citation: BPC § 2111

text:
(a) Physicians who are not citizens but who meet the requirements of subdivision (b) and who seek postgraduate study in an approved medical school or academic medical center may, after receipt of an appointment from the dean of the California medical school, or dean or chief medical officer of an academic medical center, and application to and approval by the board, be permitted to participate in the professional activities of the department or division in the medical school or academic medical center to which they are appointed. The physician shall be under the direction of the head of the department to which the physician is appointed, supervised by the medical center staff of the medical school or academic medical center, and known for these purposes as a “visiting fellow.” The visiting fellow shall wear a visible name tag containing the title “visiting fellow” when the visiting fellow provides clinical services.

(b) (1) Application for approval shall be made on a form prescribed by the division and shall be accompanied by a fee fixed by the board in an amount necessary to recover the actual application processing costs of the program. The application shall show that the person does not immediately qualify for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate under this chapter and that the person has completed at least three years of postgraduate basic residency requirements. The application shall include a written statement of the recruitment procedures followed by the medical school or academic medical center before offering the appointment to the applicant.

(2) The board shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all applicants for Section 2111 permits, as defined by this section, to determine whether the applicant has a criminal conviction record in this state or in any other jurisdiction, including foreign countries, pursuant to Section 2042. The Department of Justice shall provide a state- and federal-level response in accordance with subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code for the board to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure under the provisions of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475).

(3) Approval shall be granted only for appointment to one medical school or academic medical center, and a physician shall not be granted more than one approval for the same period of time.

(4) Approval may be granted for a maximum of three years and shall be renewed annually. The medical school or academic medical center shall submit a request for renewal on a form prescribed by the board, which shall be accompanied by a renewal fee fixed by the board in an amount necessary to recover the actual application processing costs of the program.

(c) Except to the extent authorized by this section, the visiting fellow may not engage in the practice of medicine. The visiting fellow or the medical school or academic medical center shall not assess any charge for the medical services provided by the visiting fellow, and the visiting fellow shall not receive any other compensation therefor.

(d) The time spent under appointment in a medical school or academic medical center pursuant to this section shall not be used to meet the requirements for licensure.

(e) (1) The board shall notify both the visiting fellow and the dean of the appointing medical school or the dean or chief medical officer of the academic medical center of any complaint made about the visiting fellow.

(2) The board may terminate its approval of an appointment for any act that would be grounds for discipline if done by a licensee. The board shall provide both the visiting fellow and the dean of the medical school or dean or chief medical officer of the academic medical center with a written notice of termination including the basis for that termination. The visiting fellow may, within 30 days after the date of the notice of termination, file a written appeal to the board. The appeal shall include any documentation the visiting fellow wishes to present to the board.

(f) This section shall not preclude any United States citizen who has received a medical degree from a medical school located in a foreign country and recognized by the board from participating in any program established pursuant to this section.

(g) A visiting fellow approved pursuant to this section before January 1, 2021, who participates in the professional activities of the department or division in an academic medical center shall be deemed to be appointed to that academic medical center as though the initial application had been sponsored by the academic medical center.

(h) As used in this section, “academic medical center” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 2168.

(i) The permit authorized by this section may be canceled in any of the following circumstances:

(1) Upon request by the permit holder.

(2) Upon request by an authorized representative of the sponsoring facility or institution.

(3) By the board after the permit has expired and is no longer eligible for renewal.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 113, Sec. 4. (SB 160) Effective September 17, 2025.)

article: 5. Foreign Medical Graduates


kind: section

code: BPC

citation: BPC § 2112

text:
(a) Physicians who are not citizens and who seek postgraduate study, may, after application to and approval by the board, be permitted to participate in a fellowship program in a specialty or subspecialty field, providing the fellowship program is given in a hospital in this state which is approved by the Joint Commission and providing the service is satisfactory to the board. Such physicians shall at all times be under the direction and supervision of a licensed, board-certified physician and surgeon who is recognized as a clearly outstanding specialist in the field in which the foreign fellow is to be trained. The supervisor, as part of the application process, shall submit the supervisor’s curriculum vitae and a protocol of the fellowship program to be completed by the foreign fellow. Approval of the program and supervisor is for a period of one year, but may be renewed annually upon application to and approval by the board. The approval may not be renewed more than four times. The board may determine a fee, based on the cost of operating this program, which shall be paid by the applicant at the time the application is filed.

(b) The board shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all applicants for Section 2112 permits, as defined by this section, to determine whether the applicant has a criminal conviction record in this state or in any other jurisdiction, including foreign countries, pursuant to Section 2042. The Department of Justice shall provide a state- and federal-level response in accordance with subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code for the board to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure under the provisions of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475).

(c) Except to the extent authorized by this section, no such visiting physician may engage in the practice of medicine or receive compensation therefor. The time spent under appointment in a medical school pursuant to this section may not be used to meet the requirements for licensure.

(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude any United States citizen who has received their medical degree from a medical school located in a foreign country from participating in any program established pursuant to this section.

(e) The permit authorized by this section may be canceled in the following circumstances:

(1) Upon request by the permit holder.

(2) Upon request by an authorized representative of the sponsoring facility or institution.

(3) By the board after the permit has expired and is no longer eligible for renewal.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 113, Sec. 5. (SB 160) Effective September 17, 2025.)

division: 2. HEALING ARTS

chapter: 5. Medicine

article: 5. Foreign Medical Graduates

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 5. Foreign Medical Graduates


citation: BPC § 2113

text:
(a) Any person who does not immediately qualify for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate under this chapter and who is offered by the dean of an approved medical school, or dean or chief medical officer of an academic medical center, in this state a full-time faculty position may, after application to and approval by the board, be granted a certificate of registration to engage in the practice of medicine only to the extent that the practice is incident to and a necessary part of that person’s duties as approved by the board in connection with the faculty position. A certificate of registration does not authorize a registrant to admit patients to a nursing or a skilled or assisted living facility unless that facility is formally affiliated with the sponsoring medical school. A clinical fellowship shall not be submitted as a faculty service appointment.

(b) Application for a certificate of registration shall be made on a form prescribed by the board and shall be accompanied by a registration fee fixed by the board in an amount necessary to recover the actual application processing costs of the program. To qualify for the certificate, an applicant shall submit all of the following:

(1) If the applicant is a graduate of a medical school other than in the United States or Canada, documentary evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has been licensed to practice medicine and surgery for not less than four years in another state or country whose requirements for licensure are satisfactory to the board, or has been engaged in the practice of medicine in the United States for at least four years in approved facilities, or has completed a combination of that licensure and training.

(2) If the applicant is a graduate of a medical school in the United States or Canada, documentary evidence that the medical school is approved by the board.

(3) Written certification by the head of the department in which the applicant is to be appointed of all of the following:

(A) The applicant will be under the head of the department’s direction.

(B) The applicant will not be permitted to practice medicine unless incident to and a necessary part of the applicant’s duties as approved by the board in subdivision (a).

(C) The applicant will be accountable to the medical school’s or academic medical center’s chair or division chief for the specialty in which the applicant will practice.

(D) The applicant will be proctored in the same manner as other new faculty members, including, as appropriate, review by the medical staff of the sponsoring medical school or academic medical center.

