To classify the types of residency programs in US, the NRMP uses medical residency length and US medical residency training programs as basis. Whether it is medical residency in USA for international students or other US medical residency training programs, types of residencies in the US are: –

• Categorical Programs: The Categorical Programs are ideal residency programs for foreign medical graduates. These are regular PG programs after completing which you become eligible for board certification. These Programs start at PGY-1and in NRMP lingo, the letter C denotes these programs.
• Preliminary Programs: These are transitional specialty programs that are conduits to escalate you to an Advanced Program. These 1 year programs are denoted by the letter P.
• Advanced Programs:  These Specialty Programs are like entering medical PG in the year PGY-2. You must have had a Preliminary Program for a minimum of 1 year to get an entry. The letter A represents these Programs.
• Categorical Primary Care Programs: These are the C Programs limited to Internal Medicine or Pediatrics. How long is a typical residency in primary care? The primary care residency length is typically 3 tears. These Programs denoted by the letter M focus on Primary Care.
• Fellowship Programs: As the name suggests, these programs, represented by the letter F, come after completion of Residency Programs or C Programs. They are sub-specialty Programs.
•  Reserved Programs: The Reserved Programs are equivalent to A Programs but only those Physicians can enroll who have had a prior Graduate Medical Education and who have been practicing. Senior Medical Students are not eligible for these Programs, represented by the letter R.

Which residency programs are IMG friendly? Of the above 6 categories, the IMG friendly residency programs are: