ACGME Common Program Requirements - Residency - Version 5.2

Sep 16, 2026

Upload by Sarah

The ACGME Common Program Requirements (Residency) guide provides structured, residency-specific direction for interpreting and applying the Common Program Requirements. It clarifies how requirements are presented (citable blue-background text, non-citable italic philosophy, and non-citable background/intent boxes) and distinguishes white-background guidance for implementation. The guide explains how Review Committee interpretations control in case of conflicts, encourages periodic checks for updates, and highlights tools such as the Table of Contents links and in-document search, supported by ADS entry screenshots. Contact information is provided for feedback and questions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatPDF

Pages204

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Guide purpose and update policy

How requirements are formatted and citable

Navigating the guide (TOC links, search, ADS screenshots)

Specialty oversight and sponsoring institution

Oversight and sponsoring institution

Participating sites and program letters of agreement

Resident eligibility and presence of other learners

Program leadership and faculty responsibilities

Program director appointment and continuity

Program director qualifications and responsibilities

Faculty responsibilities and qualifications

Program coordinator and other personnel

Resident education and curriculum

Resident appointments and complement

Resident transfers

Educational program curriculum and professionalism

Patient care, medical knowledge, and learning improvement

Evaluation and committee processes

Resident evaluation and learning plans

Final evaluation and clinical competency committee

Faculty and program evaluation committee

Program evaluation, patient safety, and well-being

Patient safety and quality metrics

Supervision and accountability

Well-being and fatigue mitigation

Clinical responsibilities, transitions of care

Pain management and scholarship program

Pain management

Scholarship program responsibilities

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Guide to the Common Program Requirements (Residency) (Version 5.2 ; updated June 2026) Guide to the Common Program Requirements (Residency) The Guide to the Common Program Requirements is a living document that will be updated asthe Common Program Requirements change. In addition to this Residency version, the ACGME has developed a Fellowship version. This guide is available as a downloadable PDF that can be printed. If referring to a printed copy, periodically check the website for any version updates. The Guide should serve as a resource, and the content within it is designed to serve as helpful guidance and is not to be interpreted as additional requirements. It is also not meant to be read cover to cover in one sitting, but to be referenced as needed throughout the academic year. If there are any conflicts between the Guide and the Common Program Requirements, as interpreted and implemented by the Review Committees, the interpretation and implementation of the Review Committees shall control. Note: Every set of specialty-specific Program Requirements includes content specific and unique to the specialty. Specialty Program Requirements are not addressed in this Guide. The specialty-specific FAQs and other resource documents provided by the respective Review Committee should be consulted; these are available on the respective specialty section of the ACGME website. Contact Review Committee staff members with specific questions. Format • Requirement text is included on the pages with a blue background. o Italicized text provides philosophical background; these statements are not Program Requirements and, therefore, are not citable by Review Committees. o Text in boxes provides Background and Intent and is also not citable. o Review Committees may further specify additional Program Requirements only where bracketed notes indicate that the Review Committee may/must further specify. • Guidance for understanding and applying individual Program Requirements is included on the pages with a white background. • Each entry in the Table of Contents is a link that can be used to jump to a specific topic area in the Guide. • The search function allows users to enter key words to quickly locate information. • Where appropriate, screenshots of what data entry looks like within the ACGME’s Accreditation Data System (ADS) are included. ADS screenshots may change as system enhancements are made every month. The Guide will be updated periodically as these changes occur. The ACGME encourages feedback, comments, and questions about the Guide at [accreditation@acgme.org](accreditation@acgme.org). | | Introduction and Definition of Specialty | 5 | | --- | --- | --- | | 1.1. | Oversight and Sponsoring Institution | 7 | | 1.2. | Participating Sites | 9 | | 1.3.-1.5. | Program Letters of Agreement | 12 | | 1.6. | Participating Sites Addition and Deletion | 16 | | 1.7.-1.9. | Resources, Sleep Facilities, References, Security | 21 | | 1.10. | Presence of Other Learners | 24 | | 2.1.-2.2.a. | Program Director Appointment | 27 | | 2.3. | Program Director Continuity of Leadership | 31 | | 2.4. | Program Director Support for Administration of Program | 33 | | 2.5. | Qualifications of Program Director | 36 | | 2.6.a.-e. | Program Director Responsibilities-Professionalism and Learning Environment | 43 | | 2.6.f. | Program Director Responsibilities-Submit Accurate and Complete Information | 49 | | 2.6.g.-i. | Program Director Responsibilities-Raising Concerns and Sponsoring Institution Policies | 55 | | 2.6.j.-k. | Program Director Documentation and Verification of Resident Education/VGMET | 58 | | 2.6. l. | Resident Eligibility for Specialty Board Examination | 60 | | 2.7.-2.8.e.4. | Faculty Responsibilities | 63 | | 2.9.-2.10. | Faculty Qualifications | 67 | | 2.11. | Core Faculty | 73 | | 2.12.-2.13. | Program Coordinator and Other Personnel | 78 | | 3.1.-3.3

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Common Program Requirements (Residency) guide?

The guide serves as a resource to provide helpful guidance for understanding and applying the Common Program Requirements. It is not intended to be interpreted as additional requirements.

Which parts of the guide text are citable for accreditation decisions?

Requirement text in blue background pages is included as program requirements. Italicized philosophical background and boxed background/intent text are not program requirements and are not citable.

What happens if there is a conflict between the guide and the Common Program Requirements?

Interpretation and implementation by the Review Committees control when conflicts arise between the guide and the Common Program Requirements.

Sep 16, 2026

Upload by Sarah