Application Process
Family medicine residency programs will begin reviewing ERAS applications in September 2023. In accordance with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) recommendations, the University of Minnesota family medicine residency programs request applicants signal their most interested programs regardless of their home institution or where they completed clerkships. Check back to this website for updates.
Interested in learning more before applying? Contact us with any questions at 612-626-0194, fmrp@umn.edu.
How to apply
Applying as soon as possible is strongly encouraged because interview calendars fill up fast, and programs have waitlists.
- Register with the National Resident Matching Program
- Review the application criteria and materials needed for application (see below)
- Apply separately to each University of Minnesota family medicine residency program in which you're interested through ERAS by the application deadline, which varies by program
- Interviews will be conducted virtually.
- Invites for interviews are sent via ERAS and use ERAS self-scheduler
- Programs allow a minimum of 24 hours for invited applicants to schedule their interview before inviting more applicants. If your desired interview slot is already filled, add your name to the wait list for that day/time.
- Programs contact applicants for interviews and about application status as early as the first full week of October and as late as January
- Interviews are usually two to six hours on a weekday, and this varies by program
- Notify residency administration with interview changes or cancellation within one to two weeks prior to the interview
Contact us at fmrp@umn.edu or 612-626-0194 if you have questions or need more information.
University of Minnesota Medical School Diversity and Inclusion
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All programs will consider couples match applicants.
- View a list of other University of Minnesota residency programs and fellowships
- Check out University job search resources for your spouse or partner
We do not sponsor H-1B visas. The J-1/J-2 physician visa, sponsored by ECFMG, is the preferred visa status for foreign national trainees in all University of Minnesota graduate medical education programs.
Please note: St. Cloud does not sponsor employment visas. Candidates with pending permanent residency must obtain permanent residency by training start date.
Applicants must meet the criteria to be considered for possible off-cycle or PGY-2 positions. Contact programs directly for potential openings.
Submit the following materials by e-mailing fmrp@umn.edu.
- Personal statement, including reason for off-cycle start or change in residency
- Curriculum vitae
- USMLE and/or COMLEX transcripts, which verifies number of attempts on each exam
- Three letters of recommendation written within the last year
- Medical school transcript
- Medical school performance evaluation/dean's letter
- Current or previous program director's contact information
- List of rotations completed at current or previous residency
- ECFMG Certification, if a non-US medical school graduate
Application Materials for Family Medicine Residency Programs
Submit the following application materials for the seven University of Minnesota family medicine residency programs.
- Personal statement with the following:
- What excites you about family medicine
- Your experiences that influenced your decision to become a family physician
- Future practice goals
- Medical school performance evaluation (MSPE)
- Transcripts from all medical schools attended
- Curriculum vitae that includes the following:
- Average hours/weeks for experience(s)
- Details about varying hours and/or days of the experience in the description area of the experience
- If listing an ongoing experience, include that the experience is continuing and add an expected end time in the description area of the experience.
- Three recent letters of recommendation. Prefer letter from a family physician.
- USMLE and/or COMLEX transcripts
- Photograph of yourself
Criteria for all programs
Applicant Criteria for Family Medicine Residency Programs
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for an interview with one or more University of Minnesota family medicine residency programs.
Required
1. Graduated from medical school or have patient care experience (which may include an appropriate preparation for residency program) within five years of application. Medical schools must appear in one of the following directories:
- American Osteopathic Association
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education
- World Directory of Medical Schools and be accredited by an accrediting agency that is officially recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)
2. Qualified to begin work by mid-June.
3. Be eligible for a Minnesota Board of Medical Practice license
4. Meet the following USMLE or COMLEX exam requirements:
- Have a maximum of two failed attempts on each portion of the USMLE or COMLEX exams (Step 1/Level 1, Step 2-CK/Level 2-CE)
- USMLE / COMLEX transcript updated in ERAS upon receipt of each step/level exam results.
- USMLE Step 3 or COMLEX Level 3 equivalent pathway to be passed within five years of Step 2 (CK) / Level 2 (CE).
- The first USMLE / COMLEX exam taken within eight years of starting residency or completed the SPEX exam within three attempts.
5. Have verified U.S. clinical experience.
6. International medical school graduates have ECFMG certification
- Current international medical school students be certified with the certification issue date before the first day of orientation.
- Past international medical school graduates certified for interview selection.
Visas
- Duluth, Methodist, North Memorial, St. John's, Woodwinds, and UMN Medical Center sponsor J1 visas.
- St. Cloud does not sponsor J1 visas. Candidates with pending permanent residency must obtain permanent residency by training start date.
- All programs do not sponsor H visas.
Exams
- USMLE Step 2 CK or COMLEX Level 2 CE results are not required for current students, but preferred for interview selection. There is no minimum score requirement.
- To be considered for ranking, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit Step 2 CK or Level 2 CE results.
- Applicants are expected to submit Step 2 CK or Level 2 CE results as soon as the score becomes available.
Program-specific
Duluth
- Exhibit strong interest in full-spectrum, rural family medicine
- Include at least one letter of recommendation from a family physician
2023 residency start dates
- Duluth: June 14
- Methodist: June 12
- North Memorial: June 12
- St. Cloud: June 12
- St. John's: June 14
- UMN Medical Center: June 14
- Woodwinds: June 14
2024 residency start dates
- Duluth: June 12 (est.)
- Methodist: June 10 (est.)
- North Memorial: June 12 (est.)
- St. Cloud: June 17 (est.)
- St. John's: June 12 (est.)
- UMN Medical Center: June 10 (est.)
- Woodwinds: June 12 (est.)