The medical industry is a great field for those who like to travel or move frequently. After all, we need healthcare everywhere, and with physician shortages and locum tenens opportunities popping up all around the country, it’s never been easier to relocate.
Often, the only obstacle between you and that job in the city or near the beaches you’re dreaming of is a state license. Each state has a slightly difficult approach to medical licensing, and this can become frustrating for physicians trying to work in new environments. That’s why we want to give you the knowledge on medical licensing requirements you’re looking for here, in a consolidated form.
If you have any further questions, you can also reach out to our expert credentialing team at Fusion Healthcare Staffing. If you choose to work with us, we’ll help you through every step of the process and cover all fees. Call 855-537-8353 to learn more.
| State | USMLE/NBOME | Post-Graduate Training | SPEX | Processing Time | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Must complete steps I, II, and II within 10 years of passing the first step; no attempt limit for steps I and II, 3 attempts for step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Required unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years | Minimum of 8 weeks | $20 application packet, $175 application, $65 criminal background check |
| Alaska | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; 2 attempts per step | 2 years (1 year if completed before 1/1/95) for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 8-12 weeks | $200 application, $300 license |
| Arizona Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I, unless first licensed by a state that doesn’t have a 7-year limit; no attempt limit | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 120 days | $500 application |
| Arizona Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Required unless lifetime certified, board certified, or re-certified in the last 7 years | 90 days for initial review | $400 application |
| Arkansas | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; 6 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates (1 year if enrolled at the University of Arkansas) | Not required | Minimum of 6 weeks | $500 application |
| California Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step I; no attempt limit on steps I and II, 4 attempts on step III | 1 year (including 4 months General Med.) for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years (including 4 months General Med.) for foreign graduates | Not required | Initial review completed within 60 days | $805 licensing, $493 application |
| California Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | Within 30 days | $249 application |
| Colorado | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years if MD/PhD); no attempt limit | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 60-90 days | $522 application |
| Connecticut | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; no attempt limit | 2 years | Not required | 1-3 months | $565 application |
| Delaware | No time limit; no attempt limit | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | Variable | Variable |
| D.C. | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; no attempt limit for steps I and II, additional year of PGT required if 4 failed attempts on step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 2-4 weeks | $305 application, $500 license |
| Florida Medical | No time limit; no attempt limit | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 3-6 months | $547 application |
| Florida Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | 3-6 months | Variable |
| Georgia | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step 1 (9 years if MD/PhD); No attempt limit on steps I and II, 3 attempts on step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years (1 year if graduated before July 1985) for foreign graduates | Not required | 6-8 weeks | $500 application |
| Hawaii Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step 1 (10 years if MD/PhD); no attempt limit | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | Minimum of 6-8 weeks | $170-$290 application |
| Hawaii Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | 3-4 weeks | Variable |
| Idaho | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step 1 (10 years if MD/PhD); 2 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 8-12 weeks | $500 licensure |
| Illinois | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step 1; no more than 5 failed attempts | 2 years (1 year if completed before 1988) | Not required | 12-18 weeks | $700 application |
| Indiana | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step 1; 3 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 10-12 weeks | $250 application |
| Iowa | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step 1 (10 years if MD/PhD); 6 attempts for steps I and II, 3 attempts for step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 2-3 months | $505 licensure |
| Kansas | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step 1; no attempt limit on steps I and II, 3 attempts on step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | Minimum of 12-16 weeks | $300 application |
| Kentucky | No time limit; 4 attempts per step | 2 years | Not required | 60-90 days | $300 application, $39.75 background check |
| Louisiana | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step 1; no attempt limit on step 1, 4 attempts on steps II and III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Required unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years | 4-6 months | $382 license |
| Maine Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; no attempt limit on steps I and II, 3 attempts on step III | 2 years (3 years if graduated after 7/2004) for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 90 days | $700 application |
| Maine Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | 12-16 weeks | $350 application |
| Maryland | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step I; 3 attempts per step | 1 year (2 if any USMLE step failed 3 times) for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Required unless lifetime certified, board certified, or re-certified in the last 10 years or passed a licensing exam in the last 15 years | 4 months minimum | $790 licensure for US/Canadian graduates, $890 for graduates of international medical schools |
| Massachusetts | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; no attempt limit for steps I and II, 6 attempts for step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 12-16 weeks minimum | $600 application |
| Michigan | No time limit for steps I and II, but must complete step III within 5 years of first attempt on step II; no attempt limit | 2 years for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years (3 if completed before 1984) for foreign graduates | Not required | 6-8 weeks minimum | $150 professional license, $85 controlled substance license |
| Minnesota | No time limit for steps I and II, but must complete step III within 5 years of passing step II; 3 attempts per step with 4 attempts for step III if board certified | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Required unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years | 12 weeks minimum | $431.20 application |
| Mississippi | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; no attempt limit for steps I and II, 3 attempts for step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years (1 year if board certified) for foreign graduates | Required unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years | 8-12 weeks minimum | $551.65 application |
