General Information
What is the Match?
The ASHP Resident Matching Program (the “Match”) is the mechanism used to determine the final placement of applicants into residency positions. The Match provides an orderly process to help applicants obtain PGY1 and PGY2 positions at pharmacy residency programs of their choice, and to help residencies obtain applicants of their choice. Detailed information about the Match is available on the Match website.
What is the difference between PhORCAS and the Match?
PhORCAS and the Match are separate and distinct services. PhORCAS is a centralized application service which distributes application information to programs to initiate the application process. The Match is used by applicants and programs to determine the final placement of applicants into positions after the application and evaluation process is completed. PhORCAS is administered by Liaison International while the Match is administered by National Matching Services Inc. (NMS). Both services are supervised by the ASHP.
Do all pharmacy residency programs participate in the Match?
All residency programs that are accredited by or are seeking accreditation with the ASHP are required to participate in the Match with few exceptions. Residencies conducted by the Indian Health Service and programs that offer positions exclusively to commissioned officers of the Department of Defense or the Public Health Service are exempt from participating in the Match.
Additionally, international programs conducted outside of the United States are exempt from the Match, although some may choose to participate. Applicants applying to an international program should check with the program directly to determine whether or not the program is participating in the Match. Information on the Match participation status of an international program is also available from the ASHP residency program directory or the ASHP Match website.
Do I have to participate in both PhORCAS and the Match?
All programs that participate in the Match use PhORCAS to collect their applications. You will need to register for the Match and use PhORCAS in order to submit applications to programs that participate in the Match.
Applicants must register for the Match to submit applications to residencies using PhORCAS. Residencies conducted by the Indian Health Service and programs that offer positions exclusively to commissioned officers of the Department of Defense or the Public Health Service are exempt from the ASHP Match. However, if these programs collect their applications through PhORCAS, then applicants must register for the Match to send applications to these programs.
Additionally, international programs conducted outside of the United States are exempt from the Match, although some may choose to participate in the Match. Applicants applying to an international program should check with the program directly to determine whether or not the program is participating in the Match. Information on the Match participation status of an international program is also available from the ASHP residency program directory or the ASHP Match website.
What is the difference between Phase I and Phase II of the Match?
The two Phases of the Match are described below.
Phase I: All applicants and programs submit their Rank Order Lists by the Rank Order List deadline for Phase I of the Match. The matching algorithm will be processed using those Rank Order Lists to place applicants into positions. The results of Phase I of the Match will then be distributed to applicants and programs.
Phase II: Programs with unfilled positions in Phase I of the Match will offer those positions to unmatched applicants in Phase II of the Match. The purpose of Phase II of the Match is to provide a structured process to place unmatched applicants into programs with unfilled positions. New programs or positions that receive funding after Phase I of the Match may also be added into Phase II of the Match, and applicants who did not participate in Phase I of the Match may participate in Phase II. All applicants seeking positions after Phase I and all programs with available positions after Phase I submit their Rank Order Lists by the Rank Order List deadline for Phase II of the Match. A second match is carried out using those Rank Order Lists, and the results of Phase II of the Match will then be distributed.