ERAS Residency Headshot Requirements: Specs and Checklist

Your ERAS photo is a small upload, but it is still an official application document. Treat it like a compliance task first: correct file type, correct size, centered face, clean crop, and a professional image that programs can use to identify you.

The primary source is the AAMC Students & Residents Photo page, which says the photo is most often used by programs to help identify applicants when they report for an interview. The AAMC Documents for ERAS Residency Applicants page lists the traditional image specifications: 2.5 in. x 3.5 in., 150 dpi, and 150 KB file size. Current third-party guides from IMGPrep, Studio RedLeaf, and Luminous Space repeat the same core specs and add practical troubleshooting advice.

Always check the live MyERAS upload page before submitting. ERAS systems and program requirements can change, and individual programs may use photos differently.

Official ERAS photo requirements

Use these as the baseline requirements before you upload:

• File type: JPG/JPEG or PNG.
• Maximum file size: 150 KB.
• Dimensions: 2.5 in. x 3.5 in. according to AAMC document guidance.
• Resolution: 150 dpi according to AAMC document guidance.
• Composition: face centered in the photo.
• Upload path: USMG applicants upload in MyERAS; IMG applicants should follow ECFMG instructions; fellowship applicants should follow EFDO instructions.

What the photo is used for

AAMC states that the photo is most often used by programs to help identify you when you report for an interview. That is a narrower and safer claim than saying the photo determines your competitiveness. Your application, transcript, MSPE, letters, experiences, and interview matter far more. The photo should simply look professional and make identification easy.

Best framing and crop

• Use a head-and-shoulders crop.
• Face the camera directly or nearly directly.
• Keep your face centered with enough room above your head so preview crops do not cut off hair or forehead.
• Use a clean, neutral background: light gray, off-white, or another simple solid background.
• Avoid busy rooms, outdoor distractions, harsh shadows, filters, heavy blur, or dramatic retouching.

What to wear for an ERAS headshot

Use the same level of polish you would bring to an interview: professional, simple, and not distracting. A suit jacket, blazer, dress shirt, blouse, or white coat over professional clothing can work depending on your field and school guidance.

• Choose solid colors and simple lines.
• Avoid logos, casual hoodies, graphic tees, busy patterns, and reflective accessories.
• Keep hair neat and away from your face where possible.
• Use a natural expression or modest smile.
• Wear glasses if they are part of your normal professional appearance, but check for glare.

How to prepare the file

Start with a sharp, high-resolution original, then resize and compress a copy for ERAS. Do not repeatedly save and compress the same file, because quality can degrade.

• Crop to portrait orientation before compression.
• Set dimensions to 2.5 x 3.5 inches and resolution to 150 dpi if your editor supports physical dimensions.
• Export as JPG/JPEG or PNG.
• Compress to under 150 KB.
• Open the exported file and inspect eyes, teeth, hair, collar, background edges, and face centering.
• Upload early enough to fix errors before program deadlines.

Common upload problems

The file is too large

Compress the exported copy until it is below 150 KB. If quality becomes poor, return to the original image, crop more tightly, export as JPG, and adjust quality gradually rather than re-compressing an already compressed file.

The preview cuts off the head

This is a common applicant concern. Studio RedLeaf notes that preview crops can make the head look cut off even when the underlying file is formatted correctly. Keep extra space above the head and inspect both the upload preview and the actual file. If in doubt, contact ERAS support or your school advisor rather than guessing.

The image looks blurry after resizing

Use a sharper original. A photo that begins as a small social-media download or cropped screenshot may not survive resizing and compression. Start from the full-resolution camera file when possible.

The background is distracting

Use a plain wall, studio backdrop, or carefully generated neutral background. The background should not contain text, equipment, household objects, clinic clutter, or outdoor distractions.

Can you use an AI-generated ERAS headshot?

You can use an AI headshot only if the final image accurately represents your current appearance and meets the upload requirements. Do not use an image that changes facial structure, skin tone, hairline, body shape, or any identifying feature in a misleading way.

If you use ExecHeadshots or any other AI headshot tool, treat the output as a starting point that still needs verification. Check likeness, crop, background, clothing, file type, dimensions, resolution, and file size before uploading.

ERAS headshot checklist

• JPG/JPEG or PNG file.
• No larger than 150 KB.
• 2.5 in. x 3.5 in. dimensions where required.
• 150 dpi where required.
• Face centered and fully visible.
• Head-and-shoulders crop.
• Professional clothing and neutral background.
• No heavy filters, distracting background, or misleading retouching.
• Uploaded and assigned to programs in MyERAS where applicable.
• IMG and fellowship applicants checked the correct ECFMG or EFDO process.

Frequently asked questions

What are the ERAS photo requirements?

AAMC photo guidance lists JPG/JPEG or PNG, maximum 150 KB, centered face, and AAMC residency document guidance lists 2.5 in. x 3.5 in. dimensions at 150 dpi.

Can I upload a selfie to ERAS?

Do not upload a casual raw selfie. A clear selfie can be used as source material for editing or AI generation, but the final ERAS photo should look like a professional head-and-shoulders image and meet AAMC file requirements.

Does the ERAS photo have to be in color?

Use a color photo unless the current official upload instructions say otherwise. Third-party ERAS photo guides consistently recommend a color professional headshot with a neutral background.

Is the ERAS file-size limit 100 KB or 150 KB?

Use the current AAMC limit of 150 KB. Some older or third-party pages mention 100 KB, but the current AAMC Students & Residents photo page and document guidance list 150 KB.

When should I upload my ERAS photo?

Upload it early enough to catch formatting or preview issues before you assign the photo to programs. Once a photo is assigned to a program that has already been applied to, AAMC says it cannot be unassigned.

Bottom line

Follow AAMC first: JPG/JPEG or PNG, 150 KB maximum, centered face, and the listed 2.5 x 3.5 inch / 150 dpi document specifications where required. Then make the photo look like a professional interview-ready headshot: clear face, neutral background, simple attire, accurate likeness, and no distracting edits.