Information for Applicants 

Thank you for your interest in the University of Colorado School of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Training Program! Browse the tabs below for information on how to apply, requirements, eligibility and selection, interview dates, and international medical graduates.

 



How to Apply

  • Applications for internship will only be accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)​ by September 25th, 2024.
  • We are participating in Program Signaling and will be using Thalamus for interview invitations.
  • We will not accept any applications sent to us in ERAS after 4pm on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024.
  • Our required application materials are the same as ERAS:
    • CV
    • Transcript
    • Chair's or Departmental Letter
    • Three Letters of Recommendation (these plus the Chair's or Departmental letter is a total of 4 letters)
    • USMLE Transcript
    • Personal Statement
  • Ensure you note all NRMP numbers for tracks you would like to be considered for (listed in the following tab).
  • Please indicate if you will be participating in the couples match.
  • Applications for PGY-2 and 3 positions will be accepted through our office as openings arise.
  • Prelims applying to the categorical Neurology program at the University of Colorado that want to interview with us  must apply to our program as well for an interview by September 25th.

We will screen all applications and offer interviews to candidates whose academic and personal strengths indicate they would have a reasonable chance to match with us.

NRMP Numbers

Track

NRMP Number

Categorical Internal Medicine1076140C0
Hospitalist Internal Medicine1076140C1
Primary Care Internal Medicine1076140M0
Preliminary Internal Medicine1076140P0
Physician Scientist Training Program1076140C2

 

Requirements, Eligibility, and Selection

 

Our approach to selecting applicants:

  • We take a holistic approach to review applications. We take into account the following characteristics:
    • Diverse life experiences
    • Medical school performance (with a focus on clerkships and in particular the medicine clerkship and medicine sub-internship)
    • Community involvement and engagement
    • Scholarly work
    • Demonstration of leadership qualities.
  • We do not have a set USMLE or COMLEX cut-off score; however, most of our applicants score above 235 on USMLE Step 2. We expect that individuals have passed the exams in their first attempt and performed competitively. We do accept COMLEX scores in lieu of USMLE. The minimum required COMLEX score is 600.
    • USMLE Step 2 scores are not required at the time of application but must be completed before starting residency.
  • We strongly recommend having one month of clinical experience in a U.S. healthcare system. Tele-rotations do count as clinical experience; however, we do not count observerships or research as clinical experience. 

Requirements:

  • We will accept only applications submitted to us electronically through ERAS. If you are an international medical graduate, you must apply to our program through an ECFMG office.
    • We are utilizing program signals for the 2024-25 application cycle
    • We will not accept any applications sent to us in ERAS after 4pm on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024.
  • We require a chairman's letter and three letters of recommendation, which is a total of 4 letters.
    • Chairman's letter is optional for preliminary applicants.
    • For those applying after serving in the armed forces after medical school graduation, we require a chairman's letter from your time at medical school and strongly suggest one of your letters of recommendation be from your current commanding officer.
  • Residents in our program must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or possess the appropriate documentation to allow a resident to legally train at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
  • Residents in our program must be vaccinated against all standard vaccine series required to work in a medical environment.
  • International Medical Graduates:
    • Must be ECFMG certified at the time of your application or far enough along in the application process that you will receive certification no later than February 1 of the year in which you plan to match.
    • Must complete their Step 3 exams by January in the year they plan to match.

Entry Requirements:

The Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado does not discriminate with regard to age, sex, race, religion, national origin, disability, or Veteran status. 

  • Certification by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), the National Board of Osteopathic Medicine (NBOME), or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is required. 
  • International medical graduates must hold a valid ECFMG certificate, have a full, unrestricted license to practice medicine in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction, or have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school.

