Three- vs. Four-Year Emergency Medicine Training Programs

Abstract

Postgraduate training in emergency medicine (EM) varies in length among different programs. This fact creates a dilemma for applicants to the specialty of EM and prevents EM educators from reaching a consensus regarding the optimal length of training. Historically, EM training existed in the postgraduate year (PGY) 1–3, 2–4, and 1–4 formats, until the PGY 2–4 program became obsolete in 2011–2012. Currently, three-quarters of EM programs follow the PGY 1–3 format. In this article, we clarify for the applicants the main differences between the PGY 1–3 and PGY 1–4 formats. We also discuss the institutional, personal, and graduate considerations that explain why an institution or an individual would choose one format over the other. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.