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Physicians and Surgeons

A Physician or Surgeon (M.D.) is an individual issued a license allowing them to practice medicine. A physician may diagnose, prescribe, and administer treatment to individuals suffering from injury or disease.

Previously Licensed in California

You must reapply for a license if:

  • You had a California Physician's and Surgeon's (P&S) License that expired over five years ago; or
  • You voluntarily canceled your P&S License, regardless of when it was canceled.

You must meet all of the licensing requirements pursuant to Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 2428.

After receiving your application and required fees, the Board will check your previous license record, if available. The Board will notify you if additional documents are needed to comply with the current requirements. For more information on what is required to requalify for licensure, see BPC section 2428.

Expedited and Priority Review

The Board may prioritize or expedite your application for a P&S License if you:

  • Have served in the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty and were honorably discharged;
  • Have accepted a job offer to work in a formally designated underserved area or population in California;
  • Will provide abortions within the scope of practice of your medical license;
  • Are a spouse, domestic partner, or in a legal union with an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is assigned to a duty station in California under official active-duty military orders;
  • Are an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and are enrolled in the US Department of Defense SkillBridge program; or
  • Were admitted to the U.S. as a refugee, granted asylum, or have a Special Immigrant Visa.

You must submit the required documents with your application to receive priority review.
For more information, see Priority Review and Expedited Application Process.

How to Apply for a Physician's and Surgeon's License

The Board urges you to apply for a Physician's and Surgeon's License six months in advance. This allows time for processing and to fix any issues.

Apply Online

BEFORE APPLYING, read the Application for a Physician's and Surgeon's License Information & Checklist. This will guide you through the license application process.

You must complete the following using the Board's BreEZe online system.

  1. Answer the application questions.
  2. Pay required fees.
  3. Submit completed Fingerprint Cards or attach a copy of completed Request for Live Scan Service for electronic fingerprints, if applicable.
  4. Attach a completed Notification of Name Change if you recently changed your legal name (i.e., first, middle, and/or last name) or if some of the supporting documents may have a variation of your alias or previous legal name, if applicable.
  5. Attach Explanation to Application Question (Form EXP), if applicable.
  6. Attach Timeline of Activities (Form TOA), if applicable.
  7. Attach required documents to request expedited processing, if applicable.
  8. Attach a notarized statement indicating the reason you are unable to return your original California wall certificate, if applicable (i.e. wall certificate has been lost or destroyed).

The Board must have the documents listed below to complete the application process. The Board will notify you if any additional documents are needed. If additional documents are needed, you will need to contact the appropriate program or organization. The issuing institution or organization must submit the documents directly to the Board.

  1. The certification/examination organization must submit:
  1. The medical school(s) attended must submit all document(s) through the Board's Direct Online Certification Submission (DOCS) portal or Third-Party Services:
  1. The training program(s) must submit all form(s) through the DOCS portal or Third-Party Services:
 Web Links
 Tutorials
 Requirements
 Forms

Wallet Card and Wall Certificate: Once your P&S License is issued, you may generate and immediately print your own wallet license using the Board's Wallet License Generator. The Board will mail your wall certificate to your address of record within two to four weeks.