| State | Licensing Exam Attempts | Minimum Postgrad Training | Time Limit to Complete Licensing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4th attempt at USMLE Step 3 following proof of formal training after the 3rd attempt 10 attempts at all USMLE Steps No limit on COMLEX |
1 year ACGME training for US grads 2 years ACGME training for IMG's |
7 years to successfully complete all USMLE Steps No limit on COMLEX (if board certified by one of the ABMS approved boards can complete all parts in 10 years) |
| Alaska | 2 attempts per USMLE Step 2 attempts per COMLEX Level |
2 years 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE 10 years for MD/PhD candidates 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Arizona Medical | No limit on USMLE | 1 year 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE if initial licensure No limit if already licensed |
| Arizona Osteopathic | Contact the board for information | 1 year | Contact the board for information |
| Arkansas | 3 attempts per USMLE Step 3 attempts per COMLEX Level |
1 year 3 years IMG unless currently enrolled in training program through University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences |
No limit on USMLE or COMLEX |
| California Medical | 4 attempts at USMLE Step 3 | 1 year 2 years IMG |
Passing scores on a written/computerized exam shall be valid for a period of 10 years from the month of the examination |
| California Osteopathic | No limit on COMLEX | 1 year | No limit on COMLEX |
| Colorado | No limit on USMLE No information available on COMLEX |
1 year | 7 years from first sitting to complete USMLE or COMLEX 10 years for MD/PhD or DO/PhD candidates |
| Connecticut | No limit on USMLE No limit on COMLEX |
2 years | No limit on USMLE No limit on COMLEX |
| Delaware | No more than 6 attempts to pass each step | 1 year 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE |
| Washington, DC | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3; After which one additional year of postgraduate training is required. No limit on COMLEX |
1 year 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE; No limit on COMLEX |
| Florida Medical | No limit on USMLE | 1 year 2 years IMG |
No limit on USMLE |
| Florida Osteopathic | Contact the board for information | 1 year in an AOA-approved program | No limit on COMLEX |
| Georgia | 3 attempts per USMLE Step No limit on COMLEX |
1 year 1 year if IMG is on list 3 years IMG if not on list |
7 years to complete USMLE 9 years to complete USMLE if in MD/PhD program No limit on COMLEX |
| Guam | No limit on USMLE or COMPLEX | 3 years of progressive postgraduate medical training | No limit on the USMLE or COMLEX |
| Hawaii | No limit on USMLE or COMLEX | 1 year 2 years IMG |
No limit on USMLE or COMLEX |
| Idaho | Failure to pass USMLE after 2 attempts may lead to Board interview or evaluation No limit on COMLEX |
1 year 3 years IMG (can be licensed after 2 years if in good standing with Idaho residency training program, and has signed an agreement to complete residency in Idaho) |
No limit on USMLE or COMLEX |
| Illinois | 5 attempts at all USMLE Steps combined 5 attempts at COMLEX Levels combined |
24 months of training | 7 years to complete USMLE No limit on COMLEX |
| Indiana | 3 attempts per USMLE Step 5 attempts per COMLEX Level |
1 year 2 years IMG |
10 years to complete USMLE 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Iowa | 6 attempts at both USMLE Step 1 and 2 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3 6 attempts at both COMLEX Levels 1 and 2 3 attempts at COMLEX Level 3 3 years of approved postgraduate training required if outside the attempt limit |
1 year 2 years IMG |
10 years to complete USMLE or COMLEX 10 years for MD/PhD or DO/PhD candidates. Note: Board certification by ABMS or AOA is required if the applicant has not met the specified time period |
| Kansas | 3+ attempts at USMLE Step 3 or COMLEX Level 3 | 1 year 3 years IMG (minimum 2 years in an ACGME approved program) |
10 years to complete USMLE or COMLEX |
| Kentucky | Step or Level 1-4 attempts Step or Level 2 CK-4 attempts Step or Level 2 CS-4 attempts Step or Level 3-4 attempts |
2 years | No limit on USMLE or COMLEX |
| Louisiana | No limit at USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX Level 1 4 attempts each at USMLE Steps 2 and 3 or COMLEX Levels 2 and 3 |
2 years | 10 years to complete USMLE or COMLEX |
| Maine Medical | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3. More than 3 attempts requires a request for a waiver | US/Canadian medical school graduates who graduated after July 1, 2004 must complete 3 years of ACGME accredited postgraduate training. (Those who graduated before July 1, 2004 are only required to complete 2 years of ACGME accredited PGT.) IMGs 3 years of ACGME accredited | 7 years to complete exam sequence (NBME, USMLE, and FLEX) More than 7 years requires a waiver |
