Application Process

Interview season is an exciting time. The information below will help guide you in the application process to our program. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions about the process.

The UC Irvine School of Medicine/CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County Pediatric Residency Program participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP).

Applications are accepted only through Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). Our application deadline is December 1.

For all applicants: 

The UC Schools of Medicine have reached consensus agreement regarding the residency and fellowship interview season for the academic year 2020-2021: All interviews must be held remotely, even if the candidate lives locally. This policy is in alignment with guidance provided by the Coalition for Physician Accountability, which is composed of key national medical educational stakeholders, such as the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), LCME, AAMC, AMA and the ACGME. The UC Irvine School of Medicine is supportive of this approach, because we must take into consideration the safety and well-being of applicants, physical restrictions and financial barriers to travel, and shifting shelter-in-place orders. To promote an equitable selection process, all applicants should have the same interview experiences and opportunities to interact with the program’s faculty and residents.

Please include the following supportive documents along with your application:

• Dean's letter
• Three to four letters of recommendation (chair’s letter is not required)
• Personal statement
• Photograph (highly recommended, but not required)
• U.S. Medical Licensing Examination® Step I score (score report required for an interview)
• USMLE Step II CK and CS scores (score reports highly recommended prior to rank list due date), USMLE Step exception for DO applicants below
• Medical school transcript
• A certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and a Medical Board of California status letter, if applicable 
• If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must have proof of your visa or resident alien card

Combined program applicants:

• If you are applying to one of our combined residency programs (Neurology, Medical Genetics), please apply to categorical pediatrics as well. If you have any concerns regarding this requirement, contact our residency office at pedsresidency@uci.edu or 714-456-5631

Osteopathic school applicants:

• Our program accepts either USMLE Step (preferred) or COMLEX scores for DO applicants

Foreign medical school applicants:

• There are special requirements for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who wish to take post-graduate training in California. Further information can be obtained from the Medical Board of California

• All applicants must apply through ERAS. International graduates can apply through ECFMG. If you are not an American citizen, please carefully review the information below regarding visa status before proceeding

• According to new California state legislation, IMG applicants no longer need a PTAL to apply beginning the match for 2020. After the match, all non-licensed physicians will be required to obtain a PTL within 180 days of hire

• The University of California accepts only J1 visas. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must have proof of your visa or residency status. If you have a current J1 visa, a current ECFMG certificate is also required

• F1 visas must be issued by a U.S. medical school in order to be accepted by the University of California. The university cannot issue H1 visas for International Medical Graduates