opens | March 15, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. ET |
| Match Day | March 19, 2027, at noon ET |
Note: ResidencyCAS lists September 17 as the application deadline for the 2026–2027 cycle, and ACOG specifically recommends that OB-GYN applicants submit by that date. Although programs technically gain access on September 23, applicants should not treat this as extra time to fill out their application. Additionally, completing the application does not register you for the Match. You must register for the Match at NRMP.com.
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What’s New in ResidencyCAS for the 2027 Match Cycle?
OB-GYN applicants will see the most changes this cycle. The SLOE is now completed directly inside ResidencyCAS, rather than as a separate document. Programs will also answer new questions about their communication preferences so applicants understand how post interview information will be shared.
ACOG is also recommending a new interview timeline that many programs are adopting:
- Application deadline: September 17, 2026
- Interview offers released: October 27, 2026 with rolling offers afterward
- Applicants get a minimum 48-hour window to accept/decline an interview invitation
- Programs are asked to limit invitations to their number of available slots
- Interviews start no earlier than November 1, 2026
- Programs notify applicants of final status no later than November 25, 2026
- Recommendation to commit to virtual interviews for all applicants
Emergency Medicine has fewer major changes this cycle. Applicants should review CORD’s Upcoming Changes in Emergency Medicine page for specialty-specific updates.
Lastly, one change that applies to both specialties: the Interview Portal is now accessed directly from within ResidencyCAS.
Side note: FellowshipsCAS is launching in 2026 for OB-GYN subspecialty fellowships. This isn’t something to act on right now, but it’s worth knowing if fellowship is already on your radar.
ResidencyCAS Personal Information Section
This section collects contact details, demographic information, work-authorization status, Match information such as your NRMP ID, and other background information.
Extended Profile
This section asks whether you are an international medical graduate, the application cycle in which you are participating, and the specialty to which you are applying. Enter your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address carefully. Email will be the primary form of communication during the Match season. Certain contact and personal-information fields may remain editable after submission; review the current ResidencyCAS instructions before making post-submission changes.
Biographic Information/Contact Information
This section includes your name, gender identity, birth information, and mailing information.
Geographic Connections and Setting Preferences
For this section, applicants have the opportunity to share their interest in programs located in a particular location. Applicants can choose up to three locations or choose that they have no preference. A selected location does not have to be somewhere you previously lived. A connection may include where your family lives, where your significant other is from, or another meaningful personal or professional tie.
For ResidencyCAS, you choose a country (for example, the United States), then a City/Town, a State/Province, and then you have 250 characters to describe your connection to this area. Since you are applying for residency in the United States, it is recommended that you choose geographic connections in the United States. For the description, make sure to include specific details as to why this place is important to you.
Important: Be aware that this information is shared with all programs, unlike the Geographic Preferences section in ERAS which is only sent to programs in that region.
Geographic information may influence how programs assess an applicant’s likelihood of accepting an interview or relocating to the area. Choose locations where you can describe a credible and specific connection.
Race/Ethnicity
Choose any and all options that apply to you and your background.
Work Authorization
Indicate whether you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or otherwise authorized to work in the United States. Applicants requiring visa sponsorship should accurately identify whether they prefer a J-1 visa, an H-1B visa, or both.
Other Information
This section asks additional questions about language proficiency. Review the platform’s proficiency definitions carefully and select the level that most accurately reflects your ability. Because residency requires complex clinical communication, applicants should neither overstate nor understate their proficiency.
It also includes questions about being a first-generation physician, military service, criminal history, licensure issues, and identification numbers.
Match Information
If you plan on participating in the NRMP Match, select your option in this section. Interest in participating in the Couples Match is designated separately through the NRMP system.
ERAS Application Template, 20+ Personal Statement Examples, Interview Prep, LOR, MSPE Resources & More!
ResidencyCAS Academic History Section
This section includes your undergraduate and graduate education, medical school, board scores, interruptions in medical education, and any current or previous residency or fellowship training. The sections are listed below:
- Colleges Attended
- Medical School Attended
○ If your medical school offers a concurrent degree, you note that here - Medical School Release
○ Choose if you wish to release your information including application and interview invites to your medical school - USMLE/COMLEX Scores
- Interruptions to Medical School Education
- Residencies and Fellowships
○ Make sure to designate the correct accrediting body
Experiences and Activities in ResidencyCAS
The Experiences and Activities section is one of the most strategically important parts of the ResidencyCAS application. It is similar to the MyERAS Experiences section, but there are several key differences.