(E) The applicant will not be appointed to a supervisory position at the level of a medical school or academic medical center’s department chair or division chief.

(4) Demonstration by the dean of the medical school, or dean or chief medical officer or an academic medical center, that the applicant has the requisite qualifications to assume the position to which the applicant is to be appointed and that shall include a written statement of the recruitment procedures followed by the medical school or academic medical center before offering the faculty position to the applicant.

(5) The board shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all applicants for Section 2113 registration, as defined by this section, to determine whether the applicant has a criminal conviction record in this state or in any other jurisdiction, including foreign countries, pursuant to Section 2042. The Department of Justice shall provide a state- and federal-level response in accordance with subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code for the board to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure under the provisions of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475).

(c) A certificate of registration shall be issued only for a faculty position at one approved medical school, or academic medical center, and a person shall not be issued more than one certificate of registration for the same period of time.

(d) (1) A certificate of registration is valid for one year from its date of issuance and may be renewed twice.

A request for renewal shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the board and shall be accompanied by a renewal fee fixed by the board in an amount necessary to recover the actual application processing costs of the program.

(2) The dean of the medical school, or the dean or chief medical officer of an academic medical center, may request renewal of the registration by submitting a plan at the beginning of the third year of the registrant’s appointment demonstrating the registrant’s continued progress toward licensure and, if the registrant is a graduate of a medical school other than in the United States or Canada, that the registrant has been issued a certificate by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. The board may, in its discretion, extend the registration for a two-year period to facilitate the registrant’s completion of the licensure process.

(e) If the registrant is a graduate of a medical school other than in the United States or Canada, the registrant shall meet the requirements of Section 2065 or 2135, as appropriate, in order to obtain a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may accept clinical practice in an appointment pursuant to this section as qualifying time to meet the postgraduate training requirements in Section 2065, and, in its discretion, waive the examination and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certification requirements specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2065 in the event the registrant applies for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate. As a condition to waiving any examination or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certification requirement, the board in its discretion, may require an applicant to pass a clinical competency examination approved by the board. The board shall not waive any examination for an applicant who has not completed at least one year in the faculty position.

(f) Except to the extent authorized by this section, the registrant shall not engage in the practice of medicine, bill individually for medical services provided by the registrant, or receive compensation therefor, unless the registrant is issued a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate.

(g) When providing clinical services, the registrant shall wear a visible name tag containing the title “visiting professor” or “visiting faculty member,” as appropriate, and the institution at which the services are provided shall obtain a signed statement from each patient to whom the registrant provides services acknowledging that the patient understands that the services are provided by a person who does not hold a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate but who is qualified to participate in a special program as a visiting professor or faculty member.

(h) The board shall notify both the registrant and the dean of the medical school, or the dean or chief medical officer of an academic medical center, of a complaint made about the registrant. The board may terminate a registration for any act that would be grounds for discipline if done by a licensee. The board shall provide both the registrant and the dean of the medical school, or the dean or chief medical officer of an academic medical center, with written notice of the termination and the basis for that termination. The registrant may, within 30 days after the date of the notice of termination, file a written appeal to the board. The appeal shall include any documentation the registrant wishes to present to the board.

(i) A registrant granted a certificate of registration before January 1, 2021, to engage in the practice of medicine pursuant to this section at an academic medical center shall be deemed to be authorized at that academic medical center as though the initial application had been sponsored by the academic medical center.

(j) As used in this section, “academic medical center” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 2168.

(k) The certificate of registration authorized by this section may be canceled in the following circumstances:

(1) Upon request by the certificate holder.

(2) Upon request by an authorized representative of the sponsoring facility or institution.

(3) By the board after the certificate has expired and is no longer eligible for renewal.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 113, Sec. 6. (SB 160) Effective September 17, 2025.)

article: 5. Foreign Medical Graduates


citation: BPC § 2125

text:
(a) For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Board” means the Medical Board of California.

(2) “Program” means the Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program.

(b) (1) The Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program is hereby created.

(2) The board shall approve physician candidates from Mexico for program participation.

(c) (1) This program extends the physician component of the Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program, as established in former Section 853, which authorized up to 30 licensed physicians specializing in family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology from Mexico to practice medicine in California for a period not to exceed three years.

(2) The program shall also maintain an alternate list of program participants.

(d) The board shall issue a nonrenewable three-year physician’s and surgeon’s license to each licensed physician from Mexico who meets the criteria set forth in this section.

(e) Each physician from Mexico, to be eligible to participate in this program, shall comply with all of the following:

(1) Be licensed, certified or recertified, and in good standing in their medical specialty in Mexico. This certification or recertification shall be performed, as appropriate, by the Consejo Mexicano de Ginecología y Obstetricia, A.C., the Consejo Mexicano de Certificación en Medicina Familiar, A.C., the Consejo Mexicano de Medicina Interna, A.C., the Consejo Mexicano de Certificación en Pediatría, A.C., or the Consejo Mexicano de Psiquiatría, A.C.

(2) The board shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all applicants for a physician’s and surgeon’s license, as defined by this section, to determine whether the applicant has a criminal conviction record in this state or in any other jurisdiction, including foreign countries, pursuant to Section 2042. The Department of Justice shall provide a state- and federal-level response in accordance with subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code for the board to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure under the provisions of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) and Section 2221.

(3) Before leaving Mexico, have completed all of the following requirements:

(A) Passed an interview examination developed by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) for each specialty area. Each family practitioner who includes obstetrics and gynecology in their practice and shall not perform deliveries in California unless they have performed 50 live birth deliveries, as required by United States standards, confirmed by written documentation by the supervising department chair, hospital administrator, or hospital chief medical officer. Each obstetrician and gynecologist from Mexico shall be a fellow in good standing of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

(B) (i) Satisfactorily completed an orientation program approved by the board in connection with the Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program, as established in former Section 853, and that includes medical protocol, community clinic history and operations, medical administration, hospital operations and protocol, medical ethics, the California medical delivery system, health maintenance organizations and managed care practices, medication documentation and reconciliation, the electronic medical records system utilized by federally qualified health centers, and standards for medical record documentation to support medical decisionmaking and quality care. This orientation program may be changed by a committee of at least five chief medical officers at federally qualified health centers employing program licensees to ensure that the orientation program contains the requisite subject matter and meets appropriate California law and medical standards where applicable.

(ii) Satisfactorily completed the Test of English as a Foreign Language by scoring a minimum of 85 percent or the Occupational English Test with a minimum score of 350, and provided written documentation of their completion to the board.

(C) Representatives from California and the UNAM in Mexico that executed and implemented the provisions of the former Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program shall be the points of contact involved in securing required documents, recruiting and vetting candidates, assisting candidates for this program in Mexico to meet all program requirements, selecting appropriate federally qualified health centers throughout California, ensuring compliance with program provisions, developing policy and clinical workshops, monitoring productivity and increased access to medical care, and assessing the necessity of policy and programmatic improvements.

