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To identify the program codes to be entered on their rank order lists, registered applicants consult the NRMP Directory in the R3 System at the top of the left menu bar.

On the primary rank order list, applicants can list several different specialty types (e.g., Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Surgery, etc.) according to their preferences. Program types — preliminary or transitional, categorical, and advanced — also can be mixed on the primary rank order list.

The supplemental rank order list is used by applicants who wish to rank advanced positions (beginning in the second year of training) on their primary rank order list and who also want to match to a compatible preliminary or transitional first-year program.

For each PGY-2 advanced (”A”) program ranked on the primary rank order list, a number of PGY-1 (preliminary or transitional) programs that correspond to that advanced program may be ranked on a supplemental rank order list. Applicants are encouraged to complete a supplemental worksheet (PDF, 1 page) before entering choices in R3. Although not a requirement, applicants generally consider geographic location in developing their supplemental rank order lists for specific advanced programs. Therefore, more than one supplemental rank order list linked to different advanced programs may be submitted, if necessary, and they will be marked as A, B, C, etc.

When you have finished entering the program codes on your rank order list(s), you must certify the list(s). To certify, click the Certify List button found on the My Rank Order List screen and then enter your password.

A supplemental rank order list will be used in the Match only if the applicant matches to an advanced program on the primary rank order list. The supplemental rank order list is used as part of the Main Match and is not a separate match. During the matching process, the matching algorithm first looks at an applicant’s primary rank order list and attempts to make a match. If the applicant is matched to an advanced program, the algorithm will seek to match the applicant to a preliminary position from the supplemental rank order list that is linked to that advanced program. If the algorithm is unable to match the applicant to a first-year program, the match to the advanced program still holds, and the applicant will have to seek a PGY-1 position after the Match.