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Neurology

Competitiveness: Low

A neurologist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of all types of disease or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles and autonomic nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to these structures. The disorders include: stroke, brain and spinal tumors, muscular dystrophy, headache and other pain, meningitis, encephalitis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders, multiple sclerosis and effects of systemic diseases, like high blood pressure and diabetes, on the nervous system.

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IMG Profile

Average Stats for a Matched US IMG in 2022:

  • USMLE Step 1 score: 225
  • USMLE Step 2 CK score: 235
  • Research: 3.5
  • Abstracts/Presentations/etc: 5.7
  • Work: 4.7
  • Volunteer: 5.6

Average Stats for a Matched Non-US IMG in 2022:

  • USMLE Step 1 score: 239
  • USMLE Step 2 CK score: 245
  • Research: 3.4
  • Abstracts/Presentations/etc: 10.6
  • Work: 6.3
  • Volunteer: 4.3

Specialty Factors

Every specialty has unique factors they want each candidate to have in their residency application. NRMP conducts regular Program Director surveys to identify which parts of the residency application are most important in differing specialties. Among the information gathered, Program Directors were asked to cite factors they used to select candidates for interviews. They were also asked to rate each factor on a scale from 1 (least important) to 5 (most important).

The Top 5 Most Important Neurology Application Factors

Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor

  1. USMLE Step 1 score (96.6%)
  2. MSPE (93.1%)
  3. USMLE Step 2 CK score (89.7%)
  4. Any failed attempt at USMLE (82.8%)
  5. Class ranking/quartile, Grades in clerkship in preferred specialty (75.9%)

Average Importance Rating for Each Factor (scale of 1 to 5)

  1. Professionalism and ethics(4.6)
  2. NRMP flag for match violation (4.6)
  3. Leadership qualities (4.4)
  4. Perceived commitment to specialty (4.3)
  5. Letters of recommendation in specialty (4.2)

Fast Facts

Total Training 4 years; most programs require a preliminary year in general internal medicine
Average Residency Salary $59,165.90
Average Physician Salary $301,000
Average Work Week 50.8 Hours
Peak Interview Months October, December
Key Organizations and Societies: American Board of Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists
American Neurological Association
Association of University Professors of Neurology
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Society for Neuroscience
  • Neurology is the 4th most IMG friendly specialty, according to 2020 statistics.

Match Statistics

Main Residency Match and Post-Match Stats

227

IMGs Matched

139 /
772

Number of Programs/Positions

11

Post-Match SOAP Unfilled Positions

Main Residency Match

PGY-1
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Post-Match SOAP

Program Track PGY-1
Participating Programs 7
Filled Programs 7
Positions Available 11
Filled Positions 11

Subspecialties

  • Brain Injury Medicine
  • Child Neurology
  • Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
  • Neuromuscular Medicine
  • Pain Medicine
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Vascular Neurology

Additional Info

  • Select Neurology programs may participate in the supplemental ERAS application. Please visit the supplemental ERAS application webpage for information, guidance, timelines, and resources.