(4) Upon satisfactory completion of the requirements in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, and after having received their nonrenewable three-year physician’s and surgeon’s license, each licensee shall be required to obtain continuing education pursuant to Section 2190. Each physician shall obtain 25 continuing education units per year for three years of program participation, which shall be subject to random audits by the board to ensure compliance. The board may issue a citation and administrative fine against a licensee who fails to comply with the requirements of this paragraph.

(5) The federally qualified health centers employing physicians from Mexico shall continue the peer review protocols and procedures as required by the federal government. The federally qualified health centers shall work with a California medical school approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084 or a residency program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to conduct 10 secondary reviews of randomly selected patient encounters with each licensee per six-month period, and the reviews shall be transmitted to the approved medical school or medical institution with an approved residency program in PDF format. The secondary reviews shall be undertaken every six months of each year for the three years that the physicians from Mexico are employed by federally qualified health centers. The faculty reviewers in family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynecology from the California medical school approved by the board pursuant to Section 2084 or the residency program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education shall provide feedback to the federally qualified health centers of the findings of their secondary reviews. The faculty and federally qualified health center chief medical officers shall jointly develop no less than two quality assurance (QA) seminars for all physicians from Mexico to attend during the six months of secondary reviews conducted. The purpose of the approved medical school or medical institution with an approved residency program secondary peer reviews shall be to provide feedback on compliance with medical standards, protocols, and procedures required by the federal government and assessed by the monthly or quarterly peer reviews conducted by federally qualified health centers. The associated costs for the secondary reviews and QA seminars shall be the responsibility of the federally qualified health centers on a pro rata basis.

(6) The federally qualified health centers employing physicians in the program shall be required to have medical quality assurance protocols and be accredited by The Joint Commission, National Committee for Quality Assurance, or Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

(7) Participating hospitals shall have the authority to establish criteria necessary to allow individuals participating in this program to be granted hospital privileges in their facilities, taking into consideration the need and concerns for access to patient populations served by federally qualified health centers and attending doctors from Mexico, especially in rural areas that do not have hospitals staffed to provide deliveries of newborns.

(8) A licensee shall practice only in the nonprofit community health center that offered the licensee employment and the corresponding hospital. This three-year physician’s and surgeon’s license shall be deemed to be a license in good standing pursuant to the provisions of this chapter for the purpose of participation and reimbursement in all federal, state, and local health programs. These programs shall include the Medicare Program, the fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems of the Medi-Cal program, and private insurance. A physician from Mexico shall not be denied credentials by a health plan because the physician is a participant in this state program and did not receive their medical education and training in the United States. The nonrenewable three-year physician’s and surgeon’s license issued pursuant to this program shall be referred to as a Physician’s and Surgeon’s from Mexico License and shall not include any additional notations beyond the current numerical identifiers that the board applies.

(f) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of Section 30, the board shall issue a nonrenewable three-year physician’s and surgeon’s license pursuant to this section to an applicant who has not provided an individual taxpayer identification number or social security number if the board staff determines the applicant is otherwise eligible for a license only under the program pursuant to this section, subject to the following conditions:

(A) The applicant shall immediately seek both an appropriate three-year visa and the accompanying social security number from the United States government within 14 days of being issued a medical license under this section.

(B) The applicant shall immediately provide to the board a social security number obtained in accordance with subparagraph (A) within 10 days of the federal government issuing the social security card related to the issued visa.

(C) The applicant shall not engage in the practice of medicine pursuant to this section until the board determines that the conditions in subparagraphs (A) and (B) have been met.

(2) The board, if it determines that an applicant has met the conditions in paragraph (1), shall notify the applicant that the applicant may engage in the practice of medicine under the license in accordance with this section.

(g) (1) (A) Between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2029, the board shall coordinate with the representatives described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) to ensure that no more than 155 program participants have a current and active license at the same time.

(B) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), no more than 30 of the 155 licenses may be issued to physicians whose primary area of practice is psychiatry.

(C) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), an applicant shall submit an application to the board between October 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025, except that the board may accept up to 15 applications after December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2028.

(2) (A) Between January 1, 2029, and January 1, 2033, the board shall coordinate with the representatives described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) to ensure that no more than 195 program participants have a current and active license at the same time.

(B) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), no more than 40 of the 195 licenses may be issued to physicians whose primary area of practice is psychiatry.

(C) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), an applicant shall submit an application to the board between October 1, 2029, and December 31, 2029, except that the board may accept up to 19 applications after December 31, 2029, and before January 1, 2032.

(3) (A) Between January 1, 2033, and January 1, 2037, the board shall coordinate with the representatives described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) to ensure that no more than 225 program participants have a current and active license at the same time.

(B) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), no more than 40 of the 225 licenses may be issued to physicians whose primary area of practice is psychiatry.

(C) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), an applicant shall submit an application to the board between October 1, 2033, and December 31, 2033, except that the board may accept up to 22 applications after December 31, 2033, and before January 1, 2036.

(4) (A) Between January 1, 2037, and January 1, 2041, the board shall coordinate with the representatives described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) to ensure that no more than 255 program participants have a current and active license at the same time.

(B) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), no more than 40 of the 255 licenses may be issued to physicians whose primary area of practice is psychiatry.

(C) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), an applicant shall submit an application to the board between October 1, 2037, and December 31, 2037, except that the board may accept up to 25 applications after December 31, 2037, and before January 1, 2040.

(5) (A) Between January 1, 2041, and January 1, 2045, the board shall coordinate with the representatives described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) to ensure that no more than 275 program participants have a current and active license at the same time.

(B) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), no more than 40 of the 275 licenses may be issued to physicians whose primary area of practice is psychiatry.

(C) During the time period described in subparagraph (A), an applicant shall submit an application to the board between October 1, 2041, and December 31, 2041, except that the board may accept up to 27 applications after December 31, 2041, and before January 1, 2044.

(6) A physician’s eligibility pursuant to this subdivision is subject to the physician complying with all of the requirements set forth in this section.

(h) All applicable employment benefits, salary, and policies provided by nonprofit community health centers to their current employees shall be provided to medical practitioners from Mexico participating in this program. This shall include nonprofit community health centers providing malpractice insurance coverage.

(i) Each program applicant shall be responsible for working with the governments of Mexico and the United States in order to obtain the necessary three-year visa required for program participation.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 113, Sec. 7. (SB 160) Effective September 17, 2025.)

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 6. Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program


citation: BPC § 2126

text:
(a) The following fees apply to the licensure of physicians and surgeons authorized by this article:

(1) The application and processing fee shall be the amount specified in subdivision (b) of Section 2435.

(2) The initial license fee shall be one and one-half times the amount specified in subdivision (c) of Section 2435.

(3) The fee for the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) shall be three times the annual fee specified under subdivision (a) of Section 208.

(4) The fee for the Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program shall be one-and one-half times the amount specified in subdivision (a) of Section 2436.5.

(b) The fees required by this section shall be deposited into the Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California, except that the fee described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) shall be deposited into the CURES Fund.

(c) Any unencumbered funds collected by the board pursuant to former Section 853 shall be deposited into the Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 246, Sec. 4. (AB 2860) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 6. Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program


citation: BPC § 2135

text:
The board shall issue a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:

(a) The applicant holds an unlimited license as a physician and surgeon in another state or states, or in a Canadian province or Canadian provinces, which was issued upon:

(1) Successful completion of a resident course of professional instruction leading to a degree of medical doctor from a board-approved medical school pursuant to Section 2084.