| Missouri | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; 3 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 8-12 weeks minimum | $300 application |
| Montana | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; no attempt limit for steps I and II, 3 attempts for step III | 2 years for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 3-4 months minimum | $325 application |
| Nebraska | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years if MD/PhD); no attempt limit for steps I and II, 3 attempts for step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 8-12 weeks minimum | $300 application, $38 background check |
| Nevada Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years if MD/PhD); no attempt limit for steps I and II, 3 attempts for step III | 3 years | Required unless lifetime certified, board certified, or re-certified in the last 10 years | 14-60 days | $1475 application |
| Nevada Osteopathic | No limit | 3 years (1 year if graduated before 1/1/95) | Required unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years | 14-60 days | $370 application and initial licensure (additional $300 between January 1 and June 30) |
| New Hampshire | No time limit; 3 attempts per step | 2 years | Not required | 8 weeks minimum | $300 application, $55.25 background check |
| New Jersey | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; no attempt limit for steps I and II, 5 attempts for step III | 3 years (1 year if graduated before 7/1/85) | Not required | 6-9 months | $325 application, $805 registration, $66.30 background check |
| New Mexico Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years if MD/PhD); 6 attempts per step | 2 years | Not required | 3 months minimum | $436 application |
| New Mexico Osteopathic | No limits | 2 years | Not required | 6-12 weeks minimum | $400 application |
| New York | No time limit; no attempt limit | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Required if state board exam was taken before 1968 | 8 weeks minimum | $735 application |
| North Carolina | No time limit; 3 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Required unless completed USMLE, COMLEX, or MCCQE within the past 10 years; board certified or re-certified within the past 10 years by ABMS, AOA, CCFP, FRCP, or FRCS; completed ACGME, CFPC, RCPSC, or AOA approved training within the past 10 years; or does not have 60 hours of category 1 continuing medical education within the past 3 years | 4-5 months minimum | $404 application |
| North Dakota | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; 3 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 4-8 weeks minimum | $247.25 application |
| Ohio | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step I; 4 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 10-12 weeks minimum | $335 application, $46 background check |
| Oklahoma Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step I; 3 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 6-8 weeks minimum | $500 application, $22.49 background check |
| Oklahoma Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | 3-4 months minimum | $575 application |
| Oregon | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years if MD/PhD); no attempt limits for steps I and II, 4 attempts for step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 1 year (3 years if med school is non-approved) for foreign graduates | Required unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years or state board exam was taken before 1968 | 12-16 weeks minimum | $813 application/registration |
| Pennsylvania Medical | No time limit; no attempt limit | 2 years (1 year if completed before 7/87) for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years (1 year if completed before 7/87) for foreign graduates | Not required | 8-12 weeks minimum | $35 (AMG)/$85 (IMG) application |
| Pennsylvania Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | 6-8 weeks minimum | $215 application fee |
| Rhode Island | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; 3 attempts per step | 2 years for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 12-16 weeks minimum | $1090 application, $200 controlled substance registration |
| South Carolina | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step I; 3 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Required unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years (will waive exam if 150 CME hours in the last 3 years) | 3-4 months minimum | $580 application, $54.25 background check |
| South Dakota | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years if MD/PhD); 3 attempts per step | Completion of residency program | Not required | 6-8 weeks minimum | $200 application, $43.25 background check |
| Tennessee Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I; no attempt limit | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 8 weeks minimum | $410 application, $60 background check |
| Tennessee Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | 6-8 weeks minimum | $410 application fee |
| Texas | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years if ABMS or BOS board certified or have practiced under a Texas FLT for 1 year, and have been recommended for licensure by the institution at which the FTL was used); 3 attempts per step (4 attempts on one part only if licensed in good standing in another state for at least 5 years, 6 attempts on one part only if ABMS or BOS board certified with additional 2 years of residency training in Texas) | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Required unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years | 4-6 months minimum | $1002 application and registration, $44.20 background check |
| Utah | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years for MD/PhD); 3 attempts per step | 2 years | Required only for DO’s unless board certified or re-certified in the last 10 years | 12-16 weeks minimum | $200 application ($300 with CSR) |
| Vermont Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years for MD/PhD); no attempt limit for steps I and II, 3 attempts for step III | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 12-16 weeks minimum | $625 application |
| Vermont Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | 12-16 weeks minimum | $500 application |
| Virginia | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step I; no attempt limit | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 12 weeks minimum | $302 application |
| Washington Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 7 years of passing step I (10 years for MD/PhD); no attempt limit for steps I and II, 3 attempts for step III | 2 years (1 if graduated before 7/28/85) | Not required | 12-16 weeks minimum | $500 application, $35.25 background check |
| Washington Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | 8-12 weeks minimum | $825 application |
| West Virginia Medical | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step I; 3 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 3 years (1 year if board certified) for foreign graduates | Not required | 3-6 months | $400 application |
| West Virginia Osteopathic | No limits | 1 year | Not required | Variable | $400 application |
| Wisconsin | Must complete steps I, II, and III within 10 years of passing step I (12 years if MD/PhD); 3 attempts per step | 1 year for US/Canadian graduates; 2 years for foreign graduates | Not required | 12-16 weeks minimum | $150 application ($165 if took state exam/$125 if needs to take USMLE III) |
| Wyoming | No time limit; no attempt limit | 1 year | Not required | 12-16 weeks minimum | $600 application |
The Ultimate Guide to State Medical Licensing Requirements