Certification itself takes only a few minutes, while preparation for it can take weeks or even months. This extremely thorough guide for the 2025 cycle tries to prepare one in every way to understand what certification and submission are all about, how to allot time for each step, and some helpful tips that will keep you ahead of important deadlines. It will tighten the timeline for ERAS, whether you are a first-time applicant or are reapplying.
The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) is that online system using residency programs in the United States to receive applications from medical students and graduates. ERAS is controlled by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and serves as the principal application mechanism by which applicants make their requests to residency programs in the different specialties throughout the United States.
With ERAS, applicants can:
Personal statements for submission.
CVs and letters of recommendation uploaded.
Share USMLE scores.
Apply irrelevant to several residency programs.
The ERAS 2025 application season usually starts its run during the early weeks of June 2024, during which time applicants can kick-start their MyERAS application. The application certification and submission date, however, officially falls in September. For the 2025 Match cycle, the resulting timeline is expected to be as follows:
June 5, 2024: MyERAS application opens
September 4, 2024: Applicants can begin certifying and submitting applications
September 25, 2024: Residency programs can have access to start their reviews on applications.
These are all tentative dates, which may undergo some minor change by AAMC, but mostly they follow the same pattern from year to year.
Normally, it takes about 2 to 4 weeks to completely fill out the ERAS application. Certainly, this time can vary in light of the following considerations:
Preparation: If your statements were already prepared, your letters of recommendation gathered, and your CV updated, you probably could have completed your application within less time.
IMG experience: U.S. IMG applicants will need longer times for ECFMG certification, document translation, and other verification procedures.
Customization: If you spend more time adapting your personal statement or experiences to particular specialties or programs, then that will normally add to the time required to complete the application.
Certification is the final step before submission. When you certify your application, you are essentially saying that all the information that you provide in it is complete and correct to the best of your knowledge. Here is what happens when you certify:
Locking down: The application can no longer be amended in the Personal Information, Education, Work/Volunteer/Research Experiences, and Licensure sections.
Official submission: You can now send your application.
You are officially committed to the content: You cannot make any corrections or changes, even any omissions, unless you inform them by direct means (which the programs may not accept).
This is a very important step, and it should never be hurried.
The time between completing and certifying the application would usually take the applicants a few minutes. However, that time before certifying the application could take several weeks or even months. The following is the timeline for certifying and submitting the application itself:
Final review of application: 30 minutes to 3 hours
Technical certification process: Less than 5 minutes
Payment processing: Instantly upon submission (depending on the number of programs you apply to)
Remember, after the application is submitted, it would be transmitted to the selected programs as soon as the transmission period begins (for example, on September 25, 2024, for ERAS 2025).
As soon as you submit your Application, it is stored and not sent to programs until the official transmission date. This is the reason many applicants opt for submission early in September; however, programs do not review applications until late September.
The early submission window puts you in a better position to do the following:
Confirm all materials are uploaded correctly
Ensure letters of recommendation are in place
Allow for time for for ERAS and ECFMG to process your documents
If there are any problems, you will have a narrow fixing window before programs can access your files.
Delays arise from common pitfalls faced by many applicants. Here is a list of things to watch out for:
You don’t need all letters to certify, but missing LoRs could potentially hinder your ability to apply to programs efficiently.
Don’t write your personal statement last minute. A powerful statement specific to your situation could go a long way.
Assembly of upload documents carefully; such as USMLE scores and medical school transcripts.
Start the ECFMG process early to avoid unforeseen delays.
Some applicants delay certifying for last-minute alterations, but then they miss critical deadlines.
Start early (June/July): Don’t wait till September to begin.
Use checklists: The AAMC and ECFMG provide helpful timelines and to-do lists.
Meet with advisors: Residency advisors and mentors can guide/assist you.
Proofread your application: Go through every field for spelling, accuracy, and consistency.
Submit at least 1-2 weeks prior to the transmission date to avoid technical glitches.
How long does certifying and submitting your ERAS application take in 2025? Technically, a matter of minutes; in reality, the preparation and lead-up take several weeks. Prepare your documents when the ERAS portal opens in June, with the intent of certifying and submitting your application during the first two weeks of September, so they arrive on time, allowing you to maximize your chances of an interview for residency. Being proactive, organized, and informed will confer a good advantage amongst an already competitive Match process.
