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Name Change
All licensees are required to professionally use the name under which they are licensed with the California Medical Board. Using any other name may confuse or mislead the public and may be considered by the Board to be unprofessional conduct.
California law requires each licensee to report every change of name to the Board within 30 days of the name change, providing both the old and new names.
Any physician who wishes to change the professional name under which he/she practices must complete and submit a Notification of Name Change form to the Board along with the required supporting legal documentation.
The Medical Board of California may recognize a name change by a licensee if that name is now the new, adopted name for all purposes and if the change is not made for fraudulent purposes.
No fee is required to process a name change.
Business and Professions Code 2021(c)
A wall certificate or wallet license reflecting a name change will not automatically be issued. If you need a duplicate wall certificate or wallet license printed with your new name, you must complete an "Application for Duplicate Certificate" and submit the appropriate fees.
Whether or not you request a duplicate, during your next renewal the renewal notice and license will automatically print with your new name.
Verification of a name change also is available on the Board's Web site at www.mbc.ca.gov
Business and Professions Code 2432
