| 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 |
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