Top IMG Friendly Specialties of 2026 Residency Match
For International Medical Graduates (IMGs) navigating the residency application process, knowing which specialties offer the most opportunity can make all the difference. The National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®)’s Advance Data Tables for the 2026 Main Residency Match reveal which specialties filled the highest share of their positions with US and non-US IMGs, a reliable signal of where IMG applicants are most competitive. But before diving into those fields, it helps to step back and look at the overall match statistics for context.
Match 2026 General Statistics
41,126 PGY-1 Number of Positions | 38,354 PGY-1 Positions Filled
19,567 US MD Senior (93.5% Match Rate)
7,928 US DO Senior (93.2% Match Rate)
856 US MD Graduate (47.7% Match Rate)
318 US DO Graduate (48.3% Match Rate)
2,949 US IMG (70% Match Rate)
6,733 Non-US IMG (56.4% Match Rate)
Program and Position Highlights
INCREASE IN NUMBER FROM 2025
- 1,107 more certified positions
- 183 more certified programs
- 412 more positions in Primary Care
*Includes preliminary positions Numbers reflect algorithm processing, not SOAP placement.
Specialties of 2026 by Ratio
| Specialty | IMG % | Positions | Number Filled | MD Senior | MD Grad | DO Senior | DO Grad | Others | U.S. IMG | Non-U.S. IMG |
| Anesthesiology | 7% | 1,865 | 1,865 | 1,315 | 59 | 340 | 12 | 1 | 56 | 82 |
| Child Neurology | 18% | 211 | 205 | 136 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 29 |
| Dermatology | 6% | 31 | 31 | 23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency Medicine | 13% | 3,198 | 3,058 | 1,416 | 70 | 1,119 | 41 | 0 | 319 | 93 |
| Family Medicine | 33% | 5,491 | 4,592 | 1,492 | 96 | 1,403 | 54 | 0 | 585 | 962 |
| Internal Medicine (Categorical) | 42% | 11,194 | 10,657 | 4,001 | 175 | 1,914 | 59 | 0 | 1,060 | 3,448 |
| Medicine-Dermatology | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Medicine-Emergency Med | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Medicine-Medical Genetics | 33% | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Medicine-Pediatrics | 5% | 404 | 404 | 325 | 2 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Medicine-Preliminary (PGY-1 Only) | 12% | 1,565 | 1,430 | 1,116 | 15 | 121 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 129 |
| Medicine-Preventive Med | 80% | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Medicine-Primary | 32% | 438 | 421 | 244 | 5 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 105 |
| Medicine-Psychiatry | 3% | 27 | 27 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Interventional Radiology (Integrated) | 9% | 70 | 66 | 49 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Neurodevelopmental Disabilities | 60% | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Neurological Surgery | 6% | 280 | 280 | 243 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Neurology | 22% | 1,003 | 999 | 583 | 4 | 181 | 7 | 0 | 49 | 175 |
| Obstetrics-Gynecology | 5% | 1,638 | 1,636 | 1,119 | 62 | 330 | 29 | 0 | 51 | 45 |
| OB/GYN-Preliminary (PGY-1 Only) | 10% | 21 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 1% | 963 | 963 | 765 | 53 | 121 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Otolaryngology | 3% | 403 | 402 | 355 | 9 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Pathology | 34% | 636 | 634 | 264 | 26 | 116 | 8 | 0 | 50 | 170 |
| Pediatrics (Categorical) | 20% | 3,126 | 2,951 | 1,407 | 23 | 615 | 8 | 1 | 213 | 684 |
| Pediatrics-Medical Genetics | 29% | 31 | 27 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Pediatrics-Preliminary | 20% | 25 | 25 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Pediatrics-Primary | 60% | 59 | 55 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 32 |
| Peds/Psych/Child Psych | 3% | 30 | 30 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Physical Medicine & Rehab | 2% | 253 | 253 | 134 | 4 | 103 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Plastic Surgery (Integrated) | 2% | 230 | 228 | 208 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Psychiatry | 16% | 2,516 | 2,451 | 1,414 | 50 | 566 | 21 | 1 | 177 | 222 |