(2) Taking and passing a written examination that is recognized by the board to be equivalent in content to that administered in California.

(b) The applicant has held an unrestricted license to practice medicine, in a state or states, in a Canadian province or Canadian provinces, or as a member of the active military, United States Public Health Services, or other federal program, for a period of at least four years. Any time spent by the applicant in an approved postgraduate training program or clinical fellowship acceptable to the board shall not be included in the calculation of this four-year period.

(c) The board determines that no disciplinary action has been taken against the applicant by any medical licensing authority and that the applicant has not been the subject of adverse judgments or settlements resulting from the practice of medicine that the board determines constitutes evidence of a pattern of negligence or incompetence.

(d) The applicant (1) has satisfactorily completed at least one year of approved postgraduate training and is certified by a specialty board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties or approved by the board pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 651, (2) has satisfactorily completed at least two years of approved postgraduate training, or (3) has satisfactorily completed at least one year of approved postgraduate training and takes and passes the clinical competency written examination.

(e) The applicant has not committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of a certificate under Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) or Article 12 (commencing with Section 2220).

(f) Any application received from an applicant who has held an unrestricted license to practice medicine, in a state or states, or Canadian province or Canadian provinces, or as a member of the active military, United States Public Health Services, or other federal program for four or more years shall be reviewed and processed pursuant to this section. Any time spent by the applicant in an approved postgraduate training program or clinical fellowship acceptable to the board shall not be included in the calculation of this four-year period. This subdivision does not apply to applications that may be reviewed and processed pursuant to Section 2151.

(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.

history: (History: Amended (as added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 64) by Stats. 2018, Ch. 571, Sec. 6. (SB 1480) Effective January 1, 2019.)

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 7. Reciprocity and National Board Diplomate Applications


text:
Upon review and recommendation, the board may determine that an applicant for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate has satisfied the medical education requirements of Sections 2084 and 2135 and the examination requirements of Section 2170 if the applicant meets all of the following criteria:

(a) They hold an unlimited and unrestricted license as a physician and surgeon in another state and has held that license continuously for a minimum of four years prior to the date of application.

(b) They meet the postgraduate training requirements in Section 2096 and are certified by a specialty board that is a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

(c) They are not subject to denial of licensure under Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) or Article 12 (commencing with Section 2220).

(d) They have not been the subject of a disciplinary action by a medical licensing authority or of an adverse judgment or settlement resulting from the practice of medicine that, as determined by the board, constitutes a pattern of negligence or incompetence.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2020.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 312, Sec. 17. (SB 1474) Effective January 1, 2021.)

article: 7. Reciprocity and National Board Diplomate Applications


citation: BPC § 2141

text:
(a) An applicant under this article shall file a verified application on a form furnished by the Division of Licensing.

(b) Each application shall include all of the following:

(1) A list of each license to practice medicine issued by a medical licensing authority to the applicant with the date each certificate or license was issued and a description of each certificate or license. The division in its discretion may require the applicant to file an indicia of each certification or licensure. If a certificate or license has been lost, a copy may be filed together with proof satisfactory to the division that the copy is a correct one and that the certificate was issued to the applicant without fraud or misrepresentation.

(2) A list of each medical school or college at which the applicant undertook his or her resident course of professional instruction and all postsecondary educational institutions from which the applicant was graduated, including the period of study at each.

(3) Other information as may be required by the division.

(c) The application shall be accompanied by the reciprocity application fee required in Section 2435.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1176, Sec. 12.)


citation: BPC § 2143

text: An applicant for a reciprocity certificate need not have completed the postgraduate training required in Section 2096 prior to the issuance of a license in another state, if the applicant complies with the requirements of Section 2096 before application is made to the board for a reciprocity certificate.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 775, Sec. 68. (SB 798) Effective January 1, 2018.)


citation: BPC § 2144

text:
The Division of Licensing may make an independent investigation of the educational qualifications and the ability and standing of the applicant.

If, after this investigation and any other or further examination or investigation which the division may see fit to make on its own part, it is found that the applicant does not meet the requirements for licensure as a physician and surgeon under this chapter, then the division may deny licensure under this article.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 26, Sec. 23.6. Effective March 30, 1994.)


citation: BPC § 2151

text:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Division of Licensing may issue a physician and surgeon’s certificate to a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners provided the following requirements are met:

(a) The standard of the National Board of Medical Examiners on the date the diplomate certificate was issued was in no degree or particular less than that which was required for a physician and surgeon’s certificate under this chapter on the same date.

(b) The applicant shall file an application with the division as provided in Article 4 (commencing with Section 2080). The applicant shall not, however, be required to comply with any provision of that article which is inconsistent with or in conflict with the provisions of this section.

(c) The application shall be accompanied by the fee required in Section 2435.

(d) The applicant shall satisfy the division that the diplomate certificate was procured without fraud or misrepresentation.

(e) The applicant shall not have committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of a certificate under Section 480 or Article 12 (commencing with Section 2220).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 736, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 1999.)


citation: BPC § 2153

text: In addition to the requirements of Section 164, a certificate issued under this article shall include in its description the basis upon which the certificate was issued.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)


text:
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California shall issue an osteopathic physician’s and surgeon’s certificate on reciprocity to an applicant providing he or she meets the following requirements:

(a) The applicant holds an unlimited license to engage in the practice of osteopathic medicine in another state whose written licensing examination is recognized and approved by the board to be equivalent in content to that administered in California. For the purposes of this section, the board may recognize and approve as equivalent, along with other examinations, an examination prepared by the Federation of State Medical Boards if an applicant had been licensed in another state as a result of the successful completion, prior to December 31, 1993, of that examination. In lieu of a board recognized and approved state written license examination, the board may require the applicant to successfully complete a special examination in general medicine and osteopathic principles prepared by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. The board may also utilize a special purpose examination prepared by the Federation of State Medical Boards.

(b) The board determines that no disciplinary action has been taken against the applicant by any medical licensing authority and that the applicant has not been the subject of adverse judgments or settlements resulting from the practice of medicine that the board determines constitutes evidence of a pattern of negligence or incompetence.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 789, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2004.)

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 7.5. Osteopathic Reciprocity Applications


citation: BPC § 2168

text:
(a) (1) A special faculty permit authorizes the holder to practice medicine only within the medical school itself, any affiliated institution of the medical school, or an academic medical center and any affiliated institution in which the permitholder is providing instruction as part of the medical school’s or academic medical center’s educational program and for which the medical school or academic medical center has assumed direct responsibility. The holder of a special faculty permit shall not engage in the practice of medicine except as provided above.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the term “academic medical center” is defined as meeting all of the following requirements:

(A) A facility licensed by the State of California.

(B) The facility conducts both internal and external peer review of the faculty for the purpose of conferral of academic appointments on an ongoing basis.

(C) The facility conducts clinical and basic research for the purpose of advancing patient care.

(D) The facility meets either of the following:

(i) The facility trains a minimum of 250 resident physicians in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited residencies on an annual basis commencing each January 1.

