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After finishing medical school, the U.S and IMG doctors may seek for a specialty training. This can be obtained majorly through the NRMP-MATCH process. Understanding the difference between Categorical vs Preliminary Residency positions, transitional year and so on is very important.
The nomenclature used to refer to the year of residency one is coursing is as follows:
- PGY-1: Post graduate year 1, where regardless of the specialty the trainee is called “intern”.
- PGY-2: Post graduate year 2.
- PGY-3: Post graduate year 3.
- And so on.
The concepts to understand are:
- Categorical position: Offers a full-length residency training position. Thus, if you accomplish the required goals throughout your residency, you will graduate. Internal Medicine, for example, is a three-year long training program, thus, you will get three years of training with a Categorical position.
- PGY-1 positions: Consist typically in one year of training necessary for entry into more advanced specialties like Anesthesiology, Ophthalmology, Radiation Oncology, etc. There are 2 types of PGY-1 positions:
- PGY-1 Transitional year position: An intern year that offers a global training before the specialty of choice. The graduate rotates in both clinical and surgical areas acquiring good experience in basic sciences, clinical and surgical procedures. A transitional year can also be called a “Global year”.
- PGY-1 Preliminary position: Offers a partial length residency training position. Therefore, usually offers 1 year of training prior to enter into an advanced training program. The difference with transitional year position is that the preliminary position is divided into clinical (Internal Medicine) or surgical (General Surgery). The choice between clinical or surgical preliminary year depends on one’s desired specialty.
To know more about which one fits our needs it is very important for us to check the information of the programs in that specialty and what requirements do they ask for.
Sometimes applicants choose to apply to categorical positions and preliminary positions in order to have a backup plan. In case that they are not accepted into a categorical position, they can do a preliminary year that can help to boost their application for the next NRMP-MATCH year.
CATEGORICAL INTERNAL MEDICINE VS PRIMARY CARE INTERNAL MEDICINE
The ERAS website will show you categorical positions as Internal Medicine or Primary Care when you research Internal Medicine programs with the FREIDA database.
It is crucial to understand the difference between them and which one is a better fit for us.
- Categorical Internal Medicine: Traditional training with more focus on the inpatient setting. After completion one is able to get certified by the American Boards of Internal Medicine ABIM.
- Primary Care Internal Medicine: Focused more in the outpatient setting and in primary care but with the same inpatient training as the traditional program. Most of the primary care programs state that there’s no difference in the inpatient training of both positions. Thus, during the hospital stay there’s no way to differentiate between what resident is in the primary care or categorical track. At the end, you can get certified in Internal Medicine by the ABIM as well.
Some people worry about the chance of getting fellowship after finishing a primary care track training program. We have reviewed a few programs and they state that there is no major difference in applicants whether they had a traditional or primary care training.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to research appropriately the programs to apply and check the specific requirements of each program.
HOW TO RESEARCH THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS IN FREIDA:
1. Transitional year positions:
We can research this type of position on FREIDA looking directly for transitional year positions. Remember this is a “global” year training.
2. Preliminary positions:
First search for your specialty of interest: Internal Medicine or Surgery. Then, in the options list, you will find the programs and positions they offer as “categorical or preliminary”. You can choose the one you are looking for.
3. Categorical positions:
The same as preliminary positions. Search for your specialty of interest and then choose the available options.
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