What to Know About the ERAS Program Signaling Feature

The ERAS “program signaling” feature was designed to streamline and enhance the residency application process, providing a more efficient way for aspiring medical professionals to signal their interest and intent to residency programs.

This implementation has been beneficial, as there are more medical school graduates and residency applicants than in previous years. With the increased numbers of applicants, getting a residency spot has been tougher, and directors have had to deal with unique challenges such as application hyperbole and inflation. ERAS program signaling mitigates those issues by increasing transparency between applicants and programs.

Since its launch, signaling has allowed for applicants to better inform programs of their interest, and provided program directors with more data points they can use to decide who they will invite for an interview.

While ERAS program signaling is viewed positively by many program directors, residency applicants sometimes struggle with understanding its importance and have a lot of questions about it. In this post, I’ll answer 12 FAQs about signaling and why it matters. Grab your favorite snack and drink, this is going to be a lengthy post!

Let’s get started!

1. What is ERAS program signaling?

Alright, let’s start with the basics. So what exactly is program signaling and why is it being implemented now?

In its current state, program signaling offers applicants a chance to transparently express interest in individual residency programs at the time of application. This signal is seen by the program so they know of your interest.

2. What’s the backstory on ERAS signaling? Why am I doing this, and where did it come from?

ENT was the first specialty to implement signaling. It did so during the 2020-2021 cycle, which was all virtual due to COVID. However, applicants had signaled programs long before with away rotations/electives, sending program “love letters” and other email/written correspondence that stated their interest in that residency program.

In the 2020-2021 cycle, ENT applicants were given tokens to use as signals for their programs. The ENT programs received a list of applicants that sent their program a signal as soon as the ERAS application became available. Afterward, data from OPDO showed satisfaction from both applicants and programs. In the following cycle, other specialties deemed signaling to be useful as well. So, now here we are!

3. How will ERAS program signaling help me?

Programs use the signals as another data point to consider when choosing applicants to interview. Programs are able to filter applicants based on program signals. Signaling a program demonstrates interest and may help you lock in the all-important first step—an interview slot.

4. Who sees ERAS program signals?

Only programs you signal will see your signals. If you signal a program, the program will see the word “Yes.” Standard signals will all be displayed as “Yes.”

Tiered signaling will show to that program whether you signaled it, and which type of signal (gold or silver) you sent.

If you do not signal a program, signal a different program, or skip this question, the program will receive no information.

5. How do I signal if I dual apply to two different specialties?

You are able to send signals for each specialty you apply to.

6. How many ERAS program signals do I get?

The number of available signals varies by specialty. Specialties determine the number of signals based on their goals for signaling, their number of programs, etc.

Here’s a chart from AAMC:

Residency Specialty	Number of Program Signals
Anesthesiology	5 (gold), 10 (silver)
Child Neurology & Neurodevelopmental Disabilities	3
Dermatology	3 (gold), 25 (silver)
Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology	6 (gold), 6 (silver)
Emergency Medicine*	5
Family Medicine	5
General Surgery**	15
Internal Medicine**	3 (gold), 12 (silver)
Internal Medicine & Psychiatry	2
Neurological Surgery	25
Neurology	8
Orthopaedic Surgery	30
Otolaryngology	25
Pathology	5
Pediatrics	5
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation	8
Psychiatry	10
Public Health and General Preventive Medicine	3
Radiation Oncology	4
Thoracic Surgery	3
Transitional Year	12

*Specialty guidance is to NOT signal home and away rotations.
**Applies to all tracks, including preliminary and categorical. Learn more about signaling to specific tracks.

7. How many ERAS program signals should I send?

You should use up ALL of your signals. Signal the programs you are most interested in using the allotted number of program signals, including home and away rotation programs. Use all of them up if possible to maximize your chances of getting interview invites.

8. I don’t see my program listed, now what?

Program participation within each specialty is optional. Some programs may decide not to participate. A list of participating specialties and the number of program signals offered by specialty is available on this AAMC webpage.

If your program isn’t listed, you would apply like normal, and signal other programs that are available.

9. Do I need to send other correspondence?

Each program varies. I know, it’s such a nonanswer and you probably dislike reading it just as much as I dislike giving it.

The general rule is: no. As a PD, I would not want to read hundreds of letters telling me why you are a special applicant and should receive special consideration to attend my residency program. Apply like normal and use the transparent and readily available signal through ERAS.

10. What are gold vs. silver ERAS program signals?

Some specialties offer gold and silver signals. Gold signals are designed for your “most preferred” programs while silver signals are for your “preferred” programs. Simple enough, eh?

11. How does all of this look on ERAS?

Your application should look something like this in terms of options for program signals:

Single-Tier: These specialties have opted to use one type of program signal.

Two-Tier: These specialties have opted to use a two-tiered system for signaling: The aforementioned gold (most preferred) and silver (preferred) options.