(ii) The facility is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center that trains a minimum of 25 resident or fellow physicians in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited residencies on an annual basis commencing each January 1.

(E) The facility has more than 100 research students or postdoctoral researchers annually.

(F) The facility has foreign medical graduates in research.

(G) The facility offers clinical observer experiences.

(H) (i) Except as provided in clause (ii), the facility is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

(ii) The facility is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

(b) Time spent in a faculty position under a special faculty permit shall not be counted toward the postgraduate training required for licensure and shall not qualify the holder of the permit for waiver of any written examination required for licensure.

(c) The medical school or academic medical center shall not appoint the holder of a special faculty permit to a position as a division chief or head of a department without express written authorization from the board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 752, Sec. 1. (SB 387) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 8.5. Special Permits

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 8.5. Special Permits


text:
(a) Any person who meets all of the following eligibility requirements may apply for a special faculty permit:

(1) Is academically eminent. For purposes of this article, “academically eminent” means the applicant meets either of the following criteria:

(A) The person holds or has been offered a full-time appointment at the level of full professor in a tenure track position, or its equivalent, at an academic medical center, as defined in Section 2168, or a California medical school approved by the board.

(B) The person is clearly outstanding in a specific field of medicine or surgery and has been offered by the dean of a medical school or the dean or chief medical officer of an academic medical center a full-time academic appointment at the level of full professor or associate professor, and a great need exists to fill that position.

(2) Possesses a current valid license to practice medicine issued by another state, country, or other jurisdiction.

(3) Is not subject to denial under Section 480 or any provision of this chapter.

(4) Pays the fee prescribed for application for, and initial licensure as, a physician and surgeon.

(5) Has not held a position under Section 2113 for a period of two years or more preceding the date of the application. The board may, in its discretion, waive this requirement.

(b) The board shall exercise its discretion in determining whether an applicant satisfies the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).

(c) (1) The board shall establish a review committee composed of two members of the division, one of whom shall be a physician and surgeon and one of whom shall be a public member, one representative from each of the medical schools, and one individual selected pursuant to paragraph (3) to represent academic medical centers in California. The committee shall review and make recommendations to the board regarding the applicants applying pursuant to this section, including those applicants that a medical school or academic medical center proposes to appoint as a division chief or head of a department or as nontenure track faculty.

(2) The representative of the medical school or academic medical center offering the applicant an academic appointment shall not participate in any vote on the recommendation to the board for that applicant.

(3) The academic medical centers shall select by consensus, one individual to represent academic medical centers on the review committee. The individual shall be from a facility that meets the criteria in clause (i) of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2168.

(d) The board shall not approve more than five applications submitted pursuant to this section by each academic medical center in any calendar year.

(e) As used in this section, “academic medical center” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 2168.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 752, Sec. 2. (SB 387) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 8.5. Special Permits


text:
An application for a special faculty permit shall be made on a form prescribed by the board and shall include any information that the board may prescribe to establish an applicant’s eligibility for a permit. This information shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(a) A statement from the dean of the medical school or dean or chief medical officer at an academic medical center at which the applicant will be employed describing the applicant’s qualifications and justifying the dean’s or chief medical officer’s determination that the applicant satisfies the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 2168.1.

(b) A statement by the dean of the medical school or dean or chief medical officer of the academic medical center listing every affiliated institution in which the applicant will be providing instruction as part of the medical school’s or academic medical center’s educational program and justifying any clinical activities at each of the institutions listed by the dean or chief medical officer.

(c) The board shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all applicants for special faculty permits, as defined by Section 2168, to determine whether the applicant has a criminal conviction record in this state or in any other jurisdiction, including foreign countries, pursuant to Section 2042. The Department of Justice shall provide a state- and federal-level response in accordance with subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code for the board to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure under the provisions of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 113, Sec. 8. (SB 160) Effective September 17, 2025.)

article: 8.5. Special Permits


text: A special faculty permit may be denied, suspended, or revoked for any violation that would be grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of a physician and surgeon’s certificate, or for violation of any provision of this article. The holder of a special faculty permit shall be subject to all the provisions of this chapter applicable to the holder of a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 332, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1998.)

article: 8.5. Special Permits


text:
(a) A special faculty permit expires and becomes invalid at midnight on the last day of the month in which the permit was issued during the second year of a two-year term commencing from the date of issuance, if not renewed.

(b) A person who holds a special faculty permit shall show at the time of license renewal that they continue to meet the eligibility criteria set forth in Section 2168.1. After the first renewal of a special faculty permit, the permitholder shall not be required to hold a full-time faculty position, and may instead be employed part-time in a position that otherwise meets the requirements set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 2168.1.

(c) A person who holds a special faculty permit shall show at the time of license renewal that they meet the continuing medical education requirements of Article 10 (commencing with Section 2190).

(d) In addition to the requirements set forth above, a special faculty permit shall be renewed in accordance with Article 19 (commencing with Section 2420) in the same manner as a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate.

(e) Those fees applicable to a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate shall also apply to a special faculty permit and shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the Contingent Fund of the Medical Board of California.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 649, Sec. 15. (SB 806) Effective January 1, 2022.)

article: 8.5. Special Permits


text: A holder of a special faculty permit issued before January 1, 2021, who practices medicine pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2168 at an academic medical center, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 2168, shall be deemed to hold a special faculty permit with that academic medical center as though the initial application had been sponsored by the academic medical center.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 280, Sec. 6. (AB 2273) Effective January 1, 2021.)

article: 8.5. Special Permits


citation: BPC § 2169

text: A person who holds a special faculty permit shall meet the continuing medical education requirements set forth in Article 10 (commencing with Section 2190).

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 308, Sec. 18. (SB 819) Effective January 1, 2010.)

article: 8.5. Special Permits


citation: BPC § 2170

text:
(a) All applicants for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate shall take the examination provided for in this article unless provisions of this chapter otherwise provide.

(b) The provisions of this article shall apply to all examinations administered by the Division of Licensing unless provisions of this chapter otherwise provide.

article: 9. Examinations

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2171

text: All examinations shall be designed to ascertain the applicant’s fitness to practice medicine. Unless otherwise provided the examination shall be in writing.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 983, Sec. 3.)

article: 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2175

text: State examination records shall be kept on file by the board until June 1, 2070. Examinees shall be known and designated by number only, and the name attached to the number shall be kept secret until the examinee is sent notification of the results of the examinations.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 308, Sec. 22. (SB 819) Effective January 1, 2010.)

article: 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2176

text:
Examinations for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate may be conducted by the Division of Licensing under a uniform examination system, and for that purpose the division may make such arrangements with organizations furnishing examination material as it may deem desirable.

The Division of Licensing may, in its discretion, designate other written examinations for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate that the division determines are equivalent to any other written examination for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate conducted by the division.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 983, Sec. 5.)

article: 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2177

text:
(a) A passing score is required for an entire examination or for each part of an examination, as established by resolution of the board.

(b) Applicants may elect to take the written examinations conducted or accepted by the board in separate parts.

