Overview

The Genetic Counseling Admissions (GC Admissions) Match places applicants into positions in accredited masters-level genetic counseling programs. GCEA encourages all eligible programs offering positions that start training between May 1, 2027 and January 31, 2028 to register for the Genetic Counseling Admissions.

Key Dates

①  Register

To participate in the GC Admissions Match, the Program Director must set up a new account and register the program in the NMS Match System by August 19, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. Accounts from previous years are not active. Participating programs must offer through the GC Admissions Match all available positions that start training between May 1, 2027 and January 31, 2028. A list of participating programs will be posted on the GC Admissions Match website by September 9, 2026.

Each program offers one or more tracks in the Match. A track refers to a type of position or stream of training offered by a program (e.g., positions with different financial support, or positions offered at different locations, may be offered as separate tracks).

②   Manage Your Account

Once registered, you can log into the NMS Match System to update program and track information, including updating contact information, modifying the number of positions offered in the Match, adding an additional track to your program, or adding secondary users to your account.

If a registered program will not offer any positions between May 1, 2027 and January 31, 2028, it must be withdrawn from the Match by the Rank Order List deadline.

③   Application Process

Applicants apply to programs independently of the GC Admissions Match. Registered programs may only consider applications from applicants who have registered to participate in the Match. Each program can set its own procedures for applications. NMS is not involved in the application, interview, or evaluation process.

④   Interview Process

You can schedule interviews in any way you like, but applicant interviews and final evaluations must be completed before the Rank Order List deadline.

⑤   Ranking Process

Once interviews and evaluations are complete, each program and each applicant submits a Rank Order List of their preferred choices into the NMS Match System by the Rank Order List deadline. The Rankings User Guide has step-by-step instructions for entering and certifying your Rank Order List.

The optimal ranking strategy is to list all applicants who are acceptable for each track, ranked in your true order of preference. You should not consider how an applicant might rank the track when ordering the list.

⑥   Match Results

NMS uses an established and proven matching algorithm to process the Rank Order Lists submitted by applicants and programs. Each track will be matched with the most preferred applicant(s) on its Rank Order List who have ranked that track and who are not matched to a track they prefer.

The results of the GC Admissions Match are made available online and by email on the Match Results Day. The results constitute a binding commitment between applicants and programs. Programs with unfilled positions and applicants who did not match may participate in the Post-Match Process to fill available positions.