As of Friday, May 9, 2025, the first week of the MIR 2025 placement allocation process concludes, marking a significant milestone in the journey for over 3,000 aspiring doctors. These candidates have already selected their specialties, centers, and locations from a total of 9,007 places offered by the Ministry of Health. With the allocation process now in full swing, these future residents must complete a few essential steps before they can officially begin their specialized training.
Once a place has been allocated, the Ministry of Health emphasizes that selected individuals must contact the teaching commission of their assigned center or teaching unit on the first business day following the allocation. This is crucial to schedule a mandatory prior medical examination, which aims to ensure that the resident does not have any physical, mental, sensory, or functional limitations that would hinder their ability to perform the duties associated with their specialty.
The formal taking of possession for these places is set to occur between June 5 and June 6, 2025, with June 6 designated as the official start date for the training period. From that point onward, the new residents will commence their professional activities within the National Health System, all under the guidance of experienced educators.
The allocation dates for the MIR 2025 places are determined by the candidates’ exam scores. The allocation calls are being conducted in two daily shifts, accommodating 350 applicants each. The first shift kicks off at 08:45, followed by a second shift at 15:00, allowing for a total of 700 applicants to be allocated places each day, starting with order numbers 1 to 700. Those opting for electronic allocation must submit their applications within the established deadlines corresponding to their shift, although they also have the option to attend in person if they prefer.
This year, the Ministry of Health has made 9,007 MIR places available for a total of 13,692 applicants. The allocation process will unfold both in person and electronically over a span of 16 days, culminating on May 28, 2025.
During the first few days of the allocation process, certain specialties have already reached full capacity. Dermatology, for instance, was the first to run out of vacancies, with all 131 places filled on the very first day. The last spot was assigned to applicant number 542 at the Corporación Sanitaria Parc Taulí. This trend continues as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery filled its 55 places the following day, with the last allocation going to applicant number 743 at the Complejo Hospitalario de Cáceres.
According to the Asociación MIR Española (AME), these developments signal a historic moment for the MIR process. "This year consolidates a trend that has been observed: Dermatology remains 'the queen' and continues to be the most sought-after specialty, as evidenced by the increasingly lower order numbers required to access it," they stated. Notably, the last place was allocated this year much earlier than in previous years, where the last allocations typically occurred around order number 648.
As the allocation process progresses, Ophthalmology has also completed its offerings, with the last place assigned to applicant number 2,599. Furthermore, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has closed its only remaining vacancy, becoming the fourth specialty to exhaust its quota.
In contrast, some specialties are moving at a slower pace. Endocrinology and Nutrition, for example, has filled 90% of its offerings, leaving only 11 places available. However, several specialties remain without any allocations thus far, including Clinical Analysis, Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Pharmacology, Occupational Medicine, and Nuclear Medicine.
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the competition intensified as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery became the fourth specialty to deplete its vacancies, joining the ranks of Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, and Ophthalmology. The last position was filled by applicant number 2,920 at the Complejo Hospitalario Torrecárdenas in Almería. This marks a slight improvement from 2024, where the specialty finished behind Cardiology, with its last allocation going to number 2,519.
As the process continues, Cardiology is nearing full allocation, with only two places remaining out of 203. Endocrinology and Nutrition has three vacancies left from its total of 112, while Otorhinolaryngology has just one spot available out of 115.
Other specialties such as Urology, Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology are also approaching full capacity, with Urology at 75.66%, Orthopedic Surgery at 73.86%, and Obstetrics and Gynecology at 71.63%.
Conversely, several specialties have yet to see any allocations. These include Clinical Pharmacology, Nuclear Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Clinical Biochemistry, and Clinical Analysis, all of which remain at zero allocations. Family and Community Medicine, despite having the largest offering of 2,508 places, has only managed to allocate 75 positions, representing a mere 2.99% of its total.
The allocation process is scheduled to conclude on May 28, 2025, when the final group of candidates, ranked from 11,701 to 13,691, will make their selections. This year, the community offers a total of 227 places for resident doctors, with 98 of those dedicated to Family Medicine. The absence of a minimum cutoff score for the MIR exam this year has raised hopes that more candidates will fill these vacancies than in previous years.
As the days progress, the allocation continues to be a focal point for the medical community, with many eyes on the remaining specialties and the candidates who will fill these vital roles in the healthcare system.