| Maine Osteopathic | 3 attempts at each Step/Level | 1 year in AOA approved program | No limit on COMLEX |
| Maryland | Unlimited attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level | 1 year 2 years IMG |
No time limit. There are additional requirements if an applicant fails an exam 3 or more times. (See Health Occupations Article, Section 14-307(g).) |
| Massachusetts | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3 or COMLEX (See Board Regulations 243 CMR 2.02 (3)(b).) | Prior to January 2014, 2 years for domestic graduates and 2 years for IMGs. After January 2014, 2 years for domestic graduates and 3 years for IMGs |
7 years to complete USMLE or COMLEX. May request a waiver under specific conditions. (See Board Regulations 243 CMR 2.02 (3)(c)(2).) |
| Michigan Medical | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step | 1 year | Must pass all Steps of the USMLE within 7 years from the date of first passing any Step of the exam. Must pass Step 3 within 4 years of the first attempt at Step 3 or must complete 1 year of post-graduate training before making additional attempts at Step 3 |
| Michigan Osteopathic | 6 attempts total for each examination | 1 year in AOA approved program | Pass all components of the COMLEX-USA within 7 years from the date you first passed any component of the COMLEX-USA |
| Minnesota | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step, 4 attempts allowed if current license in another State and current certification by specialty board of ABMS, AOABPE, RCPSC, CFPC. 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
1 year | USMLE or COMLEX Step or Level 3 must be passed within 5 years of Step or Level 2 or before the end of residency training |
| Mississippi | 3 attempts at each Step No limit on COMLEX |
1 year 1-3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE No limit on COMLEX |
| Missouri | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3 3 attempts on COMLEX |
1 year 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE (waived for MD/PhD candidates) No limit on COMLEX |
| Montana | If an applicant fails to pass the first attempt at USMLE Step III, the applicant may be reexamined no more than five additional times. No limit on COMLEX |
Completion of an approved residency program 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE (exceptions possible for MD/PhD candidates) No limit on COMLEX |
| Nebraska | 4 attempts+ at each USMLE Step 4 attempts+ at each COMLEX Level |
1 year 2 years IMG |
10 years to complete USMLE or COMLEX beginning with date first Step/Level is passed |
| Nevada Medical | Must pass all 3 Steps of USMLE in not more than a total of 9 attempts and must pass Step 3 in not more than a total of 3 attempts | 3 years. An unlimited license may be granted to currently enrolled residents in a post graduate training program in the U.S. or Canada, that have completed at least 24 months of progressive post graduate training and meet all requirements for an unlimited license in the state of Nevada, including having passed all 3 steps of USMLE within the time period allowed by NAC 630.080 and commit in writing to the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners that they will complete the program and provide satisfactory completion of the program within 60 days after the scheduled completion of the program | MD must pass all Steps of the exam within 7 years after the date on which the applicant first passes any Step of the exam; PhD must pass all Steps of the exam within 10 years after the date on which the applicant first passes any Step of the exam |
| Nevada Osteopathic | No limit on COMLEX | 3 years for full license OR 2 years if resident signs commitment to practice in NV | No limit on COMLEX |
| New Hampshire | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level | 2 years | No limit on USMLE or COMLEX |
| New Jersey | 5 attempts at USMLE Step 3 No information available on COMLEX |
US and IMG graduates who graduated after July 1, 2003 must complete 2 years of postgraduate training and have signed a contract for a 3rd year in an accredited program. At least 2 of the years must be in the same field. Graduates prior to July 1, 2003: 1 year; 3 years IMG | 7 years to complete USMLE No information available on COMLEX |
| New Mexico Medical | 6 attempts per USMLE Step | 2 years | 7 years to complete USMLE 10 years for MD/PhD candidates |
| New Mexico Osteopathic | No limit on COMLEX | 1 year | Within 7 years of having passed the first level |
| New York | No limit on USMLE or COMLEX | Domestic 1 year IMG 3 years |
No limit on USMLE or COMLEX |
| North Carolina | 3 attempts per USMLE Step 3 attempts per COMLEX Level |
