General Information
Disciplinary Action Disclosure:
When renewing, each licensee must disclose whether they have had any license disciplined
by a government agency or other disciplinary body, or, have been convicted of any
crime in any state, the USA and its territories, military court or a foreign country.
License includes permits, registrations and certificates.
Conviction includes a plea of no contest and any conviction that has been set aside
or deferred pursuant to sections 1000 or 1203.4 of the Penal Code, including infractions,
misdemeanor, and felonies. You do not need to report a conviction for an infraction
with a fine of less than $300 unless the infraction involved alcohol or controlled
substances.
Discipline includes, but is not limited to, suspension, revocation, voluntary surrender,
probation, or any other restriction.
For additional information, please contact the Medical Board's Consumer Information
Unit:
- Toll-Free: 1-800-633-2322
- Phone: (916) 263-2382
- Fax: (916) 263-2435
Renewal Restrictions:
You may not be able to renew your license if you have been identified to have outstanding
tax obligations or family support issues.
Renewing By Mail:
If renewing by mail, the renewal must be on the Board's renewal form, and must include
the current renewal fee. Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing. If a renewal notice
is not received, the license must still be renewed before the expiration date on
the license.
If you have not submitted your renewal notice within two weeks of the expiration
date, you may submit it to the address below or renew online by clicking the "BreEZe
Online Services" button.
Forms, information about current renewal fees, and requirements may be obtained
by contacting:
Medical Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815
(800) 633-2322
Failure to Renew:
Practicing medicine without a valid license may lead to disciplinary action against
a physician.
There is no grace period; if a license has not been renewed within 30 days following
the expiration date, the Licensing Program will notify the physician by certified
mail. The date a license expires, the status is changed to "delinquent" if the renewal
application and fees due are not received.
If a license is renewed more than 90 days following the expiration date, the licensee
is required to pay a penalty fee equal to 50% of the renewal plus a delinquency
fee equal to 10% of the renewal fee, in addition to the renewal fee. The renewal
of an expired license is retroactive to the expiration date if it is renewed within
six months of the expiration date.
After a license has been in "delinquent" status for five years, the license is automatically
canceled. A canceled license may not be reactivated by simply paying delinquent
fees and penalties. The physician must apply for a new license and meet the current
licensure requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions:
-
When can I expect to receive my renewal application?
Renewal applications are sent by U.S. Mail to the licensee's address of record approximately
90 days prior to the expiration date of a license. If you do not receive a renewal
application two months prior to your license expiration date, contact the Board
at (916) 263-2382 or (800) 633-2322 to request a duplicate renewal application.
To ensure timely receipt of renewal applications, always keep the Board informed
of any address changes. It is the responsibility of the licensee to renew his or
her license whether a notice has been received or not.
-
I didn't get my renewal application because my address changed. Do I have to pay
the delinquent fee?
Yes, if you did not renew prior to the due date the fees are imposed. A licensee
required by law to notify the Medical Board in writing within 30 days of a change
of address.
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Why do I have to pay?
California law requires that to maintain an active, current license, each licensee,
including out-of-state licensees, must pay the full biennial renewal fee at the
time of license renewal.
-
I'm leaving the country. Can I pay my renewal fee ahead of time?
The renewal must be paid within the 90 days prior to the expiration of the license.
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What is required to renew a license?
Payment of the renewal fee, the $25 mandatory fee for the Physician Loan Repayment
Program and the $12 mandatory fee for the Controlled Substance Utilization Review
and Evaluation System / Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (CURES/PDMP), and completion
of the following sections of the license renewal application:
- Certification that you have met the continuing medical education (CME) requirements
for renewal or that you meet the conditions that would exempt you from all or part
of the requirements
- Certification that you have disclosed on the renewal form the names of health-related
facilities in which you or your family have a financial interest
- Response to the License Discipline/Conviction Question
- Completion of the Physician Survey
Renewal Fees:
The renewal fee for a Physician's and Surgeon's license is $820.00, which includes
$37.00 for the mandatory fees as described below. The renewed license is valid for
two years.
California Business and Professions Code (B&P) section 2436.5 requires licensees
to pay a mandatory fee of $25.00 at the time of renewal of a physician and surgeon's
license to the Physician Loan Repayment
Program and B&P section 208 requires licensees to pay a $12.00 mandatory
fee at the time of renewal for the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation
System / Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (CURES/PDMP). The Physician Loan Repayment
Program encourages recently licensed physicians to practice in underserved locations
in California by authorizing a plan of repayment of their medical school loans in
exchange for their service in a designated medically underserved area for a minimum
of three years. The CURES/PDMP allows pre-registered users, including physicians
and other licensed health care prescribers, pharmacists, law enforcement, and regulatory
board to access timely patient controlled substance history information. Access
to this information assists health care professionals in identifying possible prescription
drug abuse.
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Renewals:
The $25.00 and $12.00 mandatory fees will be incorporated into the total renewal
fee due for every physician's and surgeon's license.
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Fee Exempt Renewals:
A physician who holds a military, retired, voluntary service or disabled status
license is exempt from paying the $820.00 renewal fee. However, every physician
is still required to pay the $25.00 and $12.00 mandatory fees at time of renewal.
If the mandatory fees are not received prior to the expiration date, the license
will be placed in a delinquent status and a pocket license will not be issued.
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Delinquent Fees:
In addition to the renewal fee, a delinquent fee equal to 10% of the renewal fee
will be added if payment is not received within 30 days following the expiration
date of the license.
If the license is not renewed within 90 days following the expiration date, a penalty
fee of 50% of the renewal fee will be added to the delinquent and renewal fees already
owed.
-
Expired Licenses:
The Board will need to determine the correct renewal, delinquent, and penalty fees.
Please contact the Board at (916) 263-2382 to obtain the current amount you will
need to pay.
Note: In accordance with Section 2428 of the California Business
and Professions Code, a physician whose California license expired five or more
years ago must apply for a new license and meet the current licensing requirements
in effect at the time of application.
Additional Information:
