How to Apply for Dermatology Residency Program

We participate with many other programs in sending coordinated interview invitations to help residency applicants organize their schedules and reduce the need for rescheduling. We release our interviews according to the published timeline.

Applicants must use the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®) to apply for our programs. This is a centralized online application service hosted by the Association of American Medical Colleges. 

The dermatology residency application timeline is highly competitive, requiring applicants to balance ERAS® submissions and interviews over the course of medical school.

Applications to our program undergo a holistic review that considers research, clinical, volunteer and other extracurricular experiences. We value the time, commitment and impact applicants have demonstrated across these areas, and these experiences are carefully considered throughout the application review process.

Publications

The quality, quantity and scope of publications are thoughtfully considered as part of our holistic application review process.

Letters of Recommendation

While applicants have traditionally felt the need to secure multiple letters from dermatologists — especially from prominent faculty members or department chairs — this is not what we are looking for. The most valuable letters come from faculty who know you well and can speak in detail about your abilities, regardless of specialty. Strong recommendations from general medicine, surgery or other fields are equally meaningful, and we never require letters from specific individuals.

External Dermatology Rotations

Eligible 4th-year visiting medical students are invited to apply for an elective rotation through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) program. The UC Davis Dermatology Residency Program offers a Visiting Student Scholarship to support students who require financial assistance to participate in the Dermatology Clerkship Course (DER 460). Each year, our program awards up to two scholarships of $2,000 to help offset travel and/or housing expenses associated with the clerkship. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is June 1, 2026.

Virtual Meet and Greet

In addition to external rotations through the VSLO program, we offer a virtual meet and greet opportunity. During this session, potential applicants learn about our program through presentations by our core faculty and a question-and-answer session with our residents.

To work at the VA, all male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service System between the ages of 18 and 25. Since our program includes extensive rotations at VA clinical sites, Selective Service registration is also required for acceptance into our program. If you have not yet registered, please do so before submitting your application.