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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.

Renewal Fee Requirements

The current biennial license renewal fee for a Physician's and Surgeon's License is $1,194. The renewal fee includes a mandatory $25 fee for the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program (Steven M. Thompson Program) and a mandatory $18 fee for the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES). (Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 2435)

If submitting your renewal online using BreEZe online services, you may use a credit card to pay the entire amount required when submitting your renewal.

Note: If you fail to renew your license by the expiration date, your license status will become delinquent and you may not engage in the practice of medicine.

Fee Exempt Renewals

If your license status is Military or Voluntary Service, you are exempt from paying the $1,151 renewal fee. However, you are still required to pay the mandatory $25 fee for the Steven M. Thompson Program and $18 fee for CURES at the time of renewal. If you do not submit the mandatory fees, prior to the expiration date, your license status will become delinquent and you may not engage in the practice of medicine. (BPC section 2440) and (BPC section 2442)

If your license status is retired, inactive, or disabled, you are exempt from paying the $1,151 renewal fee. However, you are still required to pay the mandatory $25 fee for the Steven M. Thompson Program at the time of renewal. If you do not submit the mandatory fee, prior to the expiration date, the license status will become delinquent. (BPC section 2439) or (BPC section 2441)

Delinquent and Penalty Fees

If you do not renew your license within 30 days following the expiration date, the Board will add a delinquent fee of 10 percent of the renewal fee to the amount owed. (BPC section 2435)

If you do not renew your license within 90 days following the expiration date, the Board will add a penalty fee of 50 percent of the renewal fee to the delinquent and renewal fees already owed. Contact the Board to obtain the current amount you will need to pay.

Steven M. Thompson Loan Repayment Program Fee

The Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program is a statewide scholarship and loan repayment program for a wide range of health-professions, students, and recent graduates funded in part through the licensing and renewal fees of various health professionals, including the Board. (BPC section 2436.5) Visit the HCAI website for more information on the Steven M. Thompson Loan Repayment Program.

Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System/Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (CURES) Fee

CURES allows pre-registered users, including physicians and other licensed health care prescribers, pharmacists, law enforcement, and regulatory boards to access timely patient-controlled substance history information to identify possible prescription drug abuse. You are required to pay the reasonable costs associated with operating and maintaining CURES.

The fee charged to maintain CURES is $18 biennially. This fee was decreased from $22 to $18 for licenses expiring on or after July 1, 2023, per AB 3330 (Calderon, Chapter 359, Statutes of 2020). Please refer to your renewal notice for the amount due. (BPC section 208).

 Attention

Make the check or money order payable to the Medical Board of California and mail it directly to the Board at 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200, Sacramento, CA 95815.