FAQs About Our Program

Q: What are your USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK minimum score requirements? Is there a maximum number of attempts?

A: Because of the large number of applications we receive, we use a passing Step 1 result and a Step 2 CK score of approximately 240 or higher as initial screening criteria. However, we review the applicant’s entire body of work and consider examination performance within the context of the overall application. We do not have an absolute maximum number of examination attempts; however, examination failures are considered as part of the overall application review.

Q: Do you require both Step 1 and Step 2 CK before granting an interview?

A: Yes. Step 1 and Step 2 CK must be completed and scores available before an applicant can be considered for an interview.

Q: At the time of application, do you require the ECFMG Certificate?

A: No. ECFMG certification is not required at the time of application, but must be completed in accordance with UAMS Graduate Medical Education requirements before beginning residency training on June 1.

Q: When is your application deadline?

A: Our application deadline is December 1. However, we review applications on a rolling basis and issue interview invitations throughout the recruitment season. We encourage applicants to submit a complete application early.

Q: Do you accept IMG’s?

A: Yes. We welcome applications from qualified international medical graduates who meet UAMS Graduate Medical Education eligibility requirements and our program’s application criteria.

Q: Do you require US Clinical experience? If so, how long?

A: U.S. clinical experience is not required. For international medical graduates, recent hands-on U.S. clinical experience is preferred and can strengthen an application. Observerships and research experiences are not considered equivalent to hands-on clinical experience.

Q: Do you accept the J1 visa or sponsor H1?

A: We accept the J1 visa. For information on other non-immigrant visa types, or if you have questions, visit the UAMS Immigration Services page, or contact UAMS Immigration Services at AskImmigration@uams.edu.

Visa Sponsorship Information

At this time, UAMS and its ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs only sponsor J-1 physician visas for international medical graduates who are outside the United States. This policy reflects national and institutional requirements and is not based on applicant qualifications. We welcome applications from all eligible candidates and encourage international applicants who require visa sponsorship and are applying from abroad to pursue the J-1 visa pathway.

For applicants who are currently in the United States and who hold valid H-1B status or are legally eligible to change to H-1B status, UAMS may consider H-1B sponsorship on a case-by-case basis. However, UAMS does not file new (consular) H-1B petitions for individuals outside the United States at this time.

Should federal guidance or institutional policy change—including any waivers of H-1B petition costs for healthcare workers—UAMS will re-evaluate its visa sponsorship options and update this policy accordingly. Applicants are encouraged to check back for the most current information.

Q: Do you have a cutoff since graduation?

A: Applicants are generally expected to have graduated from medical school within the past three years. Applicants who are more than three years from graduation may still be considered if they have significant recent clinical training or experience.

Q: Will you be hosting this year’s interview online, in person or both?

A: All residency interviews for the 2026–2027 recruitment season will be conducted virtually. Applicants will also have an opportunity to participate in a virtual social event with current residents during their interview week.

An optional in-person Second Look will be offered following certification of the program’s rank list. The date for this event will be announced soon.

Q: Do you have any unique Letter of Recommendation requirements?

A: Three letters of recommendation are required. A letter from an anesthesiologist is welcome but is not required. We encourage applicants to select letter writers who know them well and can speak meaningfully about their clinical performance, professionalism, and personal attributes.

Q: How do I apply?

A: The UAMS Anesthesiology Residency Program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), and applications are accepted exclusively through ERAS.

A complete application should include:

• Completed ERAS application
• Medical school transcript
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• USMLE or COMLEX transcript
• ECFMG documentation, when applicable

Documents sent directly to the program by mail or email will not be reviewed as part of the application.

Q: How many hospitals do you rotate through?

A: During intern year, most residents will complete two to three rotations at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, one rotation at Baptist Hospital, one rotation at St. Vincent CHI, and one to two rotations at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The CA-1 and CA-2 years are all at UAMS, with the exception of eight weeks at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The CA-3 year includes a four-week cardiac rotation at Arkansas Heart Hospital and an ambulatory surgery acute pain rotation at the new Orthopaedic Spine Hospital that is located on the UAMS campus.

Q: Is it hard rotating at all those sites?

A: Residents find it easy to integrate into off site rotations. Upper-level residents will provide you with a wealth of information about what to expect and how to be successful during off-site rotations.

Q: Do you have structured mentor relationships?

A: A mentor is assigned to each resident at the start of residency. Residents are free to request a change if they find they are not a good fit or if a different mentor would better align with your professional and academic interests.

Q: Do residents have elective time?

A: Residents with particular interests in OB, Chronic Pain, Cardiac Acute Pain, and Pediatric Anesthesia may request additional rotations during their CA-3 year. Arkansas Children’s Hospital also offers a Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia rotation for those interested in congenital heart defect repair.

Q: How are the case numbers at UAMS?

A: Although you will meet your minimum ACGME case numbers at any anesthesia residency, you will absolutely exceed your case numbers at UAMS easily and early on. The benefit of not having to worry about our case numbers is that we are subsequently able to choose the cases we want to do based on our preference and not out of necessity and can also step into the supervisory role of an attending anesthesiologist during our CA-3 year. As I’ve interviewed for positions next year prospective employers have been impressed with the breadth of the UAMS clinical experience and the quality of our training.

Q: What are the clinical opportunities like at UAMS?

A: The clinical opportunities at UAMS are unparalleled. Being the only Level  1 trauma center in the state of Arkansas, we have almost 3,000 trauma admissions each year, approximately 19,000 surgical cases, and a multi-state catchment area. Additionally, UAMS is the main high-risk obstetrics center in Arkansas, and in 2020 the Division of Obstetric Anesthesia was designated a Center of Excellence by the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP). This status is awarded to institutions who demonstrate excellence in obstetric care, setting benchmarks for optimal care to improve standards nationally. Arkansas Children’s Hospital is our free-standing Level  1 Pediatric Trauma Center offering 18,000 anesthetics per year, giving you a wide complement of cases within pediatrics. Recently, we have partnered with the Arkansas Heart Hospital to expand our cardiac case experience and master our transesophageal echocardiogram skills. All this to say you will be introduced to complex surgical patients with multiple comorbidities early in your CA-1 year and consequently far exceed ACGME case minimums in all areas. Whether you decide to do general anesthesiology or pursue a fellowship, our residents perform exceptionally and match nationally at competitive fellowship programs.

Q: How are didactics integrated into the program?

A: UAMS is dedicated to residents’ education. Our didactics consist of three hour sessions every week, and we have 24/7 access to our state-of-the-art simulation center, which is also one of the nationwide MOCA (Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology) centers.

Q: Are there any leadership or research opportunities?

A: There are plenty of leadership opportunities to join including partaking in resident council, teaching medical students or co-residents, and volunteering for events. We also have ongoing research opportunities within obstetrics, regional, chronic pain, and neuroanesthesia, just to name a few.