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.
Applying for a Postgraduate Training License (PTL)
An applicant may apply for a PTL if they have graduated from a Board-approved medical school (Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 2084), passed all required examinations, and will be enrolling or are enrolled in a California ACGME-accredited residency program.
A PTL is valid for 36 months for all United States, Canadian, and international medical school graduates (BPC section 2064.5(b)) only while enrolled in a California ACGME-accredited postgraduate training program. A PTL must be obtained within 180 days from beginning a postgraduate training program in California, otherwise, the resident must cease all clinical service at that time until a PTL has been issued by the Board.
The PTL is not renewable. If a Physician's and Surgeon's License is not obtained by the PTL expiration date, the physician must cease all clinical services in California.
If the PTL holder has not obtained credit for the required months of Board-approved postgraduate training to obtain a Physician's and Surgeon's license by their PTL expiration date, they may contact the Board to inquire about a possible extension of their PTL.
Expedited and Priority Review
The Board will prioritize and expedite the review of your PTL application if you:
- Are an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and are enrolled in the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge Program;
- Have served as an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and were honorably discharged;
- Are going to provide abortions within the scope of practice of your medical license;
- Are married to, or 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 active-duty military orders;
- Were admitted to the United States as a Refugee, granted asylum, or have a Special Immigrant Visa Status.
You must submit the required documentation with your application to receive priority review. Please review additional requirements and required supporting documents on the Priority Review and Expedited Application Process.
PTL Temporary License
If you are married to, or 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 active-duty military orders, you may qualify for a Temporary Postgraduate Training License.
A temporary license is valid for 12 months, allowing an applicant to complete the application process for a PTL. Upon issuance of the temporary license, the licensee's temporary license profile will be available on the Board's website License Verification page. Additional information on applying for a temporary license can be found on the Board's Temporary License webpage.
Transition to a Physician's and Surgeon's License
A PTL holder who receives either 12 months (U.S. and Canadian medical school graduates) or 24 months (international medical school graduates) credit of Board-approved postgraduate training, may apply for a Physician's and Surgeon's License through the transition process.
To allow sufficient time for processing and remediating deficiencies, the Board strongly encourages you to submit your online Application to Transition from a Postgraduate Training License to a Physician's and Surgeon's License, utilizing BreEZe Online Services, six months prior to receiving 12/24 months of credit from a Board-approved postgraduate training program.
Professional License Portability and State Registration for Service Members and their Spouses
The federal Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) authorizes service members or their spouses who currently hold a valid license in good standing in another state, district, or territory to practice in California within the same profession or vocation, if they relocate to California because of military orders. For individuals who desire to practice in California under the terms of the SCRA, please visit: https://www.dca.ca.gov/military/federal.shtml.
How to Apply for a Postgraduate Training License
Third Party Services
You may use electronic commercial services to assist in completing your application for licensure. The Board does not mandate any of the electronic services. For additional information, visit the Third Party Services webpage. The Board is providing this information as a convenience to you.
To allow sufficient time for processing and remediating deficiencies, the Board strongly encourages you to submit your online Application for a Postgraduate Training License, utilizing BreEZe Online Services, once you receive final confirmation of enrollment in a California Board-approved postgraduate training program.
Apply Online
All applicants must apply online. Applicants without an SSN or ITIN should email the Board for information on how to apply for a license.
BEFORE APPLYING, read the Application for a Postgraduate Training License Information & Checklist as a guide through the license application process.
To apply online, you must complete the following using our BreEZe online services system:
- Answer the application questions.
- Pay all required fees.
- Attach copy of completed Request for Live Scan Service for electronic fingerprints, if applicable.
- Attach a completed Notification of Name Change if you recently changed your legal name (i.e., first, middle, and/or last name) or if some of the supporting documents may have a variation of your alias or previous legal name, if applicable.
- Explanation to Application Question (Form EXP), if applicable.
- Attach Timeline of Activities (Form TOA), if applicable. (FCVS TOA without gaps is acceptable)
- Attach supporting documents verifying request to expedite the licensing process, if applicable
To complete the application process, the Board must receive the items below. Contact the appropriate program or organization to request they provide the Board the documents you are not responsible for submitting directly to the Board.
You must submit:
The certification/examination organization must submit:
- ECFMG Certification Status Report, international graduates only (FCVS primary source ECFMG verification is acceptable)
- Official Examination Scores (FCVS primary source exam scores are acceptable)
The medical school(s) attended must submit all document(s) through the Board's Direct Online Certification Submission (DOCS) portal, approved third party services, or by mail:
- Certificate of Medical Education (Form MED)
- Official Transcript (FCVS primary source transcript is acceptable)
- Official English Translation, if applicable (FCVS primary source translation is acceptable)
The training program(s) must submit all form(s) through the Board's DOCS portal, approved third party services, or by mail:
Wallet Card and Wall Certificate: Once your P&S License is issued, you may generate and immediately print your own wallet license using the Board's Wallet License Generator. A wallet license will not be mailed to you. The Board will mail your wall certificate to your address of record within two to four weeks.
Note: Do not complete this application packet if you are applying for licensure as an osteopathic physician and surgeon. Please contact the Osteopathic Medical Board of California at (916) 928-8390 for an application and further information.