- You may include up to 12 experiences (compared to 10 in ERAS)
- Each experience description has a 700-character limit
- Experience types include:
○ Research
○ Volunteer/Service
○ Advocacy
○ Military Service
○ Teaching/Mentoring
○ Extracurricular Activity or Club
○ Work - For each experience, you will select a domain similar to the MyERAS “Primary Focus” field. Options include:
○ Direct Patient Care
○ Global Health
○ Health Policy
○ Leadership
○ Medical Education
○ Public Health
○ Quality Improvement
○ Rural Health
○ Wellbeing
○ Among others - You will also select a competency similar to the MyERAS “Key Characteristic” field. Options include:
○ Accountability/Conscientiousness
○ Conflict Resolution
○ Critical Thinking
○ Cultural Humility
○ Ethical Principles
○ Innovation
○ Interpersonal and Communication Skills
○ Among others
Note: Publications and presentations are entered separately, with up to 30 entries in each section, so do not use your 12 experience slots for scholarly work.
Tips for Writing Your Experiences and Activities:
- Use concise, bullet-style phrasing within the character limit
- Be precise and truthful. Program directors may question inconsistencies, exaggerated responsibilities, unrealistic time commitments, or conflicting details
- Ask a knowledgeable mentor, advisor, or editor to review the section for clarity, accuracy, consistency, and grammar.
Browse our collection of sample experience descriptions to see how successful applicants present their clinical, research, volunteer, and leadership experiences. Click here to explore our Match Resources.
ResidencyCAS Most Important Experiences Section
From your 12 selected experiences, you may designate up to three as most important. Each designated experience receives an additional 300-character reflection.
- Use this space to explain why the experience mattered to you personally or professionally
- Do not restate what you did during the experience/activity. This should be unique content that deepens the reader’s understanding
- Avoid repeating content from your personal statement. Use the reflection to add insight that programs will not find elsewhere in your application.
Need help choosing and writing your most important experiences? Our experienced advisors can help. Click here to learn more.
Nonmedical Employment in ResidencyCAS
In this section, you may list up to three nonmedical employment experiences separate from your 12 Experiences and Activities entries. In MyERAS, these experiences must instead be included in the Experiences section.
Nonmedical jobs may explain gaps in your training, demonstrate long-term commitment and responsibility, and give programs insight into your interests outside medicine.
Hobbies and Interests Section in ResidencyCAS
This section is dedicated to leisure-time activities that help convey your personality outside work. Your hobbies may come up during interviews and can help you establish a genuine connection with faculty members or residents.
ResidencyCAS Optional Reflective Statement
This section is much like the Impactful Experience question on ERAS. It asks the applicant to describe any challenges or hardships that may have influenced their journey to residency. This question is optional and gives applicants a chance to explain any special adversity they have encountered on their path to becoming a physician.
Most applicants are not expected to complete this section. Use it when an experience provides important context that is not available elsewhere in your application and when you are comfortable discussing it during interviews. Do not feel obligated to disclose private hardship simply because the section is available.
Examples include familial challenges, financial hardship or responsibility (e.g., working through school, supporting family members), unique community setting (e.g., low-resource, food scarcity, poverty or crime rate), educational opportunities (e.g., limited access or availability), or general life circumstances (e.g., loss of family members).
Personal Statement
This section is similar to the ERAS personal statement, but with a couple of key differences. The ResidencyCAS personal statement has a 4,000-character limit (including spaces), so make sure to be clear and concise. ResidencyCAS allows one personal statement per specialty. That statement is sent to every program to which you apply within the specialty and cannot be customized for individual programs. Focus on why you chose the specialty, build a coherent narrative, and show what you would contribute to a residency program.
Also, watch our video: How to Fill Out the ResidencyCAS Application for 2027.
Publications and Presentations
ResidencyCAS has two separate sections for publications and presentations. You may add up to 30 publications and 30 presentations individually. Be sure to properly label your publications and presentations accordingly. Applicants should be thoughtful and accurate when entering their work. Avoid duplicate entries, inflated citations, or listing work that does not meet the appropriate scholarly category.
Publications
The types of publications include:
- Published Peer-Reviewed Articles/Abstracts
- Submitted or Accepted Peer-Reviewed Articles/Abstracts
- Book Chapters
- Other Published Work
Once you select the category, fill out the corresponding information as instructed on the application portal. In “Other Published Work” you may include non-peer-reviewed articles such as online publications that are not part of peer-reviewed journals, opinion articles, or any other published article, abstract, chapter, or book.