1 year 2 years IMG |
No time limit for passing all 3 steps |
| North Dakota | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level | 1 year 30 months IMG of ACGME accredited training |
7 years to complete USMLE or COMLEX |
| Northern Mariana Islands | No information available at this time | No information available at this time | No information available at this time |
| Ohio | 5 attempts at each USMLE Step 5 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
1 year 2 years IMG |
10 years to complete USMLE 10 years to complete COMLEX |
| Oklahoma Medical | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
1 year 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Oklahoma Osteopathic | 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level | 1 year | 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Oregon Medical | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
1 year 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Oregon Osteopathic | 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level | 1 year | 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Pennsylvania Medical | 6 attempts at each USMLE Step 6 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
2 years 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Pennsylvania Osteopathic | 6 attempts at each COMLEX Level | 1 year | 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Puerto Rico | No limit on USMLE No limit on COMLEX |
1 year 3 years IMG |
No limit on USMLE No limit on COMLEX |
| Rhode Island | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
2 years 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| South Carolina | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
1 year 3 years IMG |
10 years to complete USMLE 10 years to complete COMLEX |
| South Dakota | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
1 year 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE 7 years to complete COMLEX |
| Tennessee | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
1 year 3 years IMG |
All three steps must be taken and passed within ten (10) years of the first successful step, unless you qualify under an exception |
| Tennessee Osteopathic | 3 attempts | 1 year | No limit on COMLEX |
| Texas | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level. (Exceptions may apply for applicants who held a Texas Physician in Training permit on or before September 1, 2005 or who have been licensed in good standing in another state for 5 years. See TMB website for more information.) | 1 year 2 years IMG |
7 years+ to complete the USMLE or COMLEX. (Exceptions may apply for applicants who are especially board certified or who completed combined MD/PhD programs, or who exceed the time limit but are willing to accept a limited license to practice exclusively in an MUA or HPSA. See TMB website for more information.) |
| Utah Medical | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level | 1 year 2 years IMG |
7 years+ to complete the USMLE or COMLEX 10 years for MD/PhD candidates or DO/PhD candidates |
| Vermont Medical | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3 | 2 years 3 years IMG |
7 years to complete USMLE |
| Vermont Osteopathic | No information available at this time | 1 year rotating internship or 3 year residency program | No information available at this time |
| Virgin Islands | Must take SPEX (only given in May and November) and an oral exam. 2 attempts | 6 months required after 2 attempts for SPEX exam | 3 years to pass the 2 attempts allowed for re-examination. 1 year limitation to take the oral exam after passing written |
| Virginia | 4 attempts on any USMLE step with a 5th attempt considered upon petition or appeal submitted to the Board to be reviewed in accordance with Board policy in Guidance Document 85-9 | 1 year | 10 years to complete USMLE; Greater than 10 years if candidate is ABMS certified |
| Washington Medical | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3 | 2 years | 7 years+ to complete USMLE |
| Washington Osteopathic | 3 attempts on COMLEX | 1 year | No limit on COMLEX |
| West Virginia Medical | 6 attempts per USMLE Step or Step component | 1 year 3 years IMG |
10 years to complete USMLE |
| West Virginia Osteopathic | No limit on COMLEX | 1 year | No limit on COMLEX |
| Wisconsin | 3 attempts at each USMLE step/COMLEX level | 2 years | USMLE Step 3 shall be passed within 10 years of the date of passing Step 1 N/A on COMLEX |
| Wyoming | 7 total attempts on USMLE or COMLEX in 7 years | 2 years (1 year if applicant has current certification by an ABMS or AOABOS/BOC specialty board, or continuous licensure in good standing in 1 or more states and/or D.C. for the preceding 5 years.) | 7 years (8 years if in combined DO or MD/PhD program) |