OB/GYN Interview Communication Policy

The NRMP has detailed regulations regarding the match process, most of which pertain to post-interview communications and is outlined in their "2026 Match Participation Agreement for Applicants and 2026 Program Main Residency Match."

Key sections for applicants are listed below:

6.0         Participation in the Main Residency Match and SOAP 

The Match process enables applicants to investigate program options and to make selection decisions based on their true preferences, on a uniform schedule without coercion or undue or unwanted pressure.

6.1         Duty to Act in an Ethical and Professional Manner

All Match participants are required to conduct their affairs in an ethical and professionally responsible manner. The duty under this Agreement:

1. Extends throughout the application, interview, matching processes, and SOAP; and
2. Through the 45th day following the start date of training as listed in the appointment contract; or
3. Upon conclusion of any NRMP-related waiver review, violation investigation, or appeal process.

NRMP’s Code of Conduct for Applicants is available to review at www.nrmp.org

6.2         Interview Period

The recruitment phase for the Main Residency Match must be transparent, grounded in equitable practices, reflect mutual respect for the needs of applicants and programs, and
minimize unnecessary pressure. To that end, applicants and programs are bound by the terms of the applicable Match Participation Agreement to demonstrate ethical behavior when engaging in interview offers and acceptances. During the recruitment phase, applicants shall:

1. Make judicious assessment of and decisions about interview offers, accepting only those they intended to fulfill; and
2. Apply reasonable measures of notification (e.g., one-to-two weeks’ notice) when needing to cancel or request rescheduling of an interview.

During recruitment applicants may expect programs to extend interview offers that equal, not exceed, the total number of available interview slots, provide applicants no less than
48 hours to accept or reject an interview invitation, and apply reasonable measures of notification (e.g., one-to-two weeks’ notice) when needing to cancel or reschedule an
interview.

6.3         Completeness, Timeliness, and Accuracy of Information

Applicants are responsible for ensuring the completeness, timeliness, and accuracy of all information provided to programs. This includes:

1. All written, electronic, and verbal information provided to the medical school and representatives of the medical school;
2. All information entered on the application either through the Electronic Residency Application Service (“ERAS”) or other application process or service;
3. All information provided to agencies and organizations that provide visa services and ECFMG certification;
4. All written, electronic, and verbal information provided to programs and program representatives throughout recruitment, the onboarding cycle, and through the 45th day following the appointment start date; and
5. All written, electronic, and verbal information provided to the NRMP.

Applicants who submit incomplete, misleading, false, or plagiarized information may be
deemed to have violated this Agreement. The omission of any information pertinent to a program’s decision to rank an applicant may be deemed a violation of this Agreement. The applicant is responsible for disclosing any information regarding, among other things, the ability to satisfy program requirements; circumstances that may delay or adversely impact an applicant’s ability to commence training with a matched program on the program’s start date; or information relevant to licensure status or visa status.

The applicant’s obligation to submit complete, timely, and accurate information extends through the 45th day following the start date as listed in the appointment contract for the program position obtained through the Match or SOAP.

6.4         Confidentiality

Applicant information contained in the R3 system is confidential and accessible only to authorized users. Unauthorized use or disclosure of such information by an applicant is
a violation of this Agreement. At all times, applicants have the right to:

1. Freely investigate all programs participating in the Match
2. Keep confidential all information pertaining to the names and identities of programs to which they have applied or may apply;
3. Keep confidential all information pertaining to preference signals sent to programs if the applicant is participating in a specialty that has implemented preference signaling;
4. Keep confidential all information pertaining to offers and acceptance of interviews; and
5. Keep confidential all information pertaining to ranking preferences and SOAP preferences.

Applicants may voluntarily share their rank order lists or SOAP preferences with their medical school advisor(s) so the advisor(s) may support the applicant in the Match
process.

Before the Rank Order List Certification Deadline:

1. Applicants may voluntarily communicate their interest to a program(s); however, applicants may not solicit verbal or written statements from a program(s) implying a commitment to rank the applicant.
2. A program may voluntarily communicate to an applicant that they are viewed favorably and will be ranked by the program; however, programs may not solicit verbal or written statements from an applicant implying a commitment to rank the program.

6.5        Restrictions on Persuasion

Applicants have a right to be free of persuasion and should report to the NRMP any violations of these rights. Programs are not authorized to:

1. Request that applicants reveal the numbers, names, specialties, geographic locations, or other identifying information about any program(s) to which they have applied or may apply or with which they have interviewed or may interview;
2. Request that applicants reveal any information about the programs to which they may have sent a preference signal, if applicable;
3. Request that applicants reveal preference signal(s) if in a specialty participating in preference signaling;
4. Request that applicants reveal their ranking preferences;
5. Suggest or inform applicants that placement on a rank order list or a SOAP preference list is contingent upon submission of a verbal, electronic, or written statement indicating the applicant’s preference;
6. Make any written, electronic, or verbal offer or contract for appointment to a concurrent year residency or fellowship position before the release of the List of Unfilled Programs; or
7. Have any written, electronic, or verbal contact with a matched applicant not matched into their program for the purpose of offering an interview, offering placement in the program, or requesting the applicant apply to a program

6.6        Three-year Medical Education Curriculum

Applicants participating in a 3-year medical education curriculum may not enter into agreements or be compelled to enter into agreements for training outside of the Match.
Applicants may not:

1. Promise or guarantee (verbally or in writing) to enter into residency training positions outside of the Match;
2. Enter into an agreement for “conditional acceptance,” “pre-match,” or a “matched” position(s) to a residency training program(s) outside of the Match;
3. Commit to a specific training program prior to release of Match results; or
4. Be prevented from exploring, applying to, interviewing, or ranking programs of their choice