(c) (1) An applicant shall have obtained a passing score on all parts of Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination within not more than four attempts in order to be eligible for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an applicant who obtains a passing score on all parts of Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination in more than four attempts and who meets the requirements of Section 2135 or 2135.5 shall be eligible to be considered for issuance of a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 612, Sec. 1. (AB 359) Effective October 7, 2021.)

article: 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2179

text: The Division of Licensing shall insure that nutrition is included on the examination for a certificate as a physician and surgeon.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 889, Sec. 4.)

article: 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2183

text:
An applicant for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate shall pass the national examination for medical licensure in biomedical sciences and clinical sciences, including geriatric medicine, determined by the Division of Licensing to be essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine.

An applicant who applies for a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate on or after January 1, 2004, shall have completed coursework in geriatric medicine in medical school or in postgraduate medical education training.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 440, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2184

text:
(a) Each applicant shall obtain on the written examination a passing score, established by the board pursuant to Section 2177.

(b) (1) Passing scores on each step of the United States Medical Licensing Examination shall be valid for a period of 10 years from the month of the examination for purposes of qualification for licensure in California.

(2) The period of validity provided for in paragraph (1) may be extended by the board for any of the following:

(A) For good cause.

(B) For time spent in a postgraduate training program, including, but not limited to, residency training, clinical training, fellowship training, remedial or refresher training, or other training that is intended to maintain or improve medical skills.

(C) For an applicant who is a physician and surgeon in another state or a Canadian province who is currently and actively practicing medicine in that state or province.

(3) Upon expiration of the 10-year period plus any extension granted by the board under paragraph (2), the applicant shall pass the Special Purpose Examination of the Federation of State Medical Boards or a clinical competency written examination determined by the board to be equivalent.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 799, Sec. 11. (SB 1575) Effective January 1, 2013.)

article: 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2186

text: An applicant who is a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners shall not be required to take the written examination prescribed by this article, provided such applicant meets the requirements of Section 2151.

article: 9. Examinations


citation: BPC § 2190

text: In order to ensure the continuing competence of licensed physicians and surgeons, the board shall adopt and administer standards for the continuing education of those licensees. The board may also set content standards for any educational activity concerning a chronic disease that includes appropriate information on prevention of the chronic disease, and on treatment of patients with the chronic disease, by the application of changes in nutrition and lifestyle behavior. The board shall require each licensed physician and surgeon to demonstrate satisfaction of the continuing education requirements at intervals of not less than four nor more than six years.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 236, Sec. 2. (SB 380) Effective January 1, 2012.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 10. Continuing Medical Education


text:
(a) The continuing medical education standards of Section 2190 may be met by educational activities that meet the standards of the board and that serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance that a physician and surgeon uses to provide care, or to improve the quality of care provided to patients. These may include, but are not limited to, educational activities that meet any of the following criteria:

(1) Have a scientific or clinical content with a direct bearing on the quality or cost-effective provision of patient care, community or public health, or preventive medicine.

(2) Concern quality assurance or improvement, risk management, health facility standards, or the legal aspects of clinical medicine.

(3) Concern bioethics or professional ethics.

(4) Are designed to improve the physician-patient relationship and quality of physician-patient communication.

(b) (1) On and after July 1, 2006, all continuing medical education courses shall contain curriculum that includes cultural and linguistic competency in the practice of medicine.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a continuing medical education course dedicated solely to research or other issues that does not include a direct patient care component or a course offered by a continuing medical education provider that is not located in this state is not required to contain curriculum that includes cultural and linguistic competency in the practice of medicine.

(3) Associations that accredit continuing medical education courses shall develop standards before July 1, 2006, for compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1). The associations may update these standards, as needed, in accordance with the following requirements:

(A) The standards shall be updated in conjunction with an advisory group that has expertise in cultural and linguistic competency issues and is informed of federal and state statutory threshold language requirements, with prioritization of languages in proportion to the state population’s most prevalent primary languages spoken by 10 percent or more of the state population.

(B) The standards shall be updated to ensure program standards meet the needs of California’s changing demographics and properly address language disparities, as they emerge.

(4) A physician and surgeon who completes a continuing education course meeting the standards developed pursuant to paragraph (3) satisfies the continuing education requirement for cultural and linguistic competency.

(c) In order to satisfy the requirements of subdivision (b), continuing medical education courses shall address at least one or a combination of the following:

(1) Cultural competency. For the purposes of this section, “cultural competency” means a set of integrated attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enables a health care professional or organization to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities. At a minimum, cultural competency is recommended to include the following:

(A) Applying linguistic skills to communicate effectively with the target population.

(B) Utilizing cultural information to establish therapeutic relationships.

(C) Eliciting and incorporating pertinent cultural data in diagnosis and treatment.

(D) (i) Understanding and applying culturally, ethnically, and sociologically inclusive data to the process of clinical care, including, as appropriate, information and evidence-based cultural competency training pertinent to the treatment of, and provision of care to, individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, asexual, intersex, or gender diverse. This includes processes specific to those seeking gender-affirming care services.

(ii) An evidence-based cultural competency training implemented pursuant to clause (i) may include all of the following:

(I) Information about the effects, including, but not limited to, ongoing personal effects of historical and contemporary exclusion and oppression of transgender, gender diverse, or intersex (TGI) communities.

(II) Information about communicating more effectively across gender identities, including TGI-inclusive terminology, using people’s correct names and pronouns, even when they are not reflected in records or legal documents, avoiding language, whether verbal or nonverbal, that demeans, ridicules, or condemns TGI individuals, and avoiding making assumptions about gender identity by using gender-neutral language and avoiding language that presumes all individuals are heterosexual, cisgender, or gender conforming, or nonintersex.

(III) Discussion on health inequities within the TGI community, including family and community acceptance.

(IV) Perspectives of diverse, local constituency groups and TGI-serving organizations, including, but not limited to, the California Transgender Advisory Council.

(V) Recognition of the difference between personal values and professional responsibilities with regard to serving TGI people.

(VI) Recommendations on administrative changes to make health care facilities more inclusive.

(2) Linguistic competency. For the purposes of this section, “linguistic competency” means the ability of a physician and surgeon to provide patients who do not speak English or who have limited ability to speak English, direct communication in the patient’s primary language.

(3) A review and explanation of relevant federal and state laws and regulations regarding linguistic access, including, but not limited to, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1981 et seq.), Executive Order 13166 of August 11, 2000, of the President of the United States, and the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act (Chapter 17.5 (commencing with Section 7290) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).

(d) (1) On and after January 1, 2022, all continuing medical education courses shall contain curriculum that includes the understanding of implicit bias.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a continuing medical education course dedicated solely to research or other issues that does not include a direct patient care component or a course offered by a continuing medical education provider that is not located in this state is not required to contain curriculum that includes implicit bias in the practice of medicine.

(3) Associations that accredit continuing medical education courses shall develop standards before January 1, 2022, for compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1). The associations may update these standards, as needed, in conjunction with an advisory group established by the association that has expertise in the understanding of implicit bias.

(e) In order to satisfy the requirements of subdivision (d), continuing medical education courses shall address at least one or a combination of the following:

(1) Examples of how implicit bias affects perceptions and treatment decisions of physicians and surgeons, leading to disparities in health outcomes.

