Transitional year

ACGME-I-accredited transitional year residency programs prepare residents who have chosen a career specialty that requires, as a prerequisite, one year of clinical education. ACGME-I-accredited programs provide educational opportunities for residents to develop competence in the fundamental clinical skills of medicine through first-contact responsibility for patient care in ambulatory and hospital settings and with appropriate supervision.

In addition, ACGME-I-accredited programs in transitional year provide educational opportunities for residents to begin to develop competence in:

• Practice-based Learning and Improvement, or the ability to investigate and evaluate care, appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and continuously improve patient care;
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills, or the ability to effectively exchange information and collaborate with patients, their families, and health professionals;
• Professionalism, or the commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and to adhere to ethical principles; and,
• Systems-based Practice, or awareness and responsiveness to the larger system of health care and the ability to use resources in the system to provide optimal health care.

The Review Committee-International and ACGME-I staff members provide documents and resources on this web page to assist ACGME-I-accredited programs and those applying for accreditation of transitional year residency programs.

After the sponsoring institution account has been activated in the Accreditation Data System (ADS), foundational program applications may be initiated by the Designated Institutional Official (DIO) on the “Sponsored Programs” page. If a specialty is not available for selection, please contact acgme-i@acgme-i.org.