State Requirements
MEDICAL LICENSE REQUIREMENTS BY STATE
State medical boards are constantly changing their requirements for medical licensure. Below is a brief list of current state requirements. For more information on a particular state, please click on that state.
If you do not wish to research all these requirements, contact us to get started on your licensure process.
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| State Board | USMLE Attempt Limit | USMLE Time Limit | PGY US/CAD |
PGY INTNL |
SPEX/COMVEX |
| Alabama | No attempt limit on steps I or II. 3 attempts on step III |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years for MD/PhD | 1 Year | 3 Years | YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years |
| Alaska | 2 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 2 years; 1 year if completed before 01/01/95 |
3 years | NO, only to restore retired license |
| Arizona | No attempt limit | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing the first step, unless first licensed by a state that doesn’t have a 7 year limit | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Arizona DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | N/A |
| Arkansas | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years; 1 year if enrolled at U of Arkansas |
NO |
| California | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 4 attempts on step III |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year (4 mos Gen Med) |
2 years (4 mos Gen Med) |
NO |
| California DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Colorado | No attempt limit | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years if MD/PhD | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Connecticut | No attempt limit | No time limit; “Sitting state”/7 year exception* | 2 years | 2 years | NO |
| Delaware | No attempt limit | No time limit | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| District of Columbia | No attempt limit for steps I & II. Additional year of PGT required if 4 failed attempts on step III. |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 2 years | 3 years | NO |
| Florida | 5 attempts | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 2 years | NO |
| Florida DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Georgia | No attempt limit on steps I & II.3 attempts on step III | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 9 years if MD/PhD | 1 year | 1 year; 3 years if graduated after 7/85 |
NO |
| Hawaii | No attempt limit | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years if MD/PhD | 1 year | 2 years | NO |
| Hawaii DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Idaho | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years if MD/PhD | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Illinois | No more than 5 failed attempts | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 2 years; 1 year if completed before 1988 |
2 years; 1 year if completed before 1988 |
NO |
| Indiana | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 2 years | NO |
| Iowa | 6 attempts on steps I & II. 3 attempts on step III |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years for MD/PhD | 1 year | 2 years | NO |
| Kansas | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 3 attempts on step III |
No time limit; “Sitting state”/7 year exception* | 1 year | 3 years; 2 yrs must be in the U.S. | NO |
| Kentucky | 4 attempts per step | No time limit | 2 years | 2 years | NO |
| Louisiana | No attempt limit on step I. 4 attempts on steps II & III |
Must complete USMLE Steps 1, 2, & 3 within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years | YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years |
| Maine | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 3 attempts on step III |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 2 years; 3 years if graduated after 7/2004 |
3 years | NO |
| Maine DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Maryland | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps 1, 2, & 3 within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year; 2 if any USMLE step failed 3 times |
2 years | YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years or passed a licensing exam in the last 15 years |
| Massachusetts | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 6 attempts on step III |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 2 years | NO |
| Michigan | No attempt limit | No time limit per steps I & II; Must complete step III within 5 years of first attempt on step III | 2 years | 2 years; 3 years exception** |
NO |
| Minnesota | 3 attempts per step | No time limit for step I. Must complete steps II & III within 5 years of first attempt on step II or before the end of residency training | 1 year | 2 years; 1 year exception (see state page) | YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years |
| Mississippi | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 3 attempts on step III |
No time limit; “Sitting state”/7 year exception* | 1 year | 3 years; 1 year if board certified |
YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years |
| Missouri | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Montana | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 3 attempts on step III |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 2 years | 3 years | NO |
| Nebraska | 4 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Nevada | 9 attempts total | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of sitting for the first step | 3 years | 3 years | YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years |
| Nevada DO | N/A | No limit on NBOME | 3 years; 1 year if graduated before 01/01/95 |
N/A | NO |
| New Hampshire | 3 attempts per step | No time limit | 2 years | 2 years | NO |
| New Jersey | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 5 attempts on step III. |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step (Waiver can be requested) |
3 years; 1 year if graduated before 07/01/85 |
3 years; 1 year if graduated before 07/01/85 |
NO |
| New Mexico | 6 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years if MD/PhD | 2 years | 2 years | YES, only if applicant has not actively practiced for the 2 years prior to application |
| New Mexico DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| New York | No attempt limit | No time Limit | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| North Carolina | 3 attempts per step | No time Limit | 1 year | 3 years | YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years. PR award accepted |
| North Dakota | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Ohio | No attempt limit | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 2 years | NO |
| Oklahoma | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 2 years | NO |
| Oklahoma DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Oregon | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 4 attempts on step III |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years if MD/PhD | 1 year | 1 year; 3 years if med school is non-approved |
YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years, or if state board exam was taken before 1968 |
| Pennsylvania | No attempt limit on steps I or II.3 attempts on step III | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 2 years; 1 year if completed before 7/87 |
3 years; 1 year if completed before 7/87 |
NO |
| Pennsylvania DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Puerto Rico | No attempt limit | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 1 year | NO |
| Rhode Island | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 2 years | 3 years | NO |
| South Carolina | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years | YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years. Will waive exam if 150 CME hours in last 3 years |
| South Dakota | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years if MD/PhD | 3 years, unless completedbefore 7/1987 | 3 years, unless completedbefore 7/1987 | NO |
| Tennessee | No attempt limit on steps I or II.3 attempts on step III | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Tennessee DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Texas | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years if board certified | 1 year | 2 years | YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years |
| Utah | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps 1, 2, & 3 within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years for MD/PhD | 2 years | 2 years | YES, DO’s only or unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years |
| Vermont | No attempt limit on steps I & II. 3 attempts on step III |
Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step; 10 years if MD/PhD | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Vermont DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Virginia | No attempt limit | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years | NO |
| Washington | No attempt limit per steps I & II. 3 attempts on step III |
No time limit; “Sitting state”/7 year exception* | 2 years; 1 if graduated before 07/28/85 |
2 years; 1 if graduated before 07/28/85 |
NO |
| Washington DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| West Virginia | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 7 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 3 years; 1 year if board certified |
NO |
| West Virginia DO | N/A | No limits on NBOME | 1 year | N/A | NO |
| Wisconsin | 3 attempts per step | Must complete USMLE Steps I, II, & III within 10 years of passing the first step | 1 year | 1 year | NO |
| Wyoming | No attempt limit | No Time Limit | 1 year | 2 years | NO |
* Please note exceptions for the following states regarding USMLE time limit requirements:
- CONNECTICUT: USMLE time limit is determined by where the applicant sits for the USMLE. If applicant sits for step 3 in CT, the limit is 7 years. If the applicant completes the exam in another state, there is no limit on completion time.
- KANSAS: USMLE time limit is determined by where the applicant sits for the USMLE. If applicant sits for step 3 in KS, the limit is 7 years. If the applicant completes the exam in another state, there is no limit on completion time.
- MISSISSIPPI: USMLE time limit is determined by where the applicant sits for the USMLE. If applicant sits for step 3 in MS, the limit is 7 years. If the applicant completes the exam in another state, there is no limit on completion time.
- WASHINGTON: USMLE time limit is determined by where the applicant sits for the USMLE. If applicant sits for step 3 in WA, the limit is 7 years. If the applicant completes the exam in another state, there is no limit on completion time.
** Please note the exception for the following state(s) regarding PGY requirements:
- MICHIGAN: PGY requirements are 3 years for IMG if ECFMG was passed prior to 1988 or if not licensed in another state by 5/10/86.
Note: State Medical License Requirements are subject to change without notice. Last updated 9/2011.