General Psychiatry Residency Admissions

The Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Psychiatry Residency program at Baylor College of Medicine is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education. Residents are required to complete four years of graduate medical education to be eligible for certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Candidates may apply at either the first- or second-postgraduate year level. The department accepts individuals at the second postgraduate year level who have completed a categorical first postgraduate year in psychiatry elsewhere or who have completed a minimum of 12 months of another ACGME accredited training program requiring comprehensive and continuous patient care, such as Internal Medicine or Pediatrics.

In addition to an application, the Department of Psychiatry requires personal interviews for all postgraduate applicants. Interviews are held with junior and senior faculty and with current residents. The interviews provide an opportunity for applicants to develop as accurate and comprehensive a picture of the department as is possible in a short visit.

Each Open House will provide a program overview, discussion of wellness, diversity, and life in Houston. Come meet the program directors and residents virtually!

• Open Houses: Tuesday, Aug. 29, 5:30 - 7 p.m. CST and Wednesday, Sept. 13, 5:30 - 7 p.m. CST

Register for Menninger / BCM Psychiatry Open House 2023-2024.

The Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences does NOT offer observerships.

We offer 12 categorical PGY-I positions and one research-track PGY-I position each year. Applications are accepted from the opening of ERAS to Dec. 1.

Applications for PGY-I positions are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) only. You may begin the application process by going to the ERAS site.

Three letters of recommendation must be submitted via ERAS. We encourage one of the letters to be in the standardized letter of recommendation format. A chair’s letter is NOT required. USMLE or COMLEX scores accepted.

Interview Invitations will be distributed via Thalamus on the following dates (2023):

• Oct. 6
• Oct. 20
• Nov. 3

We are not currently accepting applications for PGY-II transfer position. We will announce the availability and call for applications for PGY-II transfers for academic year 2025-2026 by Sept 1, 2024. 

We may offer one to two PGY-II positions each year. If these positions are available, applications are accepted on a “rolling” basis until all positions are filled. You must apply with the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral sciences directly.

All application components may be emailed to psychiatry_residency@bcm.edu. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

A complete application must include all of the following:

• Completed Baylor College of Medicine House Staff Application form
• Medical school transcript – scan of transcript will suffice for the application but an original transcript will be required if you enroll in the program
• Dean's letter – must be sent from the medical school directly
• USMLE or COMLEX scores – scan of score report will suffice for application
• Program Director letter – must be sent from the Residency Program Director directly
• Two letters of recommendation – must be sent from recommenders directly
• Personal statement – one typed page, single-spaced
• JPEG format head shot photo

For your application to be considered, the following criteria must be met:

• Passing scores on both the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 (on first attempt)
• ECFMG certification
• Advanced English-language fluency, both written and spoken
• Eligible for a J-1, or J-2/L-2 visa. Please note that we do not sponsor H-1B or O-1 visas.

The following criteria are preferred:

• Graduation from medical school within the last five years, unless currently practicing psychiatry
• U.S. psychiatry training experience, or psychiatry training in your country of origin

View stipends and benefit information on the Baylor College of Medicine’s graduate medical education website. Stipend levels are at the national average, but Houston's cost of living ranks among the lowest of metropolitan areas in the United States.

Information about vacation and leave of absence is available on  the graduate medical education website.

Program Benefits

Psychiatry residents are provided a white coat, yearly educational funds, and additional funds to present at national conferences. 

Baylor College of Medicine admits qualified physicians of any race, sex, color, national and ethnic origin, handicap or age to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to physicians in training at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national ethnic origin, handicap or age in administrative policies, admission policies, and other school-administered programs.

For more information on applying to Baylor's psychiatry residency program, contact psychiatry_residency@bcm.edu.