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.