We are thrilled you are interested in applying to the Duke Categorial Psychiatry Residency Program! Our four-year, ACGME-accredited residency program participates in the NRMP Match. Applications must be submitted through ERAS by September 23, 2026.
To ensure sufficient time for our program to conduct a fair and equitable review of all applications received, applicants should not expect to receive interview invitations before mid-October. Consistent with Duke GME and AADPRT recommendations, the Duke Psychiatry Residency Program will be hosting an all-virtual recruitment process for the 2026-2027 recruitment cycle.
- The Psychiatry National Residency Match Program track number for the Categorical General Psychiatry program is 1529400C0.
- The Psychiatry National Residency Match Program track number for the Research track is 1529400C3.
The National Residency Match Program (NRMP) track number for the Combined Adult-CAP Track is 1529400C2 (Psych/Integrated Child Psych).
Physician Scientist Track
The Duke Psychiatry Physician Scientist Track is designed for applicants who have demonstrated a strong commitment to careers in basic, clinical, translational, or population-based research and who aspire to become independent physician scientists.
Applicants applying for the Physician Scientist Track must submit a supplemental application (link to application) along with their materials in ERAS.
Applicants to the Physician Scientist Track will participate in both a Duke Categorical Psychiatry Residency interview day and a dedicated Physician Scientist Track interview half-day.
The Physician Scientist Track interview half-day will provide applicants with the opportunity to engage in research-focused interviews and discussions with Duke faculty whose research interests align with their own. Additional activities will include opportunities to meet current Physician Scientist Track residents, learn about Duke’s research enterprise, explore mentorship opportunities, and gain a deeper understanding of the resources available to support physician scientist career development.
Applicants who want to be considered for the Combined Adult-CAP Track must also apply for the Categorical Adult Psychiatry Residency Track. Applicants may also apply for both Combined Track and PST. If an applicant were to match to that program, they would be required to be in the five-year PST option, to ensure sufficient time to complete all training requirements.
New! Five-year Combined Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Track
Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences is excited to offer a five-year Combined Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Track. This track integrates training in both specialties and is designed for applicants who demonstrate interest and aptitude in Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. During the adult psychiatry years, participants receive additional mentorship and clinical exposure in child and adolescent psychiatry and pediatrics. One position will be available each year beginning with the 2026–2027 application season.
Please follow us on Instagram (@duke_psych_residency) for updates regarding recruitment events.
General Application Requirements
We will only consider candidates who will be eligible for a Residency Training License in the State of North Carolina (see eligibility requirements here).
- We require a minimum of three letters of recommendation (at least one from a psychiatrist)
- We accept COMLEX Scores in place of USMLE Scores
- We have no minimum score requirement
- Trainees must pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2CK prior to beginning their Duke postgraduate training
- For graduates of non-U.S. medical colleges:
- We require ECFMG certification (unless you have not yet graduated from medical school)
- We sponsor J1 visas
- We strongly encourage supervised clinical experience (preferably in psychiatry) of at least one month in the United States, with a reference letter from that site.
- Unfortunately, we are not able to offer externships or observerships at this time
- Must be eligible to work at the VA:
- All male applicants (as determined by gender assigned at birth for purposes of this requirement) who are U.S. citizens or immigrants must have registered with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday, or arrival date into the U.S. Individuals are eligible to register until the age of 26. Failure to register is a violation of federal law, and can face significant penalties, including loss of eligibility for citizenship for immigrants. Individuals who have not registered are not eligible for a variety of benefits including federal student aid, federal job training, and any job in the Executive Branch of the government (e.g. VA, Medicare, federal prisons), and are not allowed to work in federal facilities even as a resident or fellow.
- In order to work at the VA, all applicants should ensure that they have registered for the Selective Service System if appropriate. If they have not registered, they should discuss this with their potential program director. Learn more
Interviews
Applicants will be notified by email in mid- to late-October of an invitation to interview. Interviews will be held virtually for the 2026-2027 interview season and will occur on Mondays and Wednesdays from November 2, 2026 through January 11, 2027.
Each applicant will be scheduled for the morning session or the afternoon session. PST candidates may only be scheduled for interviews on designated PST interview days.
The interview day consists of:
- Review prior to the day of program overview and departmental overview materials, available on Thalamus for all applicants who have been selected for interview
- Four 30-minute interviews (Program Director, Associate Program Director, Faculty, Resident)
- Lunchtime panel with residents
- Tours will be available on select weekend dates for those applicants who choose to visit Durham. This is not required and attendance is not tracked. More information will be provided to those applicants selected for interview.
Applicants invited to interview in the Physician Scientist Track may have multiple separate research interviews.
We host three to four virtual “Resident Hangouts” throughout the season, and applicants selected to interview are invited to attend any of these sessions. During the event, applicants rotate through breakout rooms to chat with residents in small groups in a casual and fun setting. These events are not required and applicant attendance is not tracked.
We offer three optional tours of Duke and Durham guided by Duke residents. Dates for the tours will be announced on the Thalamus landing page. Tours are not required.
Our Philosophy
At Duke, we value transparency, and with this goal in mind would like to share more about our values, approach, and philosophy when it comes to recruitment:
- We review every application we receive using a holistic review process.
- We do not use any “cut-offs” to exclude applications from our review.
- We do not preferentially seek applicants from any particular medical schools or from particular parts of the country or world.
- We do not discriminate in admissions decisions.
- With respect to the preference signaling program, we take preference signals into account when trying to select between two candidates who are otherwise equivocal. However, preference signals are one of many factors in how we select applicants to interview.
- We are seeking applicants whose passions come through strongly in their applications. We are particularly interested in individuals who have an interest in training to become an outstanding psychiatrist, who have demonstrated a track record of clinical excellence, service, scholarship, and leadership, and who have shown evidence of resilience.
- We encourage all applicants to apply! Imposter syndrome is real, and many of our residents have told us, “I never dreamed I would match at Duke.” Don’t sell yourself short.
- We maintain an interview waitlist, so if you do not receive an invite from us by mid-October, you may hear from us as the season progresses. We typically receive a few cancellations throughout the season, which allows individuals to move off of the waitlist.
Additional Information for Applicants
Learn about stipends, employment requirements and more on Duke’s Graduate Medical Education website.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact the residency office at psychres@duke.edu.