State Requirements

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

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