Last Updated: February 2024. Check back for information about next year's SOAP process in early 2025.
During Match Week, unmatched and partially unmatched applicants who are deemed eligible may participate in SOAP to try to obtain an unfilled residency position.
SOAP 2024 begins on Monday, March 11 at 10 a.m. ET and ends on Thursday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET. The MyERAS® application opens on Monday, March 11 at 11 a.m. ET, and programs cannot start to review applications until Tuesday, March 12 at 8 a.m. ET. Please select the links below to navigate to 2024 ERAS® Program SOAP information and resources:
- SOAP 2024 ERAS Schedule
- Pre-SOAP Tasks
- SOAP Resources
- ERAS Fees During SOAP
- Once SOAP Begins
- ERAS Fees After SOAP
- After SOAP Concludes
SOAP 2024 ERAS Schedule
To familiarize applicants with the SOAP Schedule and process, the ERAS program team and the NRMP hosted a joint webinar, titled SOAP 101. You may find it helpful to view the recording of this webinar to learn more about the SOAP process.
The webinar will be recorded and shared on the AAMC Webinars and Online Courses page. You can also find the recording in your AAMC Dashboard after you've logged in.
During the webinar the ERAS program team and NRMP representatives provided an overview of the SOAP process and information on the following:
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NRMP SOAP eligibility requirements.
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Communication rules during SOAP.
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ERAS Preparation for SOAP.
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ERAS Program SOAP requirements.
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ERAS Program SOAP application Process.
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Match Week timeline and SOAP offer rounds
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NRMP SOAP Data.
Pre-SOAP Tasks
To participate in SOAP, applicants must be:
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Registered for the NRMP Main Residency Match®.
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Eligible to enter Graduate Medical Education (GME) on July 1, 2024 as verified by your medical school or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), an Intealth member.
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Unmatched or partially matched on Monday, March 11.
There is no separate registration for SOAP, and applicants do not submit a rank order list.
If you have any additional questions about eligibility, please visit the NRMP website.
Optional tasks:
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Certify and submit your MyERAS application if you have not done so already during the 2024 ERAS application regular season.
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Keep personal information (e.g., NRMP ID) updated in the MyERAS system.
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Upload Letters of Recommendation.
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Update or add a new personal statement(s).
SOAP Resources
ERAS Fees During SOAP
Applicants who have applied to at least one residency program (for the 2024 ERAS program season) by Monday, March 11 at 7:30 a.m. ET will not pay any application fees during SOAP.
Applicants who have not applied to at least one residency program through the ERAS program by Monday, March 11 at 7:30 a.m. ET and are SOAP-eligible, will be charged a fee of $99. If you have not sent your USMLE or COMLEX-USA transcripts, a fee of $80 per transcript will apply.
Once SOAP begins
During SOAP, you will be able to apply to a total of 45 Match-participating programs between Monday, March 11 at 11 a.m. ET and Thursday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET. You may reapply to programs you applied to during the 2024 ERAS season as well as apply to new programs. Please note: the program must be participating in SOAP and have unfilled positions that you're eligible for.
Once you have reached the maximum of 45 applications, you will not be able to apply to additional programs until SOAP ends on Thursday, March 14, at 9 p.m. ET. You are not required to apply to the full 45 programs allowed during SOAP. However, any remaining applications will not carry-over after SOAP ends.
ERAS Fees After SOAP
The ERAS program will continue to offer the flat fee program when 2024 SOAP concludes.
This program is for 2024 ERAS residency applicants who were SOAP-eligible and who applied or reapplied during SOAP and did not obtain a position. For applicants who meet these requirements, applications will be $10 each regardless of specialties. This flat fee program will conclude at the remainder of the 2024 ERAS season on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET. For all other residency applicants, the regular application fee structure for the 2024 ERAS residency applicants will apply.
ERAS application fees will automatically populate when applicants apply to programs based on the applicant’s payment history and/or SOAP participation.
After SOAP concludes
The ERAS program will resume normal operations on Thursday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET. At the conclusion of SOAP, the ERAS program will continue to offer a flat fee for 2024 residency applicants who were SOAP-eligible, applied, or reapplied during SOAP, and did not obtain a position. For applicants who meet these requirements, applications will be $10 each regardless of specialties applied. This flat fee program will conclude at the end of the 2024 ERAS season.
For all other residency applicants, the regular application fee structure for 2024 ERAS residency applicants will apply.