(2) Strategies to address how unintended biases in decisionmaking may contribute to health care disparities by shaping behavior and producing differences in medical treatment along lines of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.

(f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), educational activities that are not directed toward the practice of medicine, or are directed primarily toward the business aspects of medical practice, including, but not limited to, medical office management, billing and coding, and marketing shall not be deemed to meet the continuing medical education standards for licensed physicians and surgeons.

(g) Educational activities that meet the content standards set forth in this section and are accredited by the California Medical Association or the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education may be deemed by the Division of Licensing to meet its continuing medical education standards.

(h) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “TGI” means transgender, gender diverse, or intersex.

(2) “TGI-serving organization” has the same meaning as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 150900 of the Health and Safety Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 330, Sec. 1. (AB 470) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The Division of Licensing shall establish criteria that providers of continuing medical education shall follow to ensure attendance by licensees throughout the entire course.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 440, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: All general internists and family physicians who have a patient population of which over 25 percent are 65 years of age or older shall complete at least 20 percent of all mandatory continuing education hours in a course in the field of geriatric medicine, the special care needs of patients with dementia, or the care of older patients.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 336, Sec. 1. (SB 639) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text:
(a) Beginning July 1, 2027, a qualifying physician and surgeon who completes continuing medical education courses in perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopausal care shall receive two hours of credit for each hour completed of that coursework, for a total earned credit that does not exceed eight course hours, toward the requirement set forth in Section 1336 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.

(b) For purposes of this section, “qualifying physician and surgeon” means a holder of a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate from the board who is certified by a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties in internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, neurology, neurological surgery, or psychiatry and whose patient population includes adult women under 65 years of age.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2026, Ch. 27, Sec. 1. (SB 164) Effective June 29, 2026.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text:
(a) (1) All physicians and surgeons shall complete a mandatory continuing education course in the subjects of pain management and the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients. For the purposes of this section, this course shall be a one-time requirement of 12 credit hours within the required minimum established by regulation, to be completed by December 31, 2006. All physicians and surgeons licensed on and after January 1, 2002, shall complete this requirement within four years of their initial license or by their second renewal date, whichever occurs first. The board may verify completion of this requirement on the renewal application form.

(2) For physicians and surgeons licensed on or after January 1, 2019, the course described in paragraph (1) shall also include the subject of the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II drugs.

(b) By regulatory action, the board may exempt physicians and surgeons by practice status category from the requirement in subdivision (a) if the physician and surgeon does not engage in direct patient care, does not provide patient consultations, or does not reside in the State of California.

(c) This section shall not apply to physicians and surgeons practicing in pathology or radiology specialty areas.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 693, Sec. 3. (SB 1109) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text:
(a) As an alternative to Section 2190.5, a physician and surgeon may complete a one-time continuing education course of 12 credit hours in the subject of treatment and management of opiate-dependent patients, including eight hours of training in buprenorphine treatment, or other similar medicinal treatment, for opioid use disorders.

(b) A physician and surgeon who meets the requirements, as determined by the board, of a “qualifying physician” under clause (ii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of Section 823 of Title 21 of the United States Code, the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-198), as that clause read on January 1, 2018, shall be deemed to have met the requirements of subdivision (a).

(c) A physician and surgeon who chooses to comply with this section as an alternative to Section 2190.5 shall complete the requirements of this section by the physician and surgeon’s next license renewal date.

(d) The board shall determine whether a physician and surgeon has met the requirements of this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 4. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text:
Notwithstanding Section 2190.1, a physician and surgeon may meet the continuing medical education standards in Section 2190 through continuing medical education courses that meet any of the criteria below, except that these courses shall not together comprise more than 30 percent of the total hours of continuing medical education completed by a licensee to satisfy the continuing educational requirement established by the board:

(a) Have practice management content designed to provide better service to patients, including, but not limited to, the use of technology or clinical office workflow.

(b) Have management content designed to support managing a health care facility, including, but not limited to, coding or reimbursement in a medical practice.

(c) Support educational methodology for physicians and surgeons teaching in a medical school.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 612, Sec. 2. (AB 359) Effective October 7, 2021.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


citation: BPC § 2191

text:
(a) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in human sexuality, defined as the study of a human being as a sexual being and how they function with respect thereto, and nutrition to be taken by those licensees whose practices may require knowledge in those areas.

(b) The board shall consider including a course in child abuse detection and treatment to be taken by those licensees whose practices are of a nature that there is a likelihood of contact with abused or neglected children.

(c) The board shall consider including a course in acupuncture to be taken by those licensees whose practices may require knowledge in the area of acupuncture and whose education has not included instruction in acupuncture.

(d) The board shall encourage every physician and surgeon to take nutrition as part of their continuing education, particularly a physician and surgeon involved in primary care.

(e) The board shall consider including a course in elder abuse detection and treatment to be taken by those licensees whose practices are of a nature that there is a likelihood of contact with abused or neglected persons 65 years of age and older.

(f) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in the early detection and treatment of substance abusing pregnant women to be taken by those licensees whose practices are of a nature that there is a likelihood of contact with these women.

(g) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in the special care needs of drug-addicted infants to be taken by those licensees whose practices are of a nature that there is a likelihood of contact with these infants.

(h) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course providing training and guidelines on how to routinely screen for signs exhibited by abused women, particularly for physicians and surgeons in emergency, surgical, primary care, pediatric, prenatal, and mental health settings. In the event the board establishes a requirement for continuing education coursework in spousal or partner abuse detection or treatment, that requirement shall be met by each licensee within no more than four years from the date the requirement is imposed.

(i) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in the special care needs of individuals and their families facing end-of-life issues, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Pain and symptom management.

(2) The psychosocial dynamics of death.

(3) Dying and bereavement.

(4) Hospice care.

(j) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall give its highest priority to considering a course on pain management and the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II drugs.

(k) In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in geriatric care for emergency room physicians and surgeons.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2026, Ch. 27, Sec. 2. (SB 164) Effective June 29, 2026.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The Division of Licensing shall encourage every physician and surgeon to take a course in pharmacology and pharmaceuticals as part of his or her continuing education.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1600, Sec. 2.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The division shall encourage every physician and surgeon to take a course in geriatric medicine, including geriatric pharmacology, as part of his or her continuing education.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 440, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The board, in determining its continuing education requirements, shall consider including a course in integrating HIV/AIDS pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication maintenance and counseling in primary care settings, especially as it pertains to HIV testing, access to care, counseling, high-risk communities, patient concerns, exposure to HIV/AIDS, and the appropriate care and treatment referrals. That course shall be consistent with the most recent guidelines on PrEP and PEP as published by the United States Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 122, Sec. 1. (AB 1791) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in integrating mental and physical health care in primary care settings, especially as it pertains to early identification of mental health issues and exposure to trauma in children and young adults and their appropriate care and treatment.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 759, Sec. 1. (AB 1340) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: In determining its continuing education requirements, the board shall consider including a course in infection-associated chronic conditions, including, but not limited to, long COVID, as defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, myalgic encephalomyelitis, and dysautonomia.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 433, Sec. 1. (AB 3119) Effective January 1, 2025.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


