PhORCAS will seamlessly transfer applicants to the National Matching Service (NMS) allowing them to pay
and register for NMS. The NMS fee is $160. The applicant must be registered with NMS before applying (e-
submitting) to residency programs in PhORCAS.
How were the applicant fees for PhORCAS determined?
Working with Liaison, ASHP compared comparable centralized application services, centralized application
survey data from a survey ASHP conducted, and established a fee structure that was price conscious.
ASHP has tried to keep the fees for PhORCAS comparable to the cost of applying via the old, manual process
(considering cost for multiple transcripts, supplies, mailing, and tracking costs). The fees for PhORCAS go to
administering the service.
If an applicant is applying to a program with multiple sites, each with their own matching code, is the applicant
applying to each site?
Yes, the applicant applies to each individual site that has its own unique National Matching Service (NMS) code.
Since sites are part of one residency (only one ASHP Residency number), the applicant will only have to pay one
residency application fee (the applicant can apply to all the sites associated with that residency program). This
will only count as one of your program selections under the 4 program selection for $110 or as one additional
program application fee: $43.
Any applicant applying to a residency program with multiple sites like this should check with the site to make
sure they are applying to each individual site (e.g. often found in community pharmacy residencies).
How will residency programs with multiple sites with unique NMS codes be listed in PhORCAS?
Programs will be listed by state and then alphabetically by program name (similar to the ASHP online residency
directory). The applicant will select the residency name from the PhORCAS list, when they select the name, a list
of available programs will come up under the residency name for selection by the applicant. Each program that
has a unique NMS code will be listed separately to apply to them individually.
Will there be a link from PhORCAS to the program’s information on the ASHP online residency director website?
Yes, when an applicant selects a program, the link takes it to the ASHP online residency directory.
All programs should update the information on the ASHP online residency directory page and any program
specific websites. Send requests for changes to the ASHP online directory to asd@ashp.org. Applicants are
encouraged to review program’s websites for site specific details, and especially if any supplemental information
is required for the application process.
Can a program request an essay from the applicant?
Yes, if an essay or other specific requirements are part of your program’s application, those details need to be
clearly identified on the ASHP online residency directory webpage under the application section, as
supplemental information needed to be provided within PhORCAS.
Can a program request four letters of recommendation instead of three?
Yes, PhORCAS requires three letters of recommendation for each applicant to become Complete, however,
PhORCAS allows up to four reviewers. PhORCAS will not accept more than four references per program.
Is applicant information available through PhORCAS after the match cycle and recruitment process closes for
the year?
The current cycle and previous cycle will be accessible to programs. Beyond the past year’s, information will be
moved to non-accessible external storage (e.g in 2015, the 2013 information will no longer be accessible to
programs). Programs should assess the need for document retrieval beyond the current/previous cycle
availability in PhORCAS and make appropriate arrangements for archive access at their own institutions.
Complete applications can easily be saved as .pdf files for future retrieval. To access the previous year’s