FAQs for potential applicants

Q. I was not aware that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had graduate medical education (GME) programs on campus. What programs does the NIH sponsor?

The NIH sponsors/hosts numerous GME programs.The NIH sponsors 16 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited Residency or Subspecialty Training Programs through the NIH Clinical Center, located on our 317-acre campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Also, we host 5 Jointly Sponsored ACGME-accredited training programs administered in collaboration with academic institutions or training consortia located off campus, and we sponsor 18 other non-ACGME-accredited Training Programs on the NIH campus. To learn more about these programs, go to GME home page.

Q. How does one go about applying to these programs?

Many of the programs accept applications through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), but not all programs participate in ERAS. It is best to check the application process listed for each GME program.

Q. Do these programs accept applicants through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP)?

Currently, 6 of our 16 ACGME-accredited programs accept applicants through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). Please be sure to check the specific acceptance process listed for each GME program.

Q. Does the NIH support visas for applicants who are not United States (US) citizens?

If you presently hold a J-1 visa sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), you will be restricted to the accredited length of the program. Many of the NIH ACGME Programs have additional years for research training that the visa may not support. Regarding sponsorship of other visas, it is strongly suggested that you contact the individual training programs directly to discuss available options, if any.

Q. How do I learn more about the terms and conditions of appointment, including salary and benefits, in an NIH-sponsored training program?

Each program will have information that describes the terms, benefits and conditions of appointment, including financial support; vacations; parental, sick, and other leaves of absence; professional liability, hospitalization, health, disability and other insurance; and call rooms, meals, laundry services, or their equivalents at the time of your visit to the program.

Q. Where on the NIH campus does clinical training take place?

Clinical training will take place in the new Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center, a 242-bed state-of-the-art research hospital. This modern patient care facility connects directly to the original on-campus research hospital, the Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, which opened in 1953. Together the Hatfield and Magnuson buildings form the NIH Clinical Center (Building 10), where all patients, both inpatient and ambulatory, are evaluated and treated. For more detailed information about the Clinical Center, go to  http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/ccc/crc/. A campus map that shows where Building 10 is located is available at http://parking.nih.gov/visitor_access_map.htm.

Q. Will I be required to have a medical license if I train at NIH?

The NIH Credentialing Office requires all residents/clinical fellows in NIH ACGME Programs to have their medical license within 1 year of starting the program.

Q. I've heard that NIH has a Loan Repayment Program. Is that correct?

Yes. As a resident/clinical fellow enrolled in an ACGME accredited training program at NIH, you can apply to receive repayment up to $20,000 per year of your qualified educational debt or you may qualify for the "Competitive Loan Repayment Program" which could repay as much as $35,000 per year. Please note that while the NIH Loan Repayment Program accepts applications throughout the academic year, an application processing "blackout" period, extending from August 15 to October 15, is in effect annually. As such, we strongly encourage prospective applicants to avoid making submissions during this period of time. More detailed information about the NIH Loan Repayment Programs is available at http://www.lrp.nih.gov/about/index.htm.

Q. Is there a daycare on Campus?

There are several child-care facilities on campus. The link to the NIH child-care providers along with other parenting resources is http://does.ors.od.nih.gov/childcare/index.htm.

Q. Will relocation expenses be paid?

The NIH ACGME-accredited Programs do pay relocation expenses as a benefit of appointment up to prespecified limits. Specific information about reimbursement for relocation expenses can be obtained from the specific program.