Not Participating: These specialties are not accepting program signals, and no signals can be assigned to programs in these specialties.

Additionally, each participating specialty allocates a fixed number of signals to assign to programs.

Available: This shows how many signals remain after subtracting the total signals assigned to saved programs and the number of signals sent to programs you have already applied to.

Assigned: This shows how many signals have been assigned to saved programs. You can edit or reassign these signals as much as you like. Signals assigned to saved programs are not final until they are sent to a program with the application.

Applied: This shows the number of signals that have been assigned to programs you have applied to. Once an application has been submitted to a program, no updates can be made to the program signal assignment for that program. If you withdraw your application from a program you signaled, that signal cannot be reassigned to another program.

12. It seems like signaling is an important part of my application, but do I just take your word for it?

No, you shouldn’t. Always verify for yourself! But consider these findings from a recent survey of residency programs and the ERAS statistics dashboard:

The following data on program signals are based on survey responses aimed at understanding programs’ use of the program signals data collected during the 2025 ERAS season:

92% of programs reported that they used program signals to help them decide whom to invite to interview.

80% of program directors responded that program signals were an important component of deciding whom to invite to interview.

Program signals were ranked by program directors in the top five application components by order of importance.

For more detailed information on how programs and individual specialties used program signals, refer to the report that includes the final results of the program director survey.

As you can see, the numbers are telling. Signaling is an important part of your application! Program directors take it seriously, and it can help you get into the program of your choice.

13. Do you have any advice for how to strategically use your program signals?

Understand that sending a program signal results in a higher probability of receiving an interview invitation for all participating specialties. However, programs vary widely in how they use signals, and sending a signal does not guarantee an interview invitation.

These signals are your most limited and valuable currency. Since you only get a handful, strategic signaling is the move!

“Reach” Programs

Don’t waste signals on too many “reach programs” that are statistically unlikely to interview you based on your application.

It’s okay to send about a quarter or a third of your signals to these “reach programs.” Try to hit the sweet spot and target programs where your profile (Step scores, research, clinical experience etc) sits in the 20th to 80th percentile of their current residents.

Geographic Preferences

You also want Geographic Preference and Signaling alignment as data from ERAS shows that signaling a program outside of your preferred geographic region significantly weakens the signal’s impact.

For instance, if you selected “Middle Atlantic” as your preferred region, try to use the majority of your signals on programs within those states.

Example A: The “Regional” Signal

Candidate: High scores, strong research, lives in the Midwest.

Strategy: Signals 3 Top-tier IM programs in the Midwest (Gold) and 4 strong community/academic-affiliated programs in the same region (Silver).

Why it works: It reinforces a narrative of “I am a strong candidate who actually wants to stay in the Midwest.” Programs are more likely to offer an interview because they believe they will actually stay in the region and attend.

Example B: The “Rural” Move

Candidate: Solid scores, no specific geographic preference selected, but strong interest in rural medicine.

Strategy: Signals FM programs with a Rural Track across different states.

Why it works: By signaling a specific niche rather than a region, the signal tells the Program Directors of those programs that you aren’t just looking for any job—you are looking for their specific training model.

**14. What are some examples of how not to use your signals?**

Scenario #1: Signaling Out of Your League

A candidate with a Step 2 score in the 220s and no research signals all top-10 IM programs—and only those.

Why it’s bad: Signals are not “magic wands” that bypass filters. And they certainly will NOT replace a pillar of your application like a strong Step 2 score or good performance on core clerkships. Most elite programs use automated filters for scores and if you don’t pass the initial screen, your signal won’t matter.

The result: You effectively have 0 signals because they were spent on programs that were never going to open your application.

Scenario #2: The Mismatch

You state in your “Geographic Preference” section that you have a “Strong Preference” for the Urban IM programs on the East Coast, but you use your Gold signals on rural programs in Kansas and Texas.

Why it’s bad: This creates an inconsistency. Your Texas Program Director will see your East Coast and urban preference and your signal and think, “This applicant is confused or just desperate; they won’t actually come here if we rank them because the signal does not match with the applicant’s other preferences.”

The result: If your signals contradict your geographic data, you look like a flight risk.

Scenario #3: The Safety Signals

While it is good to save a few signals for safety programs, a good applicant should not use them all in such a manner. For instance, a highly competitive candidate (high scores, AOA,prolific research) signals many “low-tier” community programs for IM.

Why it’s bad: The community programs may all assume you are using them as a fallback and that you’ll never actually rank them #1.

The result: Some might skip over you to interview someone more likely to actually match there with application stats similar to their previous class.

I want to emphasize that while it’s important to recognize program signaling as a tool to express interest, it doesn’t guarantee a match or influence the final decision for admittance into a residency program—that decision is made by the core faculty and based on your qualifications and interview prowess.

Residency programs have their own selection processes, so applicants should still focus on building a strong application, which includes academic achievements, clinical experiences, letters of recommendation, a good personal statement, and a strong interview.