5.0The Boards Professor tutors USMLE, COMLEX-USA and shelf exams one-on-one by live video (Zoom or Google Meet), so students in every state work with the same team, led by Dr. Shauhin “Sean” Moazezi, DO, a board-certified internist. What changes from state to state is the set of medical schools and the state medical board's rules on exam attempts and time limits. Pick your state for the details.
States
| State | MD schools | DO schools | USMLE attempt rule (FSMB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 3 | 0 | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3; After which one additional year of postgraduate training is required.; No limit on COMLEX |
| New York | 15 | 3 | No limit on USMLE or COMLEX |
| New Jersey | 4 | 1 | 5 attempts at USMLE Step 3; No information available on COMLEX |
| Illinois | 8 | 2 | 5 attempts at all USMLE Steps combined; 5 attempts at COMLEX Levels combined |
| West Virginia | 2 | 1 | 6 attempts per USMLE Step or Step component |
| Michigan | 6 | 1 | 4 attempts at each USMLE Step |
| Louisiana | 3 | 1 | 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 |
| Florida | 8 | 4 | No limit on USMLE |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | 3 | No more than 4 attempts at each Step or Step Component |
| Massachusetts | 4 | 0 | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3 or COMLEX (See Board Regulations 243 CMR 2.02 (3)(b).) |
| Maryland | 3 | 1 | Unlimited attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level |
| Missouri | 4 | 2 | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3; 3 attempts on COMLEX; 7 years to complete USMLE (waived for MD/PhD candidates); No limit on COMLEX |
| Arkansas | 2 | 1 | 3 attempts per USMLE Step; 3 attempts per COMLEX Level |
| Mississippi | 1 | 1 | 3 attempts at each Step; No limit on COMLEX |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step (Step 2 = CK & CS) |
| Texas | 13 | 3 | 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.) |
| Ohio | 6 | 1 | Cannot have exceeded the maximum number of attempts for any step or level established by the NBME or NBOME, as effective on the date of application for a license. The board may grant a waiver if (1) the applicant holds current specialty board certification; or (2) demonstrates that a step or level was completed within the maximum number of attempts permitted by the NBME or NBOME at the time the step or level was successfully completed, provided that the applicant did not exceed six attempts for the step or level. |
| California | 13 | 3 | 4 attempts at USMLE Step 3 |
| Alabama | 2 | 2 | 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 |
| Alaska | 0 | 0 | 2 attempts per USMLE Step; 2 attempts per COMLEX Level |
| Arizona | 2 | 2 | No limit on USMLE |
| Colorado | 1 | 1 | No limit on USMLE; No information available on COMLEX |
| Connecticut | 3 | 0 | No limit on USMLE; No limit on COMLEX |
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | No more than 6 attempts to pass each step |
| Georgia | 4 | 1 | 3 attempts per USMLE Step; No limit on COMLEX |
| Hawaii | 1 | 0 | No limit on USMLE or COMLEX |
| Idaho | 0 | 1 | Failure to pass USMLE after 2 attempts may lead to Board interview or evaluation; No limit on COMLEX |
| Indiana | 1 | 1 | 3 attempts per USMLE Step; 5 attempts per COMLEX Level |
| Iowa | 1 | 1 | 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. |
| Kansas | 1 | 1 | 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 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 1 | 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 |
| Maine | 0 | 1 | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3. More than 3 attempts requires a request for a waiver. |
| Minnesota | 2 | 0 | 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. |
| Montana | 0 | 1 | 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 |
| Nebraska | 2 | 0 | 4 attempts+ at each USMLE Step; 4 attempts+ at each COMLEX Level |
| Nevada | 3 | 1 | 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 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 0 | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level |
| New Mexico | 1 | 1 | 6 attempts per USMLE Step |
| North Carolina | 4 | 1 | 3 attempts per USMLE Step; 3 attempts per COMLEX Level |
| North Dakota | 1 | 0 | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level |
| Oregon | 1 | 0 | 3 attempts at USMLE step 3/COMLEX level 3. 4th attempt after additional 1 year postgraduate training. Waiver of attempt requirement may be available if ABMS/AOA certified. |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 0 | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step; 3 attempts at each COMLEX Level |
| South Carolina | 3 | 1 | 4 attempts per USMLE Step and COMLEX Level; 10 years to complete USMLE or COMLEX |
| South Dakota | 1 | 0 | Allowed 3 attempts, must pass on third, for the USMLE or COMLEX examination |
| Tennessee | 5 | 2 | If an applicant fails any step of the USMLE or FLEX examinations more than four (4) times, then the Board shall require proof of board-certification by an ABMS-recognized specialty board and proof of meeting requirements for Maintenance of Certification prior to application before consideration for licensure. |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | 3 attempts at each USMLE Step or COMLEX Level |
| Vermont | 1 | 0 | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3 |
| Virginia | 4 | 2 | 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 |
| Washington | 2 | 1 | 3 attempts at USMLE Step 3 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 0 | 3 attempts at each USMLE step/COMLEX level |
| Wyoming | 0 | 0 | 7 total attempts on USMLE or COMLEX in 7 years |
School counts: LCME- and COCA-accredited programs as compiled in the list of medical schools in the United States. Attempt rules: FSMB state licensure requirements (both checked October 2026). The USMLE program also sets its own limit: see the USMLE eligibility rules.
