NRMP & ERAS

We participate in the National Resident Matching Program and the Electronic Residency Application Service.

Eligibility

Only applicants who meet one of the following criteria may be accepted for residency training in accredited programs sponsored by UAB University Hospital:

• Graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
• Graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States and Canada accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
• Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada (foreign medical graduate, FMG) must possess a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), or, have a full unrestricted license to practice medicine in a US licensing jurisdiction in which they are training.

Institutional Policy on Visa Status and Eligibility for Appointment - Entry of Foreign-Born Medical Graduates to the United States

The entry of foreign-born graduates of non-U.S. medical schools to the United States is governed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is a violation of federal law to provide employment to a non-U.S. citizen who does not hold an appropriate visa or other appropriate work authorization documents from the USCIS.

1. International Scholar and Student Services (ISSS) must be notified of all non-US citizens accepted for residency training. Program Directors should contact ISSS at 205-934-1528 or email isss@uab.edu as soon as they are considering a non-U.S. citizen for residency. ISSS will strategize with programs about processing the candidate's current or future immigration status and will advise on the timing and process of the paperwork required for foreign nationals to participate in residency or fellowship training at UAB. Due to sensitive timing issues around obtaining a Social Security number and applying for an Alabama medical license, an H-1B visa may not always be the best (or even viable) option. 
2. Program Directors considering applicants born outside of the U.S. should be aware that the current immigration landscape is very different than in the past, and that ISSS is the best resource for determining whether J-1 or H-1B is the best option for your candidate without consulting ISSS.     
   International medical graduates must hold a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for
3. International medical graduates must hold a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), which sponsors all residents and fellows in the US for J-1 visas. If a candidate has not received the Step 3 USMLE certificate, an H-1B visa is not an option. After consulting ISSS, program directors may communicate the visa type or immigration status agreed upon with ISSS to the international applicant. Residency program directors may ultimately choose which visa types to accept, after consultation with ISSS and must communicate it to applicants.

Prerequisite Residency Training

All applicants must satisfy any requirements for prerequisite residency training, as established by the relevant Residency Review Committee and/or certifying board for the specialty.

1. Residency Programs: All prerequisite post-graduate clinical education required for initial entry or transfer into ACGME-accredited residency programs, must be completed in:
   1. ACGME-accredited residency programs,
   2. AOA-approved residency programs,
   3. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)-accredited residency programs located in Canada
   4. Residency programs with ACGME International (ACGME-I) Advanced Specialty Accreditation
2. Fellowship Programs: The ACGME includes two choices for fellowship eligibility. All applicants should review the criteria as established by the relevant Resident Review Committee.

Resident Transfer

If a resident transfers from a residency program at another institution, written verification of the previous educational experiences and a statement regarding the resident’s performance evaluation must be received prior to acceptance into a UAB residency program.

 

Forms

Please Note: Orientation Forms are located under the Orientation tab on the left-hand side of this page under "Forms to be Mailed."

Application

Resident Agreement

Code of Conduct

UAB Resident Benefit Summary

 

UAB Employment Requirements - Mandatory Screening, Vaccination, & Testing Policies

Physical Examination: All newly-appointed residents must complete and successfully pass a health screening examination and pre-employment drug screen performed by the Hospital at the time of Resident’s initial appointment and a background check at the time of Resident’s initial appointment. 

Seasonal Flu Vaccination Policy: All UAB Medicine employees are required to receive the flu vaccine each year prior to October 31. The flu shot will be offered as part of the health screening process for all new employees. If the individual has had the flu vaccine, documentation will be required to update our records for compliance. Failure to comply will result in an initial, unpaid suspension from work up to five (5) calendar days. Failure to obtain the vaccine or an approved exemption during the five (5) day suspension will be considered a voluntary resignation of employment, and faculty will lose their privileges. 

Tuberculosis (TB) Screening: All employees are subject to pre-employment Tuberculosis (TB) screenings. 

Additional Tests & Screenings: For certain positions, employees are subject to additional screenings including Respirator FIT Testing (pre-employment, annually), and Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support (pre-employment, every two years).  

Examinations

United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE)

• USMLE Step 2: All residents with MD degrees, regardless of postgraduate year, must possess a passing score for both Clinical Skills and Knowledge parts of Step 2 by completion of the third month after entering residency training at UAB.
• USMLE Step 3: All residents with MD degrees must possess a passing score for the USMLE Step 3 by completion of the fourth month of postgraduate year two.

Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX)

• COMLEX Level 2: All residents with DO degrees, regardless of postgraduate year, must possess a passing score for the COMLEX Level 2 by completion of the third month after entering residency training at UAB.
• COMLEX Level 3: All residents with DO degrees must possess a passing score for the COMLEX Level 3 by completion of the fourth month of postgraduate year two.

Licenses

Alabama Medical License

All residents (graduates of American and international medical schools) must apply for and obtain an unrestricted Alabama license to practice medicine when they meet the minimum postgraduate training requirements stipulated by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. In addition, residents who are graduates of international medical schools must apply for and obtain a limited Alabama license no later than 18 months from the start of postgraduate training (PGY 1) and this limited license must be maintained until an unrestricted Alabama license is obtained, or they complete the program, whichever occurs first. Information on obtaining an Alabama license is found at: http://www.albme.org/. 

Controlled Substances Permit/DEA Number

An Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number is required in order for physicians to write inpatient or outpatient prescriptions for controlled substances. Residents may rely on the Hospital's institutional DEA number (with a unique suffix assigned to each resident) for the first 18 months of residency training, but not thereafter.

In clinical training programs where controlled substances are prescribed, each resident must register with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and obtain an individual DEA number and with the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners for an Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC) when they obtain their Alabama license, but on no event, later than 18 months from the start of their postgraduate training. A copy of the DEA number and ACSC should be sent to the Graduate Medical Education Department. Registration forms for the Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate are included with application materials for licensure, and information on federal DEA registration is found at: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov

Residents in a training program where controlled substances are not prescribed are not required to obtain a DEA number or ACSC. Residents in these programs cannot use another physician’s DEA number or ACSC.

Requests for Reasonable Accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act

UAB’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) training programs provide reasonable accommodations to residents/fellows or applicants who have a documented disability that may affect their ability to participate in training activities or to meet the essential functions and program requirements of their position. It is the responsibility of the resident/fellow or applicant to begin the accommodation process. To request a workplace accommodation, residents/fellows must work with UAB’s AWARE (Always Working to Advocate, Retain & Employ) program. The AWARE office generally has responsibility to review disability documentation and recommend reasonable workplace accommodations for residents/fellows participating in a GME training program.

Please contact the AWARE Coordinator Sherri Moultrie at 205-975-9973 or email with any questions. You can also download and print an accommodation request form.

Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. The AWARE Coordinator assists residents/fellows by reviewing documentation of disability conditions, determines whether a trainee is covered under disability laws and if so, works with the resident/fellow and the training program to engage in the interactive process to help identify and implement reasonable accommodations. When applicable, the AWARE Coordinator may collaborate with UAB’s Disability Support Services Office which handles reasonable accommodations made by students and it serves as the university-appointed office charged with providing institution-wide advisement, consultation, and training on disability-related topics which include legal and regulatory compliance, universal design, and disability scholarship.

In order to successfully complete a residency or fellowship program, all residents/fellows must meet the essential requirements of their training program; residents/fellows with disabilities must be able to meet the essential requirements, with or without reasonable accommodations.