How to Apply - Psychiatry Residency Program

We invite you to consider St. Joseph's Medical Center located in Stockton, CA, as you make your residency program selection.

Application Process

Application to the Psychiatry residency Program must be made through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), utilizing the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We encourage allopathic and osteopathic graduates of U.S. medical schools and highly qualified international medical graduates to apply.  

Our application process meets all requirements of the Equal Employment Opportunity and the Americans with Disability Act in ensuring that all qualified applicants are afforded a review without discrimination based on sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, or veteran status.  

We invite a diverse group of candidates to consider our program. While we consider all candidates, below are our requirements for candidate selection for interviews.

Requirements

• Personal Statement 
• Current CV
• Dean's letter from U.S. graduates 
• Valid ECFMG Certification from international medical school graduates. 
• Medical school transcripts
• Graduation from an approved medical school was determined by using the California Medical Board's list of recognized schools within the last two years.
• Recommendation letters: We prefer three (3) letters of recommendation from the most recent third and fourth-year rotations.  From faculty members who have worked with you in clinical settings and know you well. At least one (1) letter of recommendation from a Psychiatry clinical setting and one (1) letter of recommendation from a primary care clinical setting (internal medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics).
• USMLE or COMLEX Transcripts. Maximum one failure in either USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1 or USMLE Step 2-CK/COMLEX Level 2-CE. No failures in USMLE Step 2-CS/COMLEX Level 2-PE. Due to the suspension of Step 2 CS by the USMLE program, we will consider your application without Step 2 scores.
• We do not have a minimum board score requirement (USMLE or COMLEX). We review all applications that have passing scores. We consider the entirety of students' performance and background in determining who we offer interviews. Candidates' clinical performance, interest in Psychiatry, and extracurricular activities (e.g., research, volunteer work, life experience before medical school) are essential parts of our review. 
• Photograph: A professional high-resolution headshot.

For International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

• ECFMG certification is required. Website: http://www.ecfmg.org/
• Passing Step 3 is desirable
• Graduation from medical school within the last five years is preferred
• U.S. experience (at least one month, more is preferred), with letters from U.S. physicians, including one psychiatrist, is required. We will accept experience in clinical research, externships, and observerships in Psychiatry. Candidates research publication in Psychiatry Journals, presentation in Psychiatry Annual Meetings, participation in Clinical Trials will be taken into consideration 
• Priority will be given to applicants who either practiced Psychiatry in their home country or who obtained a master's degree in neuroscience, clinical research, epidemiology, or public health in this country. 
  
• J-1 Visas: St. Joseph's Medical Center of Stockton, Dignity Health, accepts J-1 visas but does not provide any visa sponsorship or any immigrant or nonimmigrant visas. Noncitizens will be asked to provide a copy of a document that establishes employment authorization by the date of their interview. Further J-1 visa information is available at: www.ecfmg.org/evsp

For All Applicants: Licensing Eligibility in California:

• Candidates must have graduated from a medical school found on California approved list; affiliation with a school on the approved list is not sufficient. The list may be found at: www.mbc.ca.gov/Applicants/Schools_Recognized
• A Postgraduate Training License (PTL) will be required for all residents participating in an ACGME accredited postgraduate training program in California in order to practice medicine as part of their training program. 
• A PTL must be obtained within 180 days after enrollment in the program and will not be required to be renewed. The profile of a holder of a PTL will be displayed on the Board's website for public view.  
• To read more about the PTL, please visit the Medical Board of California Website: www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensing/Postgraduate-Training-Licensees
• If you have any questions about the new licensing requirements, please get in touch with the Medical Board of California directly.