The University of Colorado School of Medicine recognizes that housestaff enrolled in its program are trainees, not employees. As such, applicants also must be able to meet the conditions of the school’s Houseofficer Training Agreement. Specifically, they must: 

  • Be a U.S. citizen or hold a valid U.S. resident alien card
  • Possess (or be eligible to obtain) all three of the following:
    • Valid passport
    • Valid 1-94 card (obtained upon entry to the U.S.) that indicates D/S J-1 (Duration of Status for J-1 visa);
    • J-1 visa or H1B visa sponsorship from the ECFMG to train at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the Department of Medicine.
  • Eligible for a physician training license as granted by the Colorado Medical Board.
  • In accordance with the CU GME USMLE, COMLEX, and LMCC Examination Policy, applicants must have successfully completed the USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 (CK and CS) examinations, or the COMLEX Level 1 and COMLEX Level 2 examinations, as evidenced by obtaining a passing grade for the examinations prior to starting a residency.

Selection Criteria: 

  • We look for ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity, and the ability to function within parameters expected of a practitioner in the specialty.
  • We aim to recruit and retain residents from diverse backgrounds and identities so that our program reflects the community we serve.
  • To determine the appropriate level of education for individuals wishing to transfer from another training program, the program director must receive written verification of previous educational experiences and a statement regarding the performance evaluation of the transferring resident prior to acceptance into the program. 
  • We will review and select applicants in a manner consistent with provisions of equal opportunity employment and will not discriminate with regard to sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, or any other applicable legally protected status.
  • We participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

2024-25 Interview Dates 

Interview days for the 2024-25 recruitment season will take place virtually on Mondays and Fridays from early-November to early January.

November​DecemberJanuary
Friday, November 8th, 2024Friday, December 6, 2024 Monday, January 6, 2025
Monday, November 11, 2024 Monday, December 9, 2024 Friday, January 10, 2025
Friday, November 15, 2024 Friday, December 13, 2024 
Monday, November 18, 2024 Monday, December 16, 2024 
Friday, November 22, 2024 


International Medical Graduates

The University of Colorado's International Student and Scholar Services office is a great resource for international medical graduates either as an applicant or trainee in the program. We highly encourage you to review their website for more information, in addition to the below Frequently Asked Questions. 

Do you accept International Medical Graduates?

Absolutely. We are dedicated to fostering diversity by actively recruiting International Medical Graduates (IMGs) from diverse backgrounds into our residency program. We perform a comprehensive, holistic review for all applications submitted to us regardless of graduate types, years since graduation, etc. We currently have 6 IMGs in our program and have graduated many more.  

What types of visas do you sponsor?

We sponsor both J1 and H1B visas. The type of visa sponsored will be determined in consultation with our International Student and Scholar Services office. They assess your current visa status, where you are in the process, and the visa type you will need. Residents in our program must be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a refugee or asylee, or possess the appropriate documentation to allow the Resident to legally train at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.  

Is USMLE Step 3 required to apply?

You must take USMLE Step 3 by the time you submit your rank list if applying for an H1B visa. Your results should then be available by the time the match occurs (mid-March). The exception is if you have the option to be on an F1 OPT visa for your first year. If you do not take your USMLE Step 2 and USMLE Step 3 by December 31st, 2024 it is unlikely that you will be able to start your training on time with H1b status.

Is US Clinical experience required for international graduates?

No, we do not require this but recommend at least one month of hands-on clinical experience in a U.S. healthcare system. Tele-health rotations do count, but we do not count observerships or research as hands-on clinical experience.​ 

Are there any special requirements for international medical graduates? 

International Medical Graduates are required to be ECFMG certified at the time of application or far enough along in the application process that you will receive certification no later than February 1 of the year in which you plan to match.​ Otherwise, there are no other special requirements for International Medical Graduates. 

​My school doesn't have a chair/chairperson. What do I submit instead of a chair's letter? 

You will need to get a letter of recommendation from a senior faculty member of medicine in replacement of a chair's letter of recommendation.


Department of Medicine (SOM)

CU Anschutz

Academic Office One

12631 East 17th Avenue

8601

Aurora, CO 80045


303-724-1785

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