Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is U.S. clinical experience required for IMGs?: Yes, we require a minimum of 2 months of hands-on direct clinical experience with primary patient care responsibility (i.e., subinternship or equivalent) in a US or Canadian accredited teaching hospital is required to be considered for an interview. We will not interview any candidates who have not obtained the minimum requirement clinical experience working with patients. Observerships and externships without direct clinical responsibility do not meet this criteria.
What are your USMLE score requirements?: Applicants must pass USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt. Most of our applicants have USMLE step I and step II scores of 220 or higher. However, we do not specifically exclude applicants based on the USMLE score as we carefully consider the entire application and encourage all interested students to submit applications to our residency programs. USMLE step 3 is not required to apply.
What are the minimum COMLEX score requirements for graduates of Osteopathic Medical Schools?: Applicants must pass COMLEX step 1 and step 2 on the first attempt. Most of our applicants have COMLEX scores in the top 25 percentile.
May I submit additional Letters of Recommendation, in addition to the 3 Letters of Recommendation that are required, either through ERAS or else directly to the Program Director or Program Administrator?: You may submit a maximum of three (3) LORs through ERAS.
Note: One LOR should be from the applicant's Department of Internal Medicine Chair. We prefer to receive all letters of recommendation solely through ERAS. Please do not send us additional documentation by email for your application.
Do applicants to the Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency need to submit Department letters of recommendation from both the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics?: We strongly encourage applicants to obtain a Department letter from both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Departments.
Should I apply to both the Yale Primary Care and Yale Traditional Residency Programs for a categorical track?: Applicants who are interested in both the Yale Primary Care Program and the Yale Internal Medicine-Traditional Program OR are unsure of which program may be best for them should apply to both to learn the unique features of each through the interview process. Students do not reduce their competitiveness for either program by applying to both programs.
Is there a medical school graduation cutoff date?: Yes, there is a cutoff date. In order to be considered for a position in our program, applicants from medical schools located outside the US and Canada MUST have graduated from medical school in the last 6 years.
What is the application deadline?: December 1st is our application deadline for categorical track applicants (2 or more years of training in a particular program). December 31st is our application deadline for preliminary track applications (1 year of training). We strongly encourage all applicants to submit their applications in September because our interview days become filled very quickly.
When do you begin reviewing applications?: All Internal Medicine Residency Programs begin downloading ERAS applications on September 15th and our faculty will begin reviewing completed ERAS applications beginning October 1st. Invitations to interview will be sent out on an ongoing weekly basis until we have filled all our interview dates.
When do you notify applicants if they will be invited for an interview?: Invitations to interview will be sent out on an ongoing weekly basis, beginning October 8th, until we have filled all of the program's interview dates.
Do you waitlist invited applicants for the interview days that are filled?: Yes, we will waitlist.
I have scheduled to interview for a PGY 2 position with another Department at Yale. Can I interview for my preliminary internal medicine internship on the same day?: We do not offer private interviews outside our scheduled interview days. We do coordinate presentations and group interviews with various Departments at Yale on the day of an applicants’ interview with these Departments (e.g. Yale Neurology). Students who participate in these presentations and group interviews are not required to participate in a separate Department of Internal Medicine Interview day. We do require students participating in these group presentations and interviews to submit ERAS application to both our preliminary programs.
Visas: All applicants who match with us are responsible for all visa fees.

Matched applicants will be advised as to which Visa they are eligible for by their Program Director and the Yale Office of Graduate Medical Education.

All matched applicants must obtain a valid visa prior to intern orientation (around June 12 yearly).

J1 Visa: We encourage J1 visas for eligible matched applicants. We refer matched interns to the ECFMG website regarding all the necessary paperwork.

H1-b Visa: Should you be eligible for H1-b visa, we will refer you to a legal office regarding the necessary paperwork.
Do you sponsor J-1 Visas?: All applicants who match with us are responsible for all visa fees. Matched applicants will be advised as to which Visa they are eligible for by their Program Director and the Yale Office of Graduate Medical Education. All matched applicants must obtain a valid visa prior to intern orientation (around June 12 yearly). We encourage J1 visas for eligible matched applicants. We refer matched interns to the ECFMG website regarding all the necessary paperwork.
Do you sponsor H1-b Visas?: All applicants who match with us are responsible for all visa fees. Matched applicants will be advised as to which Visa they are eligible for by their Program Director and the Yale Office of Graduate Medical Education. All matched applicants must obtain a valid visa prior to intern orientation (around June 12 yearly). Should you be eligible for H1-b visa, we will refer you to a legal office regarding the necessary paperwork.
Do you require an ECFMG certificate when I apply to your training program?: You must be eligible for an ECFMG Certificate in order to apply. We require that you submit your ECGMG certificate through ERAS BEFORE February 1st. We are required to have an ECFMG certificate on file for every IMG intern who matches with our training programs.
What percentage of your current academic year house staff are IMGs?: 1. Combined Medicine/Pediatrics Residency = 0/16, 0%
2. Internal Medicine Primary Care Residency = 1/54, 1.85%
3. Internal Medicine Traditional Residency = 8/137, 5.84%
How many total house staff are training during the current academic year with the Yale Department of Internal Medicine Residency Programs?: During the 2023-2024 academic year the Yale Department of Internal Medicine Residency Programs are currently training a total of 207 total house staff.

Yale Combined Medicine-Pediatric Residency: 16 categorical

Yale Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency: 54 residents

Yale Internal Medicine Traditional Residency: 157 residents

Yale-Waterbury Residency: 16 residents
How many intern positions does each residency program offer?: The Yale Department of Internal Medicine Residency Programs will offer the following number of training positions for the academic year 2023-2024:

Yale Combined Medicine-Pediatric Residency: 4 positions

Yale Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency: 18 positions

Yale Internal Medicine Traditional Residency: 67 positions

Yale-Waterbury Residency: 36 positions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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