To run a California PA license lookup, go to search.dca.ca.gov, the Department of Consumer Affairs license search, and filter by “Physician Assistant Board.” The tool pulls directly from the records of the Physician Assistant Board (PAB), the state agency that licenses PAs, and shows whether a license is active, expired, inactive, suspended, or revoked, along with any disciplinary history.1Physician Assistant Board. About Us – Physician Assistant Board2Department of Consumer Affairs. DCA License Search This is the only official public verification for PA credentials in California. Third-party sites that aggregate licensing data may be outdated or incomplete.
Running the Search
Open the DCA License Search and select “Physician Assistant Board” from the License Type dropdown. That narrows results to the correct database instead of pulling every profession the DCA regulates.
If you have the license number, enter it. That is the fastest and most accurate path, and it avoids the name-matching problems described below.
Without a license number, search by first and last name. Use the legal name on the license, not a nickname or shortened form. The search engine wants an exact match, so a typo or an informal variation can return zero results even for a PA in perfectly good standing. The tool then displays matching records with each PA’s current status and any disciplinary entries.
What the Status Labels Mean
The status next to the PA’s name tells you whether that person is legally authorized to practice medicine in California at this moment.
Active or Current
The PA holds a valid license and can practice. This is what you want to see.
Expired
The license term has ended and the PA cannot practice until they renew. California allows renewal of an expired PA license for up to five years after expiration, though a $75 delinquency fee applies if the renewal payment isn’t made within 30 days of the expiration date.3Physician Assistant Board. Renewal Information – Physician Assistant Board A recently expired status can also mean the PA is mid-renewal. Until the status flips back to active, they are not authorized to practice.
Inactive
A PA can request inactive status from the board if the license is current and not under disciplinary restriction. While inactive, the PA is not permitted to practice medicine in any capacity, and continuing education requirements are suspended.4Justia Law. California Code of Regulations Title 16 Division 13.8 Article 8 Section 1399.619 You may see this on the record of a PA who has paused practice for relocation, family leave, or a career change.
Suspended and Revoked
Both mean the PA is prohibited from practicing. A suspension may run for a set period or indefinitely, depending on the violation. Revocation cancels the license outright. A revoked PA generally cannot petition the board for reinstatement until three years have passed from the effective date of the revocation, though the board can allow a petition after two years for good cause.5Physician Assistant Board. Petition for Penalty Relief – Reinstatement, Modification, Termination Reinstatement is not automatic even then; the PA has to convince the board of rehabilitation.
Reading Disciplinary Entries
When a record shows disciplinary history, the DCA tool gives you the category and typically links to the full decision document. A few labels you may see:
- Citation Order. An administrative action for relatively minor violations, usually a fine or an order to correct the problem. Citation orders are not technically disciplinary actions, but they stay on the public record for five years.6Physician Assistant Board. Disciplinary Actions
- Accusation. A formal legal document charging the PA with violating the Practice Act. It signals a pending case, not a finding of guilt.6Physician Assistant Board. Disciplinary Actions
- Revoked, Stayed, Probation. The board ordered revocation but postponed it. The PA can keep practicing only while meeting specific probation conditions; violating them triggers the original revocation.6Physician Assistant Board. Disciplinary Actions
If you see any of these, open the linked decision. The document explains the specific violation, the evidence, and the penalty. That context is far more useful than the label alone, especially for a “Revoked, Stayed, Probation” status where the PA is still practicing under conditions.
What the Lookup Doesn’t Cover
The DCA search confirms licensure and discipline. It does not tell you where the PA trained, what their clinical specialty is, or how long they’ve practiced.
It also won’t show national certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the body that administers the PANCE exam required for licensure in every U.S. state.7NCCPA. Become Certified To verify national certification or specialty credentials, check with NCCPA separately.
The federal NPI Registry at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov is a different tool for a different purpose. It provides the PA’s 10-digit National Provider Identifier, name, specialty classification, and practice address, and it explicitly warns that having an NPI does not mean the provider is licensed or credentialed.8NPPES NPI Registry. NPPES NPI Registry Use it to confirm a practice location or billing identity, not to verify legal authority to practice.
When a Search Returns Nothing
No results doesn’t automatically mean the PA is unlicensed. The most common cause is a name mismatch. Try the last name alone if the full name fails. Check for name changes tied to marriage or divorce, since a PA may be licensed under a different surname than the one they use professionally.
Recent activity can also lag. A newly issued license or a just-completed renewal can take a few business days to appear in the database. If a PA says they’ve just been licensed or renewed, wait before concluding something is wrong.
After that, contact the Physician Assistant Board directly at (916) 561-8780 or through the contact form on their site.9Physician Assistant Board. Contact Us – Physician Assistant Board Board staff can confirm licensure and resolve discrepancies the online tool can’t explain.
Filing a Complaint After a Lookup
If the search reveals something concerning, or if you’ve had a bad experience with a PA whose license looks clean, you can file a formal complaint with the Physician Assistant Board. The board investigates complaints and has the authority to discipline PA licenses.10Physician Assistant Board. Complaint Information
Complaints must be submitted in writing except in special circumstances. You can file online through the board’s complaint portal, by mail using a downloadable PDF form, or by fax. Include the PA’s name and license number, the date and location of the incident, the names of any witnesses, and copies of supporting documents such as medical records or correspondence. Specificity helps the investigation. For questions before you file, the Central Complaint Unit can be reached at (916) 576-2676.10Physician Assistant Board. Complaint Information