Is the American medical residency path feasible for Vietnamese doctors?
As the 2025 Match season gradually ends, NRMP (National Resident Matching Program) has announced the latest figures from this year’s selection season.
This is an important report, providing a lot of valuable information and useful updates for international physicians (IMGs), including Vietnamese doctors who are cherishing the dream of pursuing a residency program in the US.
So let’s analyze the outstanding numbers in this report to find the answer to the above question!
1. IMGs Match Success Rate: How are the opportunities changing?
Compared to 2024, the total number of IMGs participating in the 2025 Match season reached 16,052 (an increase of 9.1%), of which:
- US-IMGs (doctors who graduated abroad but have US citizenship or green card): 4,587 (reduced 3.5%).
- Non-US IMGs (doctors who graduated abroad, no citizenship/green card): 11,465 (strong increase 14.4%).
Despite the significant increase in the number of candidates, the Match rate to PGY-1 (first year of residency) of IMGs remains stable:
- US-IMGs: 67.8% (slight increase 0.8% compared to 2024).
- Non-US IMGs: 58.0% (slight decrease 0.5%, due to a sudden increase in the number of candidates).
What do these numbers mean?
- The significantly higher success rate of US-IMGs shows the great advantage of not being limited by visa issues.
- With Non-US IMGs, although the number of candidates increased sharply, the Match rate remained stable at ~58%. This reflects that the demand for medical human resources in the US is still very high, while the domestic supply (AMGs) is not enough.
2. Positions and industry trends: Where should IMGs focus?
- The total number of resident doctor positions needed for 2025 is 43,237 (an increase of 4.2%, equivalent to 231 programs and 1,734 new opportunities compared to 2024).
- In particular, the Primary Care (primary health care) sector recorded an impressive increase with 877 new positions, bringing the total number of positions to 20,300 – the highest number ever. This is also the industry that brings the most opportunities for IMGs, specifically:
- Internal Medicine: In total 11,750 positions (increase 6.1%), 33.3% taken by Non-US IMGs (increased 464 positions) and 10.8% by US-IMGs (increased 56 positions).
- Pediatrics: Provides 3,193 positions, with 20.4% going to Non-US IMGs (up 90 positions) and 8.2% belongs to US-IMGs (up 21 positions).
- Family Physician: 5,357 positions, of which 17.6% is due to Non-US IMGs (increased 95 positions) and 13.7% due to successful US-IMGs Match (reduced 122 positions).
- Emergency Doctor: Provides 3,068 positions, with 97.9% filled, with IMGs (including US and Non-US) contributing 14.85% (down 2 positions).
In addition, Pathology (Pathology specialty) also recorded an impressive contribution from IMGs – 36.3% (225 IMGs were received for 619 positions), of which 9.2% were US. IMGs and 27.1% are non-US. IMGs. However, this is also a fiercely competitive specialty with 1,018 people applying but only 619 positions offered.
According to the report Match Results by State, states such as New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania are ideal destinations for IMGs thanks to their community-based hospital systems and IMGs-friendly programs.
In contrast, Obstetrics and Gynecology remains a fiercely competitive specialty, with most positions filled and filled by 94% of AMGs (American-educated physicians).
3. Is the American residency path still feasible for Vietnamese doctors?
Based on the above data, it can be seen that although the journey to becoming a resident doctor in the US is still more difficult and challenging than AMGs, IMGs (including Vietnamese doctors) still have many opportunities (from 58-68%) if you have a strong enough profile and careful preparation:
- Prioritize friendly specialties like Primary Care (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family) due to high Match rate and great demand.
- Enhancing the USCE (American clinical experience), this is also a key factor to have many quality LORs and increase the strength of your application.
- USMLE Step 2 CK score must be high (≥250) – Step 1 has changed to Pass/Fail, so Step 2 CK score is almost the main measure of your academic ability.
- Have a smart ERAS application and interview strategy.
- Choose “IMG-friendly” states like NY, TX, FL to increase your chances.
Hope this information will be useful in your journey to pursue an American medical residency.
Wish you success!
Dr. Christina Nguyen
Phoenix Medical Academy
Source:
2. http://nrmp.org/match-data/2025/03/nrmp-releases-results-for-2025-main-residency-match/
