2027 ERAS · IMGs
ERAS 2027: Sep 2 vs Sep 23 — what actually changes for IMGs
ERAS submissions open September 2, 2026. Programs do not review until September 23. What that gap is for, what Certify & Submit locks, and the IMG document buffer.
Updated August 31, 2026 · ~6 min read
Every September the same panic shows up in IMG groups: certify at 9:00 a.m. Eastern on September 2 or you will be late. That is not how the 2027 ERAS calendar works.
September 2 opens your ability to submit. September 23 opens their ability to read. Mixing those two dates is how people lock a half-checked application for no gain.
The two dates (official)
From the AAMC 2027 ERAS residency timeline, with the same dates on the IMG timeline:
| Date | What actually changes |
|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 · 9:00 a.m. ET | Applicants may begin submitting MyERAS applications to programs. |
| Sep 23, 2026 · 9:00 a.m. ET | Programs may begin reviewing applications and MSPEs in the PDWS. |
Always re-check those pages. Unofficial blogs are not a deadline.
What early submit actually buys you
Submitting on September 2 does not put you first in a program director’s queue. Programs cannot open files until the 23rd. Applications submitted in that window are presented together when review opens.
What early-in-window submit can buy is buffer. A rejected photo, failed payment, or assignment error on September 2 is annoying. The same error late on September 22 is a different problem. Aim for the early side of the window to absorb that — not because 9:00 a.m. Eastern is an interview advantage.
What Certify & Submit actually locks
Once you certify, the main MyERAS application content is locked. Racing the clock to “be first” is a bad trade if experiences, dates, and letters still disagree.
Use the days you still have for a short verification pass:
- Letter and document assignments
- Experiences ↔ LORs ↔ dates
- Signaling, with a clear head — not a last-hour reshuffle
Then certify in MyERAS. No third-party tool submits that application for you.
The IMG-specific date people skip
AAMC’s public timeline highlights Sep 2 and Sep 23. IMGs also have a document-processing constraint. ECFMG has recommended uploading the MSPE and medical school transcript in time to be available when programs begin review — commonly cited as no later than around September 11. Processing is not instant. Treat that as a backstop on ECFMG’s own pages, not as a number from a screenshot.
Separate from ERAS: NRMP registration typically opens mid-September (September 15 in recent cycles). Different login, different fee. Confirm on NRMP.
Quick questions
Do I have to submit my ERAS application at 9:00 a.m. ET on September 2?
No. September 2 is when you may begin submitting, not a scored “first-minute” advantage. Programs cannot review files until September 23. Submit when the application is consistent, early enough to absorb a rejected upload.
If I submit on September 2, will programs see me before people who submit later?
Not for the opening wave. Applications submitted from September 2 through September 23 are presented to programs when review opens on September 23. Confirm on the official AAMC timeline.
Does NextMatch submit my ERAS application?
No. The free planner is an organizational guide. You complete and submit through official MyERAS / ERAS systems. NextMatch AI is not affiliated with AAMC or ERAS.
NextMatch AI is an independent planning tool and is not affiliated with AAMC or ERAS. Always verify requirements and dates on the official 2027 ERAS timeline. You complete and submit your application through official ERAS systems.