IMGs usually develop their first program list by reverse searching the ‘best’ Internal Medicine program lists and pasting the big names. This approach is problematic since there is no way to know if an attractive-sounding name sponsors visas or interviews IMGs.
This is where Residency Explorer comes in. The tool provides up-to-date, real-world data about programs, including who got interviewed last cycle.
This guide takes you through the tool step by step. It also provides a simple way for non-US IMGs to check their eligibility to apply before spending money on applying.
Residency Explorer is a free tool created by the AAMC. The information in Residency Explorer comes from reputable and authoritative sources such as the AAMC, ACGME, NBME, AMA and NRMP. There is no user-generated data or information pulled from message boards.
You’ll use these parts the most:
U.S. MD and DO graduates can use it. So can U.S. IMGs, non-U.S. IMGs, and advisors.
New applicants often confuse it with ERAS and NRMP. They do different jobs:
You can be up and running in about ten minutes.
And don’t worry about privacy. Programs can’t see anything you enter.
Start with the specialty you’re applying to, for example, Internal Medicine or Family Medicine. Everything in the tool is organized by specialty, and this is step one.
Pick the states or regions you’d consider. Be realistic. This is where you’ll be living for at least three years, and programs do notice when an applicant has real ties to the area.
Take a look at each program and review their requirements and eligibility. Each year, programs are required to submit data to the National GME Census. Review information regarding:
– Required exams
– Any limits on graduation year
– Other application rules
Some programs will list visa information on their website. Make a note of this information and determine if it has changed by reviewing the information on the program’s website or by contacting the program directly.
This data includes information on applicants who applied to the program and who were interviewed. This includes score ranges, as well as applicant type and interview rates.
Be mindful of the Middle 80% Score. This represents the scores of applicants who fall between the 10th and 90th percentile, and includes scores below the threshold to receive an invitation to interview.
Place your favorite programs in the Compare Programs feature, and keep the programs that meet your must-haves and support your goals.
Be cognizant of the fact that not all programs include all data points, and the information is subject to change. A blank field does not mean the program is unlikely to consider an applicant.
Interview Likelihood is the feature people misunderstand most. Read this part slowly.
It compares parts of your application with the people a program invited to interview last cycle. AAMC built it using 2026 ERAS application data and Thalamus interview data. Your result lands in one of four groups:
The model checks things like program signals, USMLE scores, applicant type, location ties, and scholarly work. It can’t see your letters, personal statement, clerkship grades, or experiences. So treat it as a pattern from last year, not a promise.
Getting into residency happens in three stages:
Interview Likelihood only covers stage one. A good result doesn’t guarantee an interview, and it tells you nothing about matching.
Check three things together:
A quick example (the numbers are made up). Program A interviewed 30% of applicants, and you’re Above Average there. Program B interviewed 10%, and you’re Well Above Average. B looks like the better bet. But A invites three times as many people, so your odds there could be just as good, maybe better. Now say B doesn’t sponsor visas. Suddenly neither number matters. You need the whole picture.
ERAS fees add up fast. The worst way to spend that money is on programs that were never going to consider you. So before you look at any interview data, put each program through these seven checks.
A U.S. IMG is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who studied medicine abroad. A non-U.S. IMG is an international graduate without citizenship or a green card. The tool reports these groups separately, so read the data for your own group.
Some programs only take graduates from the last few years. Find out whether they count from your graduation date or your most recent clinical work. Then confirm it with the program, since these limits do change.
Look at what each program wants for:
Some of these are rules for everyone. Others are set by one program alone. Keep track of which is which.
You can’t start residency without ECFMG certification. Many programs also want you certified, or nearly there, before they rank you. Check ECFMG’s deadlines for the current cycle.
Does the program sponsor J-1, H-1B, both, or neither? Don’t trust old lists you find online. Go to the program’s website or ask the coordinator directly.
Plenty of programs want U.S. clinical experience. Check how many letters they need, who should write them, and how much they care about research.
Put every program into one of these groups:
Here’s the catch. A program can show a great Interview Likelihood result and still be off-limits to you because of a current policy. Check eligibility first, every time.
We build your list around what actually matters, visa sponsorship, graduation-year limits, exams, and eligibility, so every application has a real shot.
All this research is only useful once it’s organized. A basic spreadsheet does the job. Use these columns:
| Column | What to record |
| Program and specialty | Official program name and specialty |
| Eligibility | Meets requirements, unclear, or ineligible |
| Visa sponsorship | J-1/H-1B policy and where you confirmed it |
| Graduation-year limit | The stated limit and the date it counts from |
| Exam requirements | USMLE exams, attempt limits, and other rules |
| Interview data | Last cycle’s interview data and your applicant group |
| Program fit | Clinical interests, training setting, and location |
| Verification date | When you last checked the information |
| Next action | Contact program, verify policy, or shortlist |
Don’t skip the verification date. A note you wrote in June might be wrong by September.
One more thing. This sheet helps you organize research. It won’t tell you your chances of matching anywhere.
Once your list is set, we help you build the ERAS portfolio around it — experiences, personal statement, and letters that match the programs you’re targeting.
Applicants slip up in the same places year after year:
The tool has its own limits too. It only uses the latest cycle’s data, and some programs have very small numbers behind them. Use it for research, but let current program rules and your own judgment have the final say.
Every resource answers a different question:
You’ll get the most out of them by using all of them.
Yes. All you need is a free AAMC account. Access rules can change, though, so check residencyexplorer.org for the latest.
Yes. Anyone can use it, and non-U.S. IMGs show up as their own group in the data. Interview Likelihood even factors in applicant type. Just remember to confirm eligibility, visas, and graduation-year rules with each program yourself.
No. It shows interview patterns from last cycle, and that’s it. Interviews, rankings, and the Match are three separate steps, and the tool only covers the first. AAMC says plainly that it doesn’t predict where you’ll get interviews either.
It’s a good starting point. Programs share some eligibility details through the National GME Census, and those appear in the tool. But that information can be months old. Confirm J-1 and H-1B sponsorship with the program before you apply.
No. Interview data comes from ERAS and Thalamus and shows who got invited. NRMP data shows who actually matched after rank lists were submitted. A program might interview lots of IMGs and match only a few, or the reverse.
Start early, while you’re still researching programs and building your list. That’s usually a few months before ERAS opens. Then go back one more time right before you submit, since rules can change in between.
Residency Explorer gives you solid data, but it works best alongside eligibility checks and your own research. Build your list, confirm the rules that could knock a program off it, and use ERAS and NRMP resources for the rest of the process.
Sign in to the AAMC Residency Explorer tool today and start your shortlist.
Residency Explorer gives you the data. We help you turn it into a list you can actually match from and an application to back it up:
Articles published by IMG Helping Hands are prepared by our team using information from direct experience, publicly available resources, and educational references. AI tools may be used to assist with drafting, proofreading, and formatting; however, all content undergoes review and approval before publication.
The information provided is intended for educational purposes only. Requirements, policies, and processes may change over time. Readers should consult official sources for the most current information.
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