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.
Third Party Services
Listed below are commercial services that may assist you in completing the application for licensure. The Board does not mandate any of the services listed below. This information is being provided only as a convenience to you.
As an applicant, you are personally responsible for all information disclosed on the application, including any responses that may have been completed on your behalf or information provided to you by others. The Board may deny your application based upon omission, falsification, or misrepresentation of any item or response on the application or any attachment. The Board considers violations of an ethical nature to be a serious breach of professional conduct.
Direct Online Certification Submission (DOCS) Web Portal
Direct Online Certification Submission (DOCS): The Board's DOCS portal allows medical schools and postgraduate training programs to electronically submit primary source verification documents securely and efficiently to the Board for a license application. Applicants must have an open application on file with the Board for medical schools and postgraduate training programs to submit documents on their behalf through DOCS. Medical schools or postgraduate training programs must be registered to utilize the portal. If the applicant's medical school or training program is not currently registered with DOCS, they may obtain a registration form on the Board's website. See if a medical school or postgraduate training program is registered with DOCS at the following links:
Applicants may not submit documents to the Board through DOCS; only medical schools and postgraduate training programs may utilize DOCS.
When submitting DOCS registration forms electronically and/or submitting documents through DOCS from a medical school or a postgraduate training program, the Board will accept a wet ink/handwritten signature or an electronic signature through a third-party service accepted by the Board (see list of accepted third-party services below). The Board does not mandate the use of electronic signatures and is providing this information as a convenience to medical schools and postgraduate training programs.
Electronic Signatures
DocuSign, DigiCert, IdenTrust, Entrust, and GlobalSign are trusted third-party services accepted by the Board, which offers the use of an electronic signature when documents are submitted electronically to the Board. The third-party services verify who the signer is by authenticating the signer's credentials and verify that the document has not been altered. To use one of the acceptable third-party services, you will be required to create an account with the third-party service and choose a plan suitable for you and/or the organization. Once an account has been created, you will have the ability to electronically sign documents remotely and securely and submit them electronically to the Board. The Board will not accept documents signed through third-party services not identified above.
In addition, digital signatures signed through Adobe Acrobat will not be accepted. Documents mailed to the Board require an original wet ink signature to be acceptable, as electronic signatures will not be accepted on mailed documents. The Board does not mandate the use of electronic signatures and is providing this information as a convenience to applicants.
Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS)
The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) is operated by the Federation of State Medical Boards. FCVS stores primary source and verified documents related to a physician's identity, medical education, postgraduate training and examination history that can be used for the application process. You may learn more about FCVS at https://www.fsmb.org/fcvs/.
The Board does not mandate the use of FCVS and it is not a requirement for filing a Physician's and Surgeon's application or a Postgraduate Training License application. As part of the application, you may request FCVS to submit their Medical Professional Information Profile directly to the Board. The Board will review the information provided along with the application and determine the items that will be accepted from FCVS. The Board does not mandate the use of electronic signatures and is providing this information as a convenience to applicants.
The Board may accept primary source information provided in the FCVS profile in lieu of the following documents:
- Passport
- Marriage Certificate/Name Change Information
- ECFMG Certification Status Report
- Official Examination Scores: USMLE Scores/FLEX/NBME/LMCC Scores
- Verification of Medical Education (Certificate of Medical Education, Form MED)
- Official Medical School Transcripts
- Verification of Postgraduate Training Medical Education (Certificate of Completion of ACGME/RCPSC/CFPC Postgraduate Training - Form PTA-PTB)
To be acceptable, most documents in the FCVS profile must indicate "Seal Verified" or "Electronic Seal Verified" and cannot indicate "Provided by Applicant".
Please note: If there is a "yes" response on the Verification of Postgraduate Training indicating unusual circumstances occurred during training, the Board will require the postgraduate training program to complete and submit the Board's Form PTA-PTB.
Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC)
The Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC) is operated by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). EPIC provides primary-source verification of credentials related to a physician's medical education and training. The Board offers the link below to EPIC as a convenience to applicants and does not mandate the use of EPIC. EPIC is not a requirement for filing a Physician's and Surgeon's application or a Postgraduate Training License application. As part of the application, applicants may request EPIC to submit their career portfolio directly to the Board to mbclicensingelectronicnotifications@mbc.ca.gov. Individuals may learn more about EPIC at ecfmgepic.org. Primary-source documents will not be accepted from applicants.
Electronic Notary Options
NotaryCam and Notarize.Com are companies that provide online notary services provided by professionally licensed and certified notaries authorized to perform notary services by utilizing audio-video technology as an alternative to personal appearance that are valid in California and may be used on the Board's forms.
Medical School E-Transcripts
The Board accepts electronic transcripts from Scrip-Safe, Parchment, Credentials Solutions, Inc., and the National Student Clearinghouse. If your medical school participates in these programs, you may order official medical education transcripts and designate the Medical Board of California as the recipient. All electronic transcripts must be submitted to mbclicensingelectronicnotifications@mbc.ca.gov.
The Board does not mandate the use of these online services and is providing this information as a convenience to applicants. Electronic transcripts will not be accepted if submitted by the applicant rather than the medical school.
Medical School Document Portal
The Board accepts official electronic transcripts directly from the medical school through the school's online document portal.
If your medical school offers the option to send official electronic transcripts through their own document portal, you can request that they be sent directly to the Board. The medical school must designate the Medical Board of California as the recipient and submit them to mbclicensingelectronicnotifications@mbc.ca.gov.
Translation Services
Translators accredited by the American Translators Association (ATA): The Board recommends, but does not require, that applicants with non-English academic credentials use one of the translators accredited by the ATA for translation. The ATA accredits individual translators by examination. Although accreditation is available only to individuals, ATA membership includes not only individuals, but companies that employ accredited translators. The translator who prepares the translation must sign the translation and declaration in the presence of a Notary Public, unless the translation is a service provided by a known translation agency, which affixes the document with its own official seal. ATA membership includes accredited translators residing in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and overseas. Although the ATA does not make referrals, a listing of accredited translators and member companies is available through its website at atanet.org. The ATA may be reached by phone at 703-683-6100 or by e-mail at ata@atanet.org.
Certified or registered court interpreter: Some state court systems offer examinations for certification or registration of court interpreters. In California, the Judicial Council is charged with these functions. Information on court interpreters is available through the Judicial Council at 415-865-4200. General information is available via its website at courts.ca.gov. The Judicial Council has contracted with Cooperative Personnel Services (CPS) for examination and certification of Certified Administrative Hearing and Medical Interpreters. A master list of these interpreters is available at the CPS website at courts.ca.gov. The court interpreter must sign the translation and declaration in the presence of a Notary Public. Applicants residing outside California but within the United States may call the National Center for State Courts at 800-616-6164 for information on certification and registration of interpreters in other states.
License Verifications
VeriDoc: A license verification is a certified verification that documents the status of your medical license. The verification includes, but is not limited to, issued date, expiration date, current status, and if there is any record of discipline.
There are two methods available for obtaining licensing verifications:
Method 1: Contact VeriDoc and request a license verification be sent to a state medical board or to the Medical Board of California. The verification will be emailed or mailed to the requested board after the online transaction is completed.
Method 2: Submit a written request to the Board with a $10 fee. The request must include the physician's name, license number, and the name and address of the requesting state medical board. This process takes approximately four (4) to six (6) weeks.