By The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD - Hundreds of medical students may not be able to start their residency programs in Illinois this summer because of licensing delays.

The delays are the result of layoffs in the state office that processes the residents' license applications. Illinois officials and the physicians they license have disagreed for months over how to fund the office.

Financial woes forced the office to cut 18 staffers last month. Since then, the application processing time has increased from 16 days to six months.

Dr. Karen Broquet oversees medical residencies at Southern Illinois University, and she said the delays mean some highly qualified students may choose to complete their residencies in other states.

Senior medical students nationwide have until Wednesday to rank the teaching hospitals where they want to earn their specialty.