Postgraduate Training Licensees
A Postgraduate Training License (PTL) is issued to residents who are enrolled in a California ACGME-accredited postgraduate training program. The resident may engage in the practice of medicine only in connection with their duties as a resident in the approved training program, including its affiliated sites, or under those conditions as are approved in writing by the director of their program.
Information pertaining to the practice of medicine with a training license
The holder of a postgraduate training license (PTL) may engage in the practice of medicine only in connection with their duties as a resident in an ACGME-accredited postgraduate training program in California, including its affiliated sites, or under those conditions as are approved in writing by the director of their program. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Diagnose and treatment of patients;
- Prescribe medication without a cosigner. The PTL holder may also prescribe controlled substances if he or she is registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency and is registered with the Department of Justice Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES); and
- Sign birth and death certificates without a cosigner.
The applicant must submit an Application to Transition from Postgraduate Training License to a Physician's and Surgeon's License with the required licensing fees, verification of a passing score on USMLE Step 3, and a Certificate of Completion of ACGME Postgraduate Training form from the program signed after completing 36 months of training to verify successful completion. Residents may submit the transition application up to 120 days prior to completion of the 36 months of Board-approved training.