AL
State requirements overview Free licensing resource
Medical license requirements by state
Find the right requirements for your next license.
Medical licensing requirements depend on the state, license type, education and training pathway. Find your state below, review its examination and training requirements, then confirm the details with the licensing board before you apply.
Use the state overview for a comparison starting point. The board’s current application and instructions determine what you need to submit.
Find your state50 states + DC and territories
State licensing resources
Each overview opens the FSMB state requirements guide. Board links take you to the relevant licensing authority, including separate osteopathic boards where listed.
AK
State requirements overview Alaska
AZ
State requirements overview Arizona
AR
State requirements overview Arkansas
CA
State requirements overview California
CO
State requirements overview Colorado
CT
State requirements overview Connecticut
DE
State requirements overview Delaware
DC
State requirements overview District of Columbia
FL
State requirements overview Florida
GA
State requirements overview Georgia
GU
State requirements overview Guam
HI
State requirements overview Hawaii
ID
State requirements overview Idaho
IL
State requirements overview Illinois
IN
State requirements overview Indiana
IA
State requirements overview Iowa
KS
State requirements overview Kansas
KY
State requirements overview Kentucky
LA
State requirements overview Louisiana
ME
State requirements overview Maine
MD
State requirements overview Maryland
MA
State requirements overview Massachusetts
MI
State requirements overview Michigan
MN
State requirements overview Minnesota
MS
State requirements overview Mississippi
MO
State requirements overview Missouri
MT
State requirements overview Montana
NE
State requirements overview Nebraska
NV
State requirements overview Nevada
NH
State requirements overview New Hampshire
NJ
State requirements overview New Jersey
NM
State requirements overview New Mexico
NY
State requirements overview New York
NC
State requirements overview North Carolina
ND
State requirements overview North Dakota
MP
State requirements overview Northern Mariana Islands
OH
State requirements overview Ohio
OK
State requirements overview Oklahoma
OR
State requirements overview Oregon
PA
State requirements overview Pennsylvania
PR
State requirements overview Puerto Rico
RI
State requirements overview Rhode Island
SC
State requirements overview South Carolina
SD
State requirements overview South Dakota
TN
State requirements overview Tennessee
TX
State requirements overview Texas
UT
State requirements overview Utah
VT
State requirements overview Vermont
VA
State requirements overview Virginia
VI
State requirements overview Virgin Islands
WA
State requirements overview Washington
WV
State requirements overview West Virginia
WI
State requirements overview Wisconsin
WY
State requirements overview Wyoming
No matching state found. Try its full name or two-letter abbreviation.
Directory source: Federation of State Medical Boards. Requirements can change, and exceptions depend on the applicant. Confirm your specific pathway directly with the board.
Prepare with confidence
What to check in each state
Examination history
Check the accepted examination sequence, attempt limits, completion window and whether an exception or waiver applies.
Postgraduate training
Confirm the amount and type of approved training required for your educational background and application pathway.
International education
Review the board’s requirements for your medical school, credential verification, certification and any alternative pathway.
Practice history & assessment
Ask whether a practice gap, license status or examination history triggers additional review, SPEX, COMVEX or other assessment.
Application documents
Use the board checklist for identity, education, training, license verification, background checks and supporting records.
Costs & timing
Check current fees, processing information and deadlines. Licensing and payer enrollment are separate steps in your opening plan.
Common licensing questions
Are state attempt limits the same as USMLE eligibility rules?
No. USMLE’s examination eligibility policy and a state board’s licensing requirements serve different purposes. Check both before planning another attempt or submitting a license application. Start with the USMLE attempt-limit guidance and the relevant state board.
What do PGY, IMG, SPEX and COMVEX mean?
PGY refers to postgraduate training; IMG refers to an international medical graduate. SPEX and COMVEX are assessment examinations that a board may require in certain licensing or reentry situations. Ask the board whether an assessment applies to your circumstances.
Does a credentials profile give me a medical license?
No. Credentials verification and a license application are separate. FSMB’s FCVS profile can help verify credentials, while the licensing board decides whether to issue a license. See FSMB’s explanation of the Uniform Application and FCVS.
Keep your next steps connected
Build licensing into your practice plan.
Use our free credentialing checklist to organize provider information, then explore PPS licensing support if you need help coordinating the work.