MD
- Length
- 1 to 3 years
- Areas
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical oncology
- Pediatric subspecialties
- Neurosurgery subspecialties
- Apply through
- ERAS Fellowships (NRMP) or SF Match
- Letters
- 3 to 4, including your residency program director
Med school and beyond: fellowships
Narrowing your practice,on purpose.
A fellowship is optional training after residency, one to four years, that takes you deep into one subspecialty. Every track has them. Here is the whole career, then the fellowship options by profession.
The whole road, in seven stages
The same seven stages apply to every track; some tracks skip the match, and fellowship is always a choice.
- 01
Pre-health preparation
Prerequisites, the entrance exam for your track, and the shadowing, research or patient-care hours it expects.
- 02
Letters lined up
At least three letters from the right authors for your track, requested early and showing Uploaded.
- 03
Primary application
Submit through the central service on or near opening day; secondaries and interviews follow.
- 04
Professional school
Didactic years, clinical years, and the first boards along the way.
- 05
Residency or postgraduate match
Where required or chosen: applications, interviews, the rank order list, Match Day.
- 06
Interviews and travel
Fast acceptance of offers, a working virtual setup, travel planned a day early.
- 07
Optional fellowship
One to three years of subspecialty training, with letters from your residency director.
Fellowships by profession
| Profession | Length | Areas | Apply through | Letters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral physicians and surgeons | ||||
MD | 1 to 3 years |
| ERAS Fellowships (NRMP) or SF Match | 3 to 4, including your residency program director |
DO | 1 to 3 years |
| ERAS Fellowships (NRMP) | 3 to 4, including your residency program director |
MD-PhD | 2 to 4 years |
| ERAS PSTP tracks and NIH career awards | 3 to 4, including your program director and your graduate PI |
DPM | 1 to 2 years |
| ACFAS-recognised fellowships and CASPR | 3, including your residency director and attending surgeons |
OD | 1 year |
| ORMatch and ACOE-accredited sites; FAAO through the Academy | 3, from clinical faculty and your residency director |
| Doctoral dental and pharmacy | ||||
DMD / DDS | 1 to 2 years |
| ADEA PASS or university portals | 3, including your specialty program director |
PharmD | 1 year (PGY2) or industry fellowships |
| PhORCAS and the ASHP PGY2 match | 3, including your PGY1 program director and preceptors |
| Advanced practice and allied health | ||||
PA-C | 1 year |
| Hospital portals and CASPA fellowship listings | 3, including your PA program director and clinical preceptors |
DPT | 1 year |
| RF-PTCAS (APTA / ABPTRFE) | 3, including your residency director and clinical mentors |
Doctoral physicians and surgeons
DO
- Length
- 1 to 3 years
- Areas
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
- Sports medicine
- Neuromusculoskeletal medicine
- Apply through
- ERAS Fellowships (NRMP)
- Letters
- 3 to 4, including your residency program director
MD-PhD
- Length
- 2 to 4 years
- Areas
- Translational research fellowships
- Medical genetics
- Hematology-oncology
- Neuro-oncology
- Apply through
- ERAS PSTP tracks and NIH career awards
- Letters
- 3 to 4, including your program director and your graduate PI
DPM
- Length
- 1 to 2 years
- Areas
- Reconstructive rearfoot and ankle
- Trauma
- Diabetic limb salvage
- Sports medicine
- Peripheral nerve surgery
- Apply through
- ACFAS-recognised fellowships and CASPR
- Letters
- 3, including your residency director and attending surgeons
OD
- Length
- 1 year
- Areas
- Cornea and contact lenses
- Ocular disease
- Pediatric optometry
- Neuro-optometry
- Low vision rehabilitation
- Apply through
- ORMatch and ACOE-accredited sites; FAAO through the Academy
- Letters
- 3, from clinical faculty and your residency director
Doctoral dental and pharmacy
DMD / DDS
- Length
- 1 to 2 years
- Areas
- Craniofacial surgery
- Head and neck oncology
- Facial cosmetic surgery
- Implantology
- Apply through
- ADEA PASS or university portals
- Letters
- 3, including your specialty program director
PharmD
- Length
- 1 year (PGY2) or industry fellowships
- Areas
- Oncology
- Critical care
- Infectious disease
- Cardiology
- Ambulatory care
- Transplant
- Apply through
- PhORCAS and the ASHP PGY2 match
- Letters
- 3, including your PGY1 program director and preceptors
Advanced practice and allied health
PA-C
- Length
- 1 year
- Areas
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Orthopedics
- Critical care
- Dermatology
- Apply through
- Hospital portals and CASPA fellowship listings
- Letters
- 3, including your PA program director and clinical preceptors
DPT
- Length
- 1 year
- Areas
- Orthopaedic manual physical therapy (FAAOMPT)
- Sports physical therapy
- Neurologic physical therapy
- Apply through
- RF-PTCAS (APTA / ABPTRFE)
- Letters
- 3, including your residency director and clinical mentors
What programs expect of a fellow
A letter from your residency director
Fellowship applications across every track ask for one, alongside attendings in the subspecialty.
Case logs where you operate
Surgical tracks (MD, DO, DPM, dental specialties) expect verified procedure logs before a fellowship match.
Boards finished during residency
The final licensing step (Step 3, Level 3, APMLE Part III, NAPLEX, PANCE, NPTE) is usually done before fellowship starts.
Verify with the official source
Fellowship portals and match dates differ by subspecialty. The sponsoring society or match lists the current cycle.
- AAMC ERAS Residency and fellowship applications and letter requests.
- ACFAS fellowships Recognised podiatric surgical fellowships.
- American Academy of Optometry Fellowship (FAAO) and residency resources.
- ADEA PASS Postdoctoral dental program application.
- ASHP PhORCAS Pharmacy residency application service.
- ASHP Resident Matching Program Pharmacy residency match, Phase I and Phase II.
- NCCPA PANCE certification and maintenance.
- ABPTRFE / RF-PTCAS Accredited PT residencies and fellowships and their application.
MedStride is not affiliated with these organizations. Dates, portals and requirements change by cycle; the official page wins over anything written here.
Keep going
Inside medical school
The four years, the doctoring course, standardized patients and how rotations run.
Exams and licensing
USMLE, COMLEX, MCCQE and NAC, the US and Canadian routes, and a study plan for each exam.
Residency and match
Which tracks require it, how each match runs, and the months that matter.
Letters
The three-plus rule, who signs for each track, and how letters reach the portal.
Interviews and travel
Four phases from the first offer to the rank list, with the setup and travel that make it work.
Match Day videos
Real ceremonies from medical schools: see the day students learn where they will train.