Applying to the Residency
The UCLA Psychiatry Residency Training Program participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP or “The Match”) and will accept applications only via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
Tracks
We have 4 Tracks available, each with their own distinct NRMP Match Number. For more information, please visit our Tracks page.
Psychiatry-Mid-Wilshire 3030400C3
Psychiatry-VA 3030400C4
Psychiatry-Westwood 3030400C5
Psychiatry-Research 3030400C1
Application Process
The steps to apply are as follows:
- Complete the NRMP match enrollment materials from the AAMC.
- Complete the ERAS application for residencies.
- Arrange for us to receive:
Interviews
We review applications in October after receipt of the MSPE. Roughly 160 applicants will be invited for interviews, held virtually over Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm Pacific Standard Time between November and January. You will be contacted via ERAS e-mail regarding your interview status.
Once you are invited for an interview, please specify your choice of dates via ERAS email to Dulce Madrid. You will receive an e-mail confirmation via ERAS. All interviews should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. If for some reason your plans should change and you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please be sure to call to cancel as we usually have a waiting list for our interview dates.
The interview day consists of an overview of the residency from the program director and chief residents followed by individual interviews with one program director (including track directors and associate program directors), one faculty member, and one resident. There will also be an opportunity to meet with residents over their lunch hour for more informal conversations.
Please note that only applicants who have taken and passed the first two steps of the applicable Licensing Exam (either USMLE Step 1 & 2 and/or COMLEX Level 1 & 2) by January 31 will be ranked by the program.
Additional Information
Requests for further information and all application materials should be directed to:
Dulce Madrid
House Staff Education Coordinator
UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
Department of Psychiatry, Office of Education
760 Westwood Plaza, Suite B7-357
Los Angeles, CA 90024-1759
dvmadrid@mednet.ucla.edu
Recruitment, selection, and appointment of residents and fellows are performed by the program directors with oversight by the Institution’s GMEC and in accordance with ACGME and California Medical Board requirements.
To be eligible to be a UCLA house officer (resident or fellow), applicants must fulfill the following selection criteria:
- Possesses U.S. citizenship, a Permanent Resident Card, or an appropriate educational visa.
- See the Visa Information tab on this page for more information about this topic.
- Graduate of a LCME-accredited, AOA-accredited, or Canadian-accredited medical school.
- If a graduate of a medical school outside the United States, must have both (1) a valid certificate from the ECFMG and (2) a Letter of Evaluation from the Medical Board of California indicating that they are eligible for resident selection or a valid California medical license. See the International Medical Graduates tab on this page for more information about this topic.
- Meet all State of California licensing requirements at the start of the appointment.
- Applicants who fail to meet State of California licensing requirements by the original contract start date of their training program will not be appointed.
We use a holistic review process that evaluates all received applications in the following domains:
- Clinical Performance
- Community Service and Advocacy
- Research
- Leadership
- Letters of Recommendation
- Professionalism
We also consider evidence of resilience (a record of accomplishment despite enduring adversity such as experiences of illness, disability, or discrimination) and distance travelled (taking into account an applicant’s starting place in life including a history of marginalization, limited opportunities, or socioeconomic disadvantage).
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) assesses the readiness of IMGs to enter US residency or fellowship programs that are accredited by the ACGME. ECFMG certification is one of the eligibility requirements to take Step 3 of the USMLE as well as to obtain a license to practice medicine in the U.S. Applicants wishing to be certified by ECFMG must meet medical education credential requirements and examination requirements, including USMLE Steps 1 and 2.
We do require ECFMG certification at the time of application. If you receive ECFMG certification after the ERAS submission deadline, please email Dulce Madrid using the contact information above.
For More Information
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 386-5900
Residents who do not have U.S. citizenship or a Permanent Resident Card must have an appropriate educational visa to enroll in our program.
The UCLA GME visa policy identifies the J-1 as the preferred visa type. While the policy does outline some procedures for an H-1B visa, we currently do not have the ability to consistently offer this to prospective applicants. For this reason, we are only able to sponsor the J-1 visa for residents in our program at this time.
1. Does each Track send separate interviews?
All 4 Tracks use a single integrated interviewing process.
2. Are there any limitations on year of graduation? Can I apply if it’s been more than X years since I graduated from medical school?
We welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds to apply!
3. Are there any cutoffs for USMLE and/or COMLEX scores?
We use a holistic review process that does not involve cutoffs for any exam scores.
4. Will my application still be considered if I have not yet taken USMLE Step 2 and/or COMLEX Level 2?
We will review applications and interview applicants even without a Step 2/Level 2 score. However, only applicants who have passed both steps of the applicable Licensing Exam by January 31 will be ranked by the program.
5. Does UCLA offer interviews to osteopathic students or international medical graduates?
We review all applications using the same holistic review rubric, with no differences between allopathic, osteopathic, or international graduates! Of note, osteopathic students who have taken the COMLEX exams are not required to also take the USMLE exams.
6. Do I need to use a preference signal if I am a UCLA student or have done a visiting rotation at UCLA?
In order to promote fairness and equity in the recruitment process, we do not grant a “free” preference signal to applicants who either are currently attending the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine or who have done a visiting rotation with us. For this reason, we encourage applicants who are highly interested in our program to indicate this with a preference signal, regardless of your home medical school or visiting rotation status. This helps to ensure that specific applicants (e.g., those whose residency programs are not connected with medical schools, those without the resources to do a visiting rotation, etc.) are not unduly disadvantaged.
7. Does your program offer a “second look” interview day?
In an effort to maximize equity among applicants, we do not offer a “second look” day or any other additional meetings or tours prior to the match. That said, we appreciate that many applicants may want to physically visit UCLA grounds and get to know the surrounding neighborhoods before making a decision! The UCLA campus as well as the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (which houses the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital) are open to the public, and common areas can be visited by anyone with interest.
The VA is a required training location for our residency, meaning that all residents who match to our program must undergo a process to become cleared to rotate.
The US Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) has announced that residents and fellows who engage in clinical rotations at VA hospitals will be required to undergo a substantive background check/clearance process. For US citizens, this includes a Tier-1 background check and an ongoing, continuous FBI database check. For foreign nationals on a visa, requirements will include a higher-level federal government clearance. More information about the specific requirements for obtaining clearance to rotate at the VA are available in this document.
Please know that if you match to our program, you will be required to undergo this screening prior to beginning clinical rotations. If you have questions about the VA onboarding process, please contact the Program Director Dr. Jonathan Heldt at jheldt@mednet.ucla.edu.