Which specialties requires prelim years? Which specialties are categorical?
For example:
Dermatology is usually 3-4 years. However from what I hear it requires 1 year of prelim in IM. Is that 1 year included in the 3-4 years if it is designated? Also are there categorical Dermatology?
Are there specialties that offer both categorical and designated prelim?
Are there specialties that only take undesignated prelm?
The following fields most commonly require a prelim or transitional year: radiology, rad onc, PM&R, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology, Neurology, and Nuclear Medicine. (I'm sure I'm missing some, but these are the biggies). Neurology generally has to have a medicine prelim (not surg or TY). Some ED programs now want a prelim year too. There are some categorical anesthesiology, radiology and IR programs (no idea about derm), but not that many, and most require prelims/TYs The smart course is to assume you are going to need to do a prelim and apply accordingly.
When you apply for the match, you generally would apply to both a prelim and an advanced program simultaneously, meaning you match to do prelim medicine at U of X hospital, and match to do the advanced program Derm at U of Y hospital. So you would be a designated prelim if you got into both. Yes, the prelim year is not inclusive of the number of years the advanced program requires. Meaning if derm is 4 years, it's 4 years AFTER a prelim year.
You would only become an undesignated prelim if you were unable to match or scramble into an advanced or categorical program. Generally, doing your prelim year undesignated is regarded as better than doing nothing for a year, and at least you already will have the prelim done once you get into something (ideally in the next cycle). But no, no specialties want you to do an undesignated prelim before you apply -- it's a default position, not a first choice path.