| Radiation Oncology | 16% | 12 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Radiology-Diagnostic | 18% | 156 | 148 | 83 | 4 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 19 |
| Surgery (Categorical) | 11% | 1,807 | 1,804 | 1,111 | 136 | 298 | 46 | 0 | 85 | 128 |
| Surgery-Preliminary (PGY-1 Only) | 43% | 1,207 | 664 | 289 | 18 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 72 | 218 |
| Thoracic Surgery | 5% | 56 | 56 | 52 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Transitional (PGY-1 Only) | 11% | 1,937 | 1,746 | 1,144 | 16 | 381 | 3 | 0 | 92 | 110 |
| Vascular Surgery | 6% | 110 | 110 | 92 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Total PGY-1 | 25% | 41,126 | 38,354 | 19,567 | 856 | 7,928 | 318 | 3 | 2,949 | 6,733 |
Top IMG Friendly Specialties by Number of IMGs
| Specialty |
Non-U.S. IMG Matches
|
| Internal Medicine (Categorical) | 3,448 |
| Family Medicine | 962 |
| Pediatrics (Categorical) | 684 |
| Psychiatry | 222 |
| Surgery-Preliminary (PGY-1 Only) | 218 |
| Neurology | 175 |
| Pathology | 170 |
| Medicine-Preliminary (PGY-1 Only) | 129 |
| Surgery (Categorical) | 128 |
| Transitional (PGY-1 Only) | 110 |
| Medicine-Primary | 105 |
| Emergency Medicine | 93 |
| Anesthesiology | 82 |
| Obstetrics-Gynecology | 45 |
| Pediatrics-Primary | 32 |
| Child Neurology | 29 |
| Radiology-Diagnostic | 19 |
| Neurological Surgery | 15 |
| Medicine-Pediatrics | 14 |
| Otolaryngology | 8 |
| Pediatrics-Medical Genetics | 6 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 5 |
| Physical Medicine & Rehab | 5 |
| Vascular Surgery | 4 |
| Interventional Radiology (Integrated) | 3 |
| Medicine-Preventive Med | 3 |
| Neurodevelopmental Disabilities | 2 |
| Pediatrics-Preliminary | 2 |
| Radiation Oncology | 2 |
| Thoracic Surgery | 2 |
| Dermatology | 1 |
| Medicine-Medical Genetics | 1 |
| Peds/Psych/Child Psych | 1 |
According to the NRMP:
The top five IMG friendly specialties for US-IMGs were:
| Specialty |
U.S. IMG Matches
|
| Internal Medicine (Categorical) | 1,060 |
| Family Medicine | 585 |
| Emergency Medicine | 319 |
| Pediatrics (Categorical) | 213 |
| Psychiatry | 177 |
The top five IMG friendly specialties for Non-US IMGs were:
| Specialty |
Non-U.S. IMG Matches
|
| Internal Medicine (Categorical) | 3,448 |
| Family Medicine | 962 |
| Pediatrics (Categorical) | 684 |
| Psychiatry | 222 |
| Surgery-Preliminary (PGY-1 Only) | 218 |
Other IMG-Friendly Factors
Beyond statistical data, IMG residency candidates should weigh several additional factors when selecting a specialty.
USMLE Scores — In highly competitive fields, strong USMLE scores can be the deciding factor in standing out. If your scores are below a specialty’s typical threshold, consider how much time you realistically have to improve them before applying.
Clinical Experience and Research — Regardless of specialty, your application should clearly reflect your commitment to the field. Highlight relevant clinical experiences, research, and any work that demonstrates genuine interest and preparation, not just participation.
Financial Costs — Residency applications are a significant financial investment. The recommended minimum for IMG candidates is 100 programs per specialty, which can quickly run into thousands of dollars in application fees, credential verifications, and interview costs. Factor this into your specialty decision and budget accordingly.
Program Availability — Consider the size of your chosen specialty and the number of programs you’re realistically eligible for based on your credentials and each program’s requirements. A narrower specialty means fewer options, which increases risk. If your preferred specialty is particularly limited, it’s wise to identify a backup specialty early.
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