Presentations
The types of presentations include:
- Oral Presentation
- Poster Presentation
Select “Oral Presentation” when the work was delivered in an oral format and “Poster Presentation” when it was presented as a poster. Represent your own role accurately, particularly if you were an author but not the presenting author. You may list multiple meetings if the same work was presented at more than one conference. For all publications and presentations, be prepared to discuss your research and why it matters to you or your field.
If you’d like personalized guidance on completing the Publications section of your ResidencyCAS application, our experienced advisors are here to help. Click here.
Honor Societies
Applicants may report formal induction into recognized medical honor societies, including the Gold Humanism Honor Society, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) for eligible allopathic students, and Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP) for eligible osteopathic students.
Honors and Awards
In this section, you will list any academic or professional honors or awards you have received throughout your education. The honors and awards are personalized to your school or professional background and are unlimited. You have 500 characters to explain why you received each honor/award, so make sure to highlight the importance of each one in this section!
Transcript and MSPE
These sections come directly from your medical school. You must ensure your school is aware you are applying through ResidencyCAS and has the appropriate access credentials to upload your documents. For international and Canadian medical graduates, the process of obtaining an MSPE is a bit different. You can find our full guide to the MSPE here.
Evaluations and Letters
Under the Program Materials tab, applicants request narrative letters of recommendation (LORs) and standardized letters of evaluation (SLOEs). All letters must be submitted through the Liaison Letters portal, and applicants may assign a maximum of four letters to each program. Requirements vary by specialty and program.
Emergency medicine applicants should follow current CORD and individual program guidance regarding the type and number of SLOEs required. OB-GYN applicants should note that the OB-GYN SLOE is completed directly within ResidencyCAS for the 2026–2027 cycle. Narrative LORs are similar to the traditional letters submitted through ERAS.
There are 4 types of SLOEs:
- eSLOE: Written by faculty at an EM residency program, with knowledge of all students rotating through the program and the projected rank list. Usually written by a group including PD/APD/CD.
- Non-residency based SLOE: For EM faculty without an EM residency training program
- Sub-specialty SLOE: For rotations that teach EM sub-specialty content. Examples include but are not limited to ultrasound, pediatric emergency medicine or toxicology.
- Off-service (O)SLOE: For off-service (non-Emergency Medicine) faculty based on a rotation outside the ED including but not limited to internal medicine, anesthesia or surgery.
Full instructions for SLOEs and how to access the CORDEM portal can be found here.
As with ERAS, we recommend waiving your right to view your letters under FERPA. Doing so signals that the letters reflect the recommenders’ independent assessments.
Program Signaling
Also in the Program Materials tab, each applicant can assign a limited number of program signals to indicate genuine interest in specific programs. The number of available signals varies by specialty, and some specialties use a tiered system with gold and silver signals. Signaling works differently for each specialty in ResidencyCAS:
Emergency Medicine: You have 5 standard signals of equal weight. Current ResidencyCAS guidance states that EM applicants should not signal their home program or programs where they completed away rotations. Follow this guidance so that each signal is used effectively.
OB-GYN: You can designate up to 3 programs with a gold signal (highest interest) and up to 15 programs with a silver signal (preferred interest). Current OB-GYN guidance does not include the same prohibition against signaling a home program or an away-rotation site.
Ultimately, applicants should use all available signals thoughtfully and realistically. You should consider signaling programs where a signal may meaningfully strengthen your application or chances of interviewing at a specific program. Programs that receive a signal will be able to see it. Programs that do not receive a signal will not see a signal from that applicant, which means they may infer that the applicant chose not to signal them.
Also, watch our video: How to Complete the ERAS® Residency Application: Step-by-Step Tutorial
Certifying and Submitting Your Application
Review the complete application for accuracy, spelling, grammar, and internal consistency before certifying and submitting it. Once certified, most sections cannot be edited. Consider having a residency-informed advisor or experienced editor review the application, then preview and save a copy of the final version for your records.
We hope this blog helps you build an outstanding ResidencyCAS application!
The Match Guy offers ResidencyCAS application review, personal statement editing, and interview preparation for EM and OB-GYN applicants. Explore our Match Application Packages or contact our team to learn more.
Good luck with your application and always remember, The Match Guy is here for you!
Cheers to your perfect Match,
The Match Guy
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