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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.

 Attention! — Certain Licensing Documents Must Be Submitted Online Starting January 1, 2024

 Apply Early! — License Application Processing Times

 Information About SB233 — Arizona Physicians Registration Application

Voluntary Service Renewal

If you continue to provide voluntary, unpaid services to the community, you may renew your license under Voluntary Service status (Business and Professions Code section 2442). Your renewal fee will be waived; however, you are required to pay the mandatory Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program (Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 2436.5) and the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System / Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (CURES/PDMP) (BPC section 208) fees and comply with the Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements.

As required by AB 3330, the fee charged to maintain the CURES is set to increase from $12 to $22 for licenses that expire on or after July 1, 2021. The fee will then decrease to $18 for licenses expiring on or after July 1, 2023.

 Volunteer!

Register to be listed on the Board's Volunteer Physician Registry (VPR).

How to Renew a License with Voluntary Service Status

While your license is under Voluntary Service status, you can either renew by mail or online using BreEZe Online Services.

Renew Online

You are eligible to renew your license online if:

  • Your license expires within the next 180 days OR your license expired less than five years ago.
  • You have completed your Continuing Medical Education requirements.

You may answer the renewal questions and pay the renewal fee online using BreEZe Online Services. If your license expiration does not update, contact the Board's Consumer Information Unit for assistance to complete the renewal process.

The renewal questions include:

  • Physician Survey
  • Financial Interest Statement
  • Disciplinary Action/Conviction Disclosure
  • Continued Medical Education Certification

Renew by Mail

Once you receive the paper Renewal Notice in the mail, you may submit the Renewal Notice and fees directly to the Board by mailing the documents to:

Medical Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815-5401

Please make check or money order payable to the Medical Board of California.

The renewal notice includes:

  • Physician Survey
  • Financial Interest Statement
  • Disciplinary Action/Conviction Disclosure
  • Continued Medical Education Statement

Note: Please allow four to six weeks for processing.

You may submit the "Application for Waiver of Continuing Medical Education During Renewal Cycle" form to the Board for consideration.

 Resources

 Requirements