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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 YES, unless lifetime certified or board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years
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.