How training location, specialty affect where doctors go after GME

More than half of physicians who completed residency training over a 10-year period are practicing in the state in which they trained. But the likelihood of staying local varies by the state and specialty in which you completed your graduate medical education (GME) training.

Data highlighted in a 2024 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) sheds light on the states residents stay in—or leave—upon the completion of their training. Here are some key insights into the numbers.  

Resident retention by state

The AAMC data shows that 58.6% of physicians who completed training in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited programs between 2014 and 2023 are now practicing in the same state where they completed residency. The data set is part of the most recent version of the AAMC’s Report on Residents, which highlights unique trends among states, specialties and phases of the GME continuum.