Why state rules matter
Most students only think about the next exam. State boards look at the whole sequence: how many times you sat each Step or Level, and how many years it took. Those rules differ a lot. Some boards set no cap at all, some allow three attempts per Step, and Illinois counts five attempts across all USMLE Steps combined. If you may train or practise in more than one state, plan for the strictest one.
Schools by state
Washington, DC: George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences (MD, Washington, D.C.); Georgetown University School of Medicine (MD, Washington, D.C.); Howard University College of Medicine (MD, Washington, D.C.).
New York: Albany Medical College (MD, Albany); University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (MD, Buffalo); City University of New York School of Medicine (MD, New York City); State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine (MD, New York City); Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (MD, New York City); Weill Cornell Medical College (MD, New York City); Albert Einstein College of Medicine (MD, New York City); Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (MD, New York City); New York University Grossman School of Medicine (MD, New York City); New York University Grossman Long Island School of Medicine (MD, Mineola); New York Medical College (MD, Valhalla); Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine (MD, Stony Brook); University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (MD, Rochester); State University of New York Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine (MD, Syracuse); Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell (MD, Hempstead); D'Youville University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Buffalo); New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Old Westbury); Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, New York City).
New Jersey: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (MD, Camden); Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (MD, Nutley); Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (MD, Newark); Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (MD, Piscataway); Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Stratford).
Illinois: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Carle Illinois College of Medicine (MD, Urbana); Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School (MD, North Chicago); University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MD, Chicago); University of Illinois College of Medicine (MD, Chicago); Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (MD, Maywood); Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (MD, Chicago); Rush Medical College (MD, Chicago); Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (MD, Springfield); The Chicago School Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Chicago); Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Downers Grove).
West Virginia: Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine (MD, Huntington); West Virginia University School of Medicine (MD, Morgantown); West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Lewisburg).
Michigan: Central Michigan University College of Medicine (MD, Mount Pleasant); University of Michigan Medical School (MD, Ann Arbor); Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MD, East Lansing); Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (MD, Rochester); Wayne State University School of Medicine (MD, Detroit); Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (MD, Kalamazoo); Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, East Lansing).
Louisiana: LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine (MD, New Orleans); LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine (MD, Shreveport); Tulane University School of Medicine (MD, New Orleans); Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana (DO, Monroe).
Florida: Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (MD, Miami); University of Florida College of Medicine (MD, Gainesville); Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine (MD, Boca Raton); Florida State University College of Medicine (MD, Tallahassee); University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (MD, Miami); Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (MD, Davie); University of Central Florida College of Medicine (MD, Orlando); University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine (MD, Tampa); Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton (DO, Bradenton); Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Fort Lauderdale); Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Jacksonville (DO, Jacksonville); Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Winter Garden).
Pennsylvania: Drexel University College of Medicine (MD, Philadelphia); Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (MD, Scranton); Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College (MD, Philadelphia); Penn State University College of Medicine (MD, Hershey); University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (MD, Philadelphia); University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (MD, Pittsburgh); Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine (MD, Philadelphia); Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Erie); Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Philadelphia); Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Pittsburgh).
Massachusetts: Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine (MD, Boston); Harvard Medical School (MD, Boston); University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (MD, Worcester); Tufts University School of Medicine (MD, Boston).
Maryland: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (MD, Baltimore); University of Maryland School of Medicine (MD, Baltimore); Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine (MD, Bethesda); Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Hagerstown).
Missouri: University of Missouri School of Medicine (MD, Columbia); University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine (MD, Kansas City); Saint Louis University School of Medicine (MD, St. Louis); Washington University School of Medicine (MD, St. Louis); A. T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Kirksville); Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Kansas City).
Arkansas: Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (MD, Bentonville); University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine (MD, Little Rock); Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Fort Smith).
Mississippi: University of Mississippi School of Medicine (MD, Jackson); William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Hattiesburg).
Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (MD, Oklahoma City); Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Tulsa).
Texas: Baylor College of Medicine (MD, Houston); University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine (MD, Houston); McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (MD, Houston); Texas Christian University Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine (MD, Fort Worth); Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine (MD, Bryan); Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine (MD, Lubbock); University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine (MD, Tyler); Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (MD, El Paso); University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School (MD, Austin); University of Texas Medical Branch (MD, Galveston); University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (MD, Edinburg); University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine (MD, San Antonio); University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (MD, Dallas); Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Conroe); University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, San Antonio); University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Fort Worth).
Ohio: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (MD, Cleveland); University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (MD, Cincinnati); Northeast Ohio Medical University (MD, Rootstown); Ohio State University College of Medicine (MD, Columbus); University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences (MD, Toledo); Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (MD, Dayton); Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Athens).
