Hospital Residency

The hospital residency is a paid medical training experience program within American hospitals and Canadian hospitals for medical graduates who complete their medical specialization. The hospital residency in USA would typically last from 3-8 years depending on the medical specialization chosen. Some of the medical specializations are anesthesiology, pediatrics, gynecology, psychiatry, allergy, surgery or some other specialty. There are various medical specialties depending on what type of medical work a medical graduate with to do.

The residency program is hospital based where medical graduates gain medical instruction and supervised medical experience working with patients in the area of their medical specialization.

With a limited number of hospital residency positions each year, and a surplus of applications, international medical graduates may need to work harder to secure the right hospital residency position.

Most hospitals in USA select their hospital residency candidates from medical applicants who participate in the "Match" process. This system of matching candidates to hospital residency training positions through a centralized "Matching" process allows medical graduates to personally determine their preferences, while simultaneously allowing the hospitals to rank hospital residency applicants. The preference lists are merged by computer at the National Resident Matching NRMP. The hospital residency ‘matching’ process results are announced annually in March.

Generally, hospital residency programs in USA look for USMLE scores above 200/82, the higher USMLE score the better. They also prefer USA hospital work experience and letters of recommendation from physicians or doctors with whom the medical graduates have worked.

A personal statement outlining goals, reasons for entering the medical profession, medical specialization interested in, and special interests is also required. Medical graduates are recommended to plan ahead in order to comfortably and safely meet these requirements prior hospital residency Match deadlines.