Medical License Requirements by State

Here is a breakdown of each state’s licensing requirements. These details are subject to change without notice and information should always be verified with the state Medical board before proceeding with licensing.

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;
4 attempts step III if board certified		 No time limit per steps I & II; Must complete step III within 5 years of passing step II 1 year 2 years 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 YES, unless board certified/re-certified in the last 10 years
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 6 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 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 completed before 7/1987 3 years, unless completed before 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

 

 

Note: State Medical License Requirements are subject to change without notice.