California: California Northstate University College of Medicine (MD, Elk Grove); California University of Science and Medicine (MD, Colton); Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine (MD, Los Angeles); Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (MD, Pasadena); University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine (MD, Los Angeles); Loma Linda University School of Medicine (MD, Loma Linda); Stanford University School of Medicine (MD, Stanford); University of California, Davis School of Medicine (MD, Sacramento); University of California, Irvine School of Medicine (MD, Irvine); University of California, Riverside School of Medicine (MD, Riverside); University of California, San Diego School of Medicine (MD, San Diego); University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (MD, San Francisco); University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine (MD, Los Angeles); California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Clovis); Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Vallejo); Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (DO, Pomona).
Alabama: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine (MD, Birmingham); University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine (MD, Mobile); Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Dothan); Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn (DO, Auburn).
Alaska: .
Arizona: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson (MD, Tucson); University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix (MD, Phoenix); A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (DO, Mesa); Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Glendale).
Colorado: University of Colorado School of Medicine (MD, Aurora); Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Parker).
Connecticut: University of Connecticut School of Medicine (MD, Farmington); Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine (MD, Hamden); Yale School of Medicine (MD, New Haven).
Delaware: .
Georgia: Emory University School of Medicine (MD, Atlanta); Augusta University Medical College of Georgia (MD, Augusta); Mercer University School of Medicine (MD, Macon); Morehouse School of Medicine (MD, Atlanta); Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia (DO, Suwanee).
Hawaii: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (MD, Honolulu).
Idaho: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Meridian).
Indiana: Indiana University School of Medicine (MD, Indianapolis); Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Indianapolis).
Iowa: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine (MD, Iowa City); Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Des Moines).
Kansas: University of Kansas School of Medicine (MD, Kansas City); Kansas Health Science Center–Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Wichita).
Kentucky: University of Kentucky College of Medicine (MD, Lexington); University of Louisville School of Medicine (MD, Louisville); University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Pikeville).
Maine: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Portland).
Minnesota: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MD, Rochester); University of Minnesota Medical School (MD, Minneapolis).
Montana: Touro University Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Great Falls).
Nebraska: Creighton University School of Medicine (MD, Omaha); University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine (MD, Omaha).
Nevada: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (MD, Reno); University of Nevada, Las Vegas Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine (MD, Las Vegas); Roseman University College of Medicine (MD, Las Vegas); Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Henderson).
New Hampshire: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College (MD, Hanover).
New Mexico: University of New Mexico School of Medicine (MD, Albuquerque); Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University (DO, Las Cruces).
North Carolina: Duke University School of Medicine (MD, Durham); East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine (MD, Greenville); University of North Carolina School of Medicine (MD, Chapel Hill); Wake Forest School of Medicine (MD, Winston-Salem); Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Lillington).
North Dakota: University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (MD, Grand Forks).
Oregon: Oregon Health & Science University (MD, Portland).
Rhode Island: Brown University Alpert Medical School (MD, Providence).
South Carolina: Medical University of South Carolina (MD, Charleston); University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia (MD, Columbia); University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville (MD, Greenville); Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas (DO, Spartanburg).
South Dakota: University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine (MD, Vermillion).
Tennessee: East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine (MD, Johnson City); Meharry Medical College (MD, Nashville); Belmont University Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine (MD, Nashville); University of Tennessee College of Medicine (MD, Memphis); Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (MD, Nashville); Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Harrogate); Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Memphis).
Utah: University of Utah School of Medicine (MD, Salt Lake City); Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Provo).
Vermont: University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine (MD, Burlington).
Virginia: Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University (MD, Norfolk); University of Virginia School of Medicine (MD, Charlottesville); Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (MD, Richmond); Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (MD, Roanoke); Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia (DO, Blacksburg); Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Lynchburg).
Washington: University of Washington School of Medicine (MD, Seattle); Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine (MD, Spokane); Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, Yakima).
Wisconsin: Medical College of Wisconsin (MD, Milwaukee); University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (MD, Madison).
Wyoming: .
Medical-school towns
These towns have the highest share of board-exam searches in the country (Google Trends, five years). Each page lists the town's schools, teaching hospitals, the school's own exam deadline where published, and doctors by specialty from the NPPES registry:
- Galveston, Texas
- Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Loma Linda, California
- Stony Brook, New York
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Morgantown, West Virginia
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Rochester, Minnesota
- Iowa City, Iowa
- East Lansing, Michigan
- Kirksville, Missouri
- Gainesville, Florida
- Jonesboro, Arkansas
- Lubbock, Texas
- Augusta, Georgia
- Erie, Pennsylvania
- Dothan, Alabama
- Joplin, Missouri
- Charlottesville, Virginia
- Detroit, Michigan
- Miami, Florida
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Columbia, Missouri
- Omaha, Nebraska
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
Pre-med? See MCAT tutoring by city.
What we tutor
- USMLE Step 1
- USMLE Step 2 CK
- USMLE Step 3
- COMLEX-USA Levels 1, 2-CE and 3
- NBME shelf exams
- ABIM internal medicine boards
- MCAT
One 50-minute session is $349; ten cost $2,999 and fifteen cost $3,999 (pricing details). Book a free 20-minute intro consult.