The Association of Professors of Dermatology (APD) recently released updated recommendations and guidance for the 2026-2027 dermatology residency application cycle. Below is a brief summary of some of the major changes and recommendations applicants should know going into this cycle:
Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)
Beginning this cycle, applicants are required to submit at least one dermatology SLOE through ERAS. This letter should come from:
your home dermatology department, or
an away rotation institution if your school does not have a home dermatology program.
Additional letters may still be narrative letters, though APD encourages broader adoption of the SLOE format moving forward.
Program Signaling
Dermatology will continue using the 28-signal system:
3 Gold signals
25 Silver signals
Applicants are encouraged to signal programs that genuinely reflect their interests, including home programs and away rotation programs if applicable. The APD also noted that applicants historically have a near-zero chance of receiving interviews from non-signaled programs. Because of this, applicants are discouraged from applying broadly beyond their signaled programs.
Coordinated Interview Release Dates
Interview invitations will be released in three coordinated waves during November 2026:
November 2
November 16
November 30
Programs participating in the coordinated release system will only release the number of invitations corresponding to available interview spots.
Interview & Communication Recommendations
The APD recommends that:
applicants avoid sending unnecessary pre-interview updates or expressions of interest,
post-interview thank-you letters and letters of intent should not be sent,
applicants should not interpret silence from programs as lack of interest.
Programs may continue using virtual, in-person, or hybrid interview formats depending on institutional preference.
Away Rotation Recommendations
The APD continues to recommend limiting away rotations in an effort to improve equity and reduce financial burden:
Students with a home dermatology program: recommended maximum of 2 away rotations
Students without a home program: recommended maximum of 3 away rotations
For full APD guidance and official documents, please visit:
Association of Professors of Dermatology – Program Director Resources