How This Checker Works
This tool runs entirely in your browser — no photo is uploaded to any server. When you select an image, your browser reads its pixel data and file metadata locally and compares them against the requirements below.
Checks performed: pixel dimensions, calculated print size, DPI (read from file metadata when available), file size, background solidity, and approximate face centering.
ERAS Photo Requirements & Sources
When people search for ERAS photo requirements or ERAS residency photo requirements, they often want one definitive checklist. Start with the upload route that applies to you: AAMC says U.S. medical school applicants upload through MyERAS, while IMG applicants should follow ECFMG’s photo-submission instructions. The current AAMC photo page lists JPG/JPEG or PNG, a maximum file size of 150 KB, and a centered face. Check your own portal and applicant pathway before treating older dimensions copied elsewhere as current rules.
For an ERAS photo size or ERAS photo dimensions search, separate what is actually published from what a tool can measure. File size and format are explicit on the current AAMC page; pixel dimensions, DPI, and print size are not listed there. This checker reports those image properties to help you review a file, but a measured value is not automatically an AAMC pass/fail rule.
| Requirement | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| File type | JPG / JPEG or PNG | AAMC official photo page — "Upload a photo in JPG or JPEG or PNG format" |
| Maximum file size | 150 KB | AAMC official photo page — "The maximum photo size is 150 KB" |
| Face centered | Face must be centered in the frame | AAMC official photo page — "The photograph should be a recent photograph ... face should be centered" |
| Print dimensions (legacy, not listed on current AAMC page) | 2.5 × 3.5 inches (portrait) | Legacy AAMC requirement, no longer published on the current AAMC photo page. Values retained by some photography services as legacy targets — no longer an official AAMC requirement. |
| Pixel dimensions (legacy) | 375 × 525 px (at 150 DPI) | Derived from 2.5 × 3.5 in × 150 DPI. Legacy figure retained by some photography services as a legacy target. AAMC currently does not publish pixel dimensions. |
| DPI / resolution (legacy, not listed on current AAMC page) | 150 DPI (legacy reference) | A historical reference value still repeated by some photo services; the current AAMC photo page does not publish a DPI requirement. |
Important: The AAMC official page (students-residents.aamc.org) currently specifies only file type, max 150 KB, and that the face should be centered. It does not publish dimensions, DPI, or physical print size. The 2.5 × 3.5 in / 150 DPI / 375 × 525 px figures are widely used legacy values from older AAMC materials. This checker tests against both the current official limits and these legacy dimensions, and labels each accordingly.
How Each Check Is Performed
- Pixel dimensions — Read directly from the image file via the browser Image API. Compared against the legacy 375 × 525 px target.
- Print size (inches) — Calculated as pixel dimensions ÷ DPI. When DPI metadata is absent, 150 DPI is assumed and the result is labeled as an estimate.
- DPI — Read from embedded JPEG JFIF density or PNG pHYs chunk when present. If no density metadata exists in the file, it cannot be determined and is reported as "not embedded" — this is a file property, not something any tool can infer reliably.
- File size — Read from the File object size property in bytes, converted to KB.
- Background solidity — Estimated by sampling corner and edge pixels on a canvas, then checking color variance. Labeled as an estimate because complex backgrounds (gradients, studio shadows) may affect the result.
- Face centering — Estimated by computing the brightness centroid of the image as a face-detection proxy and measuring its offset from center. Labeled as an estimate because true face detection requires ML models; this is a lightweight heuristic.
Read the checker as two kinds of evidence
Some rows report file facts, such as the image’s pixel width, byte size, or embedded density metadata. Other rows are visual estimates made from the image: this lightweight checker samples edge colors for the background and uses a brightness pattern as a rough centering clue. Those estimates can be wrong when a dark jacket reaches the edge, light falls unevenly, or the background has shadows.
Use a file-fact result to decide what to inspect in the exported copy. Use an estimated background or centering result as a prompt to look at the preview yourself. For example, a flagged corner-color estimate is a reason to inspect the background, not proof that AAMC rejected the photo. The distinction matters because the current published ERAS photo guidance does not describe this checker’s image-analysis methods.
FAQ
What is an ERAS headshot?
An ERAS headshot is the photograph that residency applicants upload to the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) as part of their application. Programs use it to identify candidates during interviews and reviews.
Does the AAMC specify exact photo dimensions?
The current AAMC photo page does not list pixel dimensions, DPI, or print dimensions. It lists the supported formats, maximum file size, and centered-face guidance. Older pages may repeat inch, pixel, or DPI values; check whether the page describes your applicant pathway and season before relying on those values.
What does “ERAS photo size” mean: file size or dimensions?
It can mean either. AAMC currently publishes a 150 KB maximum file size. “Photo dimensions” usually means pixel width and height or a print size, but those values are not listed on the current AAMC photo page. The checker shows dimensions as file information; it does not label an unpublished dimension as an AAMC requirement.
What DPI should my ERAS photo be?
The AAMC does not currently publish a DPI requirement. The legacy standard is 150 DPI, which remains the minimum widely recommended for print-quality photos. If your file has no DPI metadata embedded, this checker will report "not embedded" — this does not necessarily mean the photo will be rejected by ERAS.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
No. This checker is a static page with no backend. All processing happens in your browser using JavaScript and the HTML5 File API. Your photo never leaves your device.
Where should I check residency photo instructions?
For a residency application photo, begin with the current AAMC instructions for your ERAS pathway. AAMC says IMG applicants should use ECFMG’s instructions for submitting their photo, and it advises applicants to check programs individually for how they use the photo. This page explains the published requirements; the companion preparation page helps adjust a file you already have.