A California medical license lookup takes about a minute: go to the Medical Board of California’s License Verification page for an MD, or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California’s search tool for a DO, enter the physician’s name or license number, and read the profile for license status, expiration date, and any public disciplinary actions.1Medical Board of California. License Verification2Osteopathic Medical Board of California. License Verification The two boards keep separate records, and the profile fields have a few quirks worth knowing before you draw conclusions from what you see.
Running the Search on the MBC Site
The Medical Board of California’s License Verification page asks you to pick a license type from a dropdown before you enter anything else. For a physician, choose “Physician and Surgeon.” The same dropdown covers midwives, postgraduate training licenses, special faculty permits, and other categories, so the selection matters.1Medical Board of California. License Verification
You can then search by name, license number, or location (city or county). License number is the fastest and most precise. Name searches work, but a common name may pull multiple results, so add a city to narrow it down. The system returns a profile summarizing credentials, public records, and current license status.
When to Use the Osteopathic Board Instead
If your physician is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, the MBC search will not find them. DOs are licensed and regulated by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, which runs its own search through the Department of Consumer Affairs license portal.2Osteopathic Medical Board of California. License Verification The tool covers osteopathic physicians, postgraduate training licensees, and fictitious name permits.
One quirk to know: DO license numbers always start with “20A,” but only the digits that follow are the actual license number. When entering the number, drop the “20A” prefix.3Osteopathic Medical Board of California. Registration Tips to Successfully Register The OMBC treats its verification site as primary-source verified and updates it in real time.2Osteopathic Medical Board of California. License Verification
Both MDs and DOs hold the same “Physician and Surgeon” license under California law and can practice medicine, perform surgery, and prescribe without restriction.4Medical Board of California. Physicians and Surgeons The regulator is what differs, which is why using the correct search tool matters.
What the Profile Page Shows
The MBC profile displays the physician’s name, license type, medical school, graduation year, issuance date, expiration date, and address of record.5Medical Board of California. License Verification Sample A “Public Record Actions” section flags any disciplinary actions, felony or misdemeanor convictions, malpractice judgments, malpractice settlements, hospital disciplinary actions, or administrative citations on file.
A separate “Survey Information” section lists self-reported details from the physician: practice location by zip and county, areas of practice, board certifications, language proficiency, and cultural background. The Board does not verify this survey data.5Medical Board of California. License Verification Sample
Two things you will not find on the profile: the MBC does not collect or publish a physician’s National Provider Identifier (NPI), and it treats email addresses and phone numbers as confidential.6Medical Board of California. Public Information
Reading the License Status
The most important field on any profile is the license status. California licenses must be renewed every two years before the expiration date to stay current.7Medical Board of California. Current Status
- Active. The physician is authorized to practice in California without restriction.
- Inactive. The physician cannot practice. This is often voluntary, and the license can be reactivated through renewal.
- Delinquent. The license has lapsed, typically because the physician missed a renewal deadline or failed to submit required proof of training completion. A delinquent license does not authorize practice.7Medical Board of California. Current Status
- Probation. The Board has taken disciplinary action but is allowing continued practice under specific conditions and monitoring.
- Suspended. The physician’s authority to practice has been temporarily removed, usually as a disciplinary measure.
- Revoked. The license has been terminated. The physician is prohibited from practicing medicine in the state.
If the status is anything other than Active and you are a current patient, call the physician’s office or the MBC Consumer Information line at (916) 263-2382.
Disciplinary Actions, Citations, and Malpractice
The MBC posts public enforcement documents against physicians on its site. These include accusations (the formal charges), decisions describing the outcome, suspension or restriction orders, and public letters of reprimand. A reprimand can also require additional training or education.8Medical Board of California. Enforcement Documents
Citations are a separate category. They are sanctions for technical violations of the law and usually carry a fine. Citations are not classified as formal disciplinary action, and they only stay visible on the profile for three years after they are resolved.8Medical Board of California. Enforcement Documents Because of that window, a clean profile today does not necessarily mean a citation was never issued.
The profile also indicates whether the physician has malpractice settlements or judgments on record. Under California Business and Professions Code Section 801.01, any malpractice settlement over $30,000, any arbitration award, or any civil judgment based on alleged negligence in practice must be reported to the licensing board. The same threshold applies when the settling party is a medical group or corporate entity that employs or contracts with the physician.9California Legislative Information. California Business and Professions Code BPC 801.01 A settlement on a profile is not proof of wrongdoing; many settle for business reasons. A pattern of them is worth attention.
Board Certification Is Self-Reported
This is where most people get tripped up. The MBC profile has a “Board Certifications” field, but the entry is self-reported by the physician and not independently verified by the Board.5Medical Board of California. License Verification Sample A physician could list a certification that has expired, or was never earned, and the profile would still display it.
To confirm board certification independently, use the American Board of Medical Specialties tool “Is My Doctor Certified?” through the Certification Matters website.10American Board of Medical Specialties. Verify Certification A state license authorizes the legal right to practice medicine. Board certification indicates advanced competency in a specialty after residency and rigorous exams. Both matter, and they come from different sources.
What the License Number Prefix Tells You
California medical license numbers start with a letter that reflects the licensee’s educational and exam pathway. Type G was issued to a graduate of a U.S. or Canadian medical school whose licensure was based on the NBME examination. Type A was issued to a U.S. or Canadian graduate who used the FLEX, USMLE, or LMCC exam, or to an international medical school graduate who qualified through those exams or an approved combination. A Type C license also exists.11Medical Board of California. License Types The letter does not affect the physician’s scope of practice; it is an administrative classification tied to the exam pathway used at the time of licensure.
For DOs, the prefix is always 20A, which identifies the osteopathic license type rather than an exam pathway.3Osteopathic Medical Board of California. Registration Tips to Successfully Register
If You See a Postgraduate Training License
A Postgraduate Training License (PTL) on the profile means the physician is a resident or fellow still in training. A PTL holder can only practice in connection with their duties inside an accredited training program and its affiliated sites, not independently.12Medical Board of California. Postgraduate Training Licensees
PTLs are valid for 36 months and are not renewable. If the physician does not obtain a full license before the PTL expires, they must stop clinical work in California.12Medical Board of California. Postgraduate Training Licensees Seeing a PTL is normal for physicians early in their careers, but the scope of practice is limited to the training program.
Filing a Complaint or Reporting Unlicensed Practice
If a verification reveals a problem, or if you suspect someone is practicing medicine without a valid license, the MBC accepts written complaints through its Central Complaint Unit. The Board reviews complaints about unlicensed activity, including people practicing without any license and licensed individuals aiding unlicensed practitioners. Complaints must be submitted in writing by mail, fax, or online, with a separate form for each physician.13Medical Board of California. File a Complaint
The Central Complaint Unit can be reached at 1-800-633-2322 (toll-free) or (916) 263-2382. Practicing medicine without a valid California license is a criminal offense under Business and Professions Code Section 2052, with potential fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment.