Physicians and Surgeons

Priority Review and Expedited Application/Registration Process:

The Medical Board of California (Board) is required to expedite the licensure/registration process for applicants applying for medical licensure in California who meet one of the following:

Honorably Discharged Veterans of the Armed Forces

The Board is required to expedite the licensure/registration process if you have served as an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and received an honorable discharged. (BPC section 115.4).

To expedite the licensure/registration process, submit the following with your application:

• Copy of official orders issued by the United States Armed Forces indicating that you have been, or will be, honorably discharged.

Practice in Medically Underserved Area or Population

The Board is required to expedite the licensure/registration process if you have received and accepted an offer of employment to work in an area of California formally designated as an underserved area or underserved population. (BPC section 2092)

To expedite the licensure/registration process, submit the following with your application:

• An original signed and dated letter from you confirming your acceptance of employment in California to provide medical services to a formally designated underserved area and/or population.
• An original signed and dated letter from your prospective employer confirming your offer of prospective employment to provide medical services to a formally designated underserved area and/or population in California. The letter must include your proposed employment start date, the name and address of the facility(s) where you will provide medical services, and the medical specialty of the medical services you will provide.

Provide abortions within the scope of practice of your medical license

The Board is required to expedite the licensure/registration process if you demonstrate you intend to provide abortions within the scope of practice of your medical license.

An “abortion” is any medical treatment intended to induce the termination of a pregnancy except for the purpose of producing a live birth.

To expedite the licensure/registration process, submit the following with your application:

• A letter from you declaring your intent to provide abortions; and,
• A letter from an employer or health care entity indicating that you have accepted employment or entered into a contract to provide abortions.  This letter must include:
  1. The starting date;
  2. The location where you will be providing abortions; and,
  3. That you will be providing abortions within the scope of practice of your applicable license, in accordance with BPC Sections 2253, 2725.4, and 3502.4.

Spouse or Domestic Partner of an Active-Duty Member of the United States Armed Forces

The Board is required to expedite the licensure/registration process if you are a spouse or domestic partner of an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces who is currently assigned to a duty station in California under official active duty military orders. (BPC section 115.5)

To expedite the licensure/registration process, submit the following with your application:

• Evidence that you are married to, in a domestic partnership, or other legal union with an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces who is assigned to a duty station in California under official orders,
• Evidence of your domestic partner's or spouse's official assignment to a duty station in California, and
• License Verification of an active medical license/registration in another state, district, or territory of the United States.

Admitted to the United States as a Refugee, Granted Asylum, or Have a Special Immigrant Visa Status

The Board is required to expedite the licensure/registration process for applicants meeting one of the following criteria:

• You were admitted to the United States as a refugee pursuant to section 1157 of title 8 of the United States Code;
• You were granted asylum by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the United States Attorney General pursuant to section 1158 of title 8 of the United States Code; or,
• You have a special immigrant visa and were granted a status pursuant to section 1244 of Public Law 110-181, Public Law 109-163, or section 602(b) of title VI of division F of Public Law 111-8, relating to Iraqi and Afghan translators/interpreters or those who worked for or on behalf of the United States government.

To expedite the licensure/registration process, submit one of the following with your application:

• Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, with an admission class code such as “RE” (Refugee) or “AY” (Asylee) or other information designating the person a refugee or asylee.
• Special immigrant visa that includes the “SI” or “SQ.”
• Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a “Green Card,” with a category designation indicating that the person was admitted as a refugee or asylee.
• An order from a court of competent jurisdiction or other documentary evidence that provides reasonable assurance that the applicant qualifies for expedited licensure.

Note: The expedited process does not mean a license must be issued or any of the required documents and licensing requirements will be waived, but simply requires the process to be accelerated.

If you have questions, please contact the Board's Consumer Information Unit at (916) 263-2382.