citation: BPC § 2196

text: The board shall periodically develop and disseminate information and educational material regarding the detection and treatment of child abuse and neglect to each licensed physician and surgeon and to each general acute care hospital in the state. The board shall consult with the Office of Child Abuse Prevention in developing the materials distributed pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 1313, Sec. 2.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The board shall periodically develop and disseminate information and educational material regarding the detection and treatment of elder abuse and neglect to each licensed physician and surgeon and to each general acute care hospital in this state. The board shall consult with the Adult Protective Services Division of the State Department of Social Services in developing the materials distributed pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 267, Sec. 2.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The board shall periodically develop and disseminate information and educational material regarding pain management techniques and procedures, including the risks of addiction associated with the use of Schedule II drugs, to each licensed physician and surgeon and to each general acute care hospital in this state. The board shall consult with the State Department of Public Health in developing the materials to be distributed pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 693, Sec. 5. (SB 1109) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The board shall periodically disseminate information and educational material regarding the detection and treatment of spousal or partner abuse to each licensed physician and surgeon and to each general acute care hospital in the state.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1234, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1994.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The board shall periodically disseminate information and educational material regarding the prevention and treatment of chronic disease by the application of changes in nutrition and lifestyle behavior to each licensed physician and surgeon and to each general acute care hospital in the state.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 236, Sec. 3. (SB 380) Effective January 1, 2012.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The board shall convene a working group of interested parties to discuss nutrition and lifestyle behavior for the prevention and treatment of chronic disease at one of its quarterly meetings within three years after the operative date of this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 236, Sec. 4. (SB 380) Effective January 1, 2012.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text: The board shall periodically develop and disseminate information and educational material regarding assessing a patient’s risk of abusing or diverting controlled substances and information relating to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES), described in Section 11165 of the Health and Safety Code, to each licensed physician and surgeon and to each general acute care hospital in this state. The board shall consult with the State Department of Public Health, the boards and committees specified in subdivision (d) of Section 208, and the Department of Justice in developing the materials to be distributed pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 400, Sec. 4. (SB 809) Effective January 1, 2014.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


text:
(a) In determining its continuing education requirements for physicians and surgeons, the board shall consider including a course in maternal mental health, which shall address the following:

(1) Best practices in screening for maternal mental health disorders, including cultural competency and unintended bias as a means to build trust with mothers.

(2) The range of maternal mental health disorders.

(3) The range of evidence-based treatment options, including the importance of allowing a mother to be involved in developing the treatment plan.

(4) When an obstetrician or a primary care doctor should consult with a psychiatrist versus making a referral.

(5) Applicable requirements under Sections 123640 and 123616.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) Subject to Section 2001.1, the board shall periodically update any curriculum developed pursuant to this section to account for new research.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 220, Sec. 1. (AB 845) Effective January 1, 2020.)

article: 10. Continuing Medical Education


citation: BPC § 2198

text:
(a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Physicians Act of 2003. The cultural and linguistic physician competency program is hereby established and shall be operated by local medical societies of the California Medical Association and shall be monitored by the Division of Licensing.

(b) This program shall be a voluntary program for all interested physicians. As a primary objective, the program shall consist of educational classes which shall be designed to teach physicians the following:

(1) A foreign language at the level of proficiency that initially improves their ability to communicate with non-English speaking patients.

(2) A foreign language at the level of proficiency that eventually enables direct communication with the non-English speaking patients.

(3) Cultural beliefs and practices that may impact patient health care practices and allow physicians to incorporate this knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of patients who are not from the predominate culture in California.

(c) The program shall operate through local medical societies and shall be developed to address the ethnic language minority groups of interest to local medical societies.

(d) In dealing with Spanish language and cultural practices of Mexican immigrant communities, the cultural and linguistic training program shall be developed with direct input from physician groups in Mexico who serve the same immigrant population in Mexico. A similar approach may be used for any of the languages and cultures that are taught by the program or appropriate ethnic medical societies may be consulted for the development of these programs.

(e) Training programs shall be based and developed on the established knowledge of providers already serving target populations and shall be formulated in collaboration with the California Medical Association, the Division of Licensing, and other California-based ethnic medical societies.

(f) Programs shall include standards that identify the degree of competency for participants who successfully complete independent parts of the course of instruction.

(g) Programs shall seek accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

(h) The Division of Licensing shall convene a workgroup including, but not limited to, representatives of affected patient populations, medical societies engaged in program delivery, and community clinics to perform the following functions:

(1) Evaluation of the progress made in the achievement of the intent of this article.

(2) Determination of the means by which achievement of the intent of this article can be enhanced.

(3) Evaluation of the reasonableness and the consistency of the standards developed by those entities delivering the program.

(4) Determination and recommendation of the credit to be given to participants who successfully complete the identified programs. Factors to be considered in this determination shall include, at a minimum, compliance with requirements for continuing medical education and eligibility for increased rates of reimbursement under Medi-Cal, the Healthy Families Program, and health maintenance organization contracts.

(i) Funding shall be provided by fees charged to physicians who elect to take these educational classes and any other funds that local medical societies may secure for this purpose.

(j) A survey for language minority patients shall be developed and distributed by local medical societies, to measure the degree of satisfaction with physicians who have taken the educational classes on cultural and linguistic competency provided under this section. Local medical societies shall also develop an evaluation survey for physicians to assess the quality of educational or training programs on cultural and linguistic competency. This information shall be shared with the workgroup established by the Division of Licensing.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 510, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2004.)

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 10.5. Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Physicians Act of 2003


text:
For purposes of this article, “cultural and linguistic competency” means cultural and linguistic abilities that can be incorporated into therapeutic and medical evaluation and treatment, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Direct communication in the patient-client primary language.

(b) Understanding and applying the roles that culture, ethnicity, and race play in diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care.

(c) Awareness of how the health care providers and patients attitudes, values, and beliefs influence and impact professional and patient relations.

article: 10.5. Cultural and Linguistic Competency of Physicians Act of 2003


citation: BPC § 2215

text: The Legislature finds and declares that in this state, significant surgeries are being performed in unregulated out-of-hospital settings. The Legislature further finds and declares that without appropriate oversight, some of these settings may be operating in a manner which is injurious to the public health, welfare, and safety. Although the health professionals delivering health care services in these settings are licensed, further quality assurance is needed to ensure that health care services are safely and effectively performed in these settings. The Legislature further recognizes that there is a wide range of surgical procedures safely performed in a myriad of outpatient settings, and the degree of patient risk varies greatly. It is the intent of the Legislature to create regulations that directly impact patient safety. It is not the intent of the Legislature to require standards in excess of those requirements in Section 1248.15, or to require physical modifications to facilities unless the modifications or standards directly impact patient safety and are cost-effective. The cost effectiveness of any modifications shall be taken into consideration by the Division of Licensing of the Medical Board of California, and shall ensure that the least costly and effective method of achieving patient safety is required.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1276, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.)

path: 2. HEALING ARTS > 5. Medicine > 11.5. Surgery in Certain Outpatient Settings


citation: BPC § 2216

text:
On or after July 1, 1996, no physician and surgeon shall perform procedures in an outpatient setting using anesthesia, except local anesthesia or peripheral nerve blocks, or both, complying with the community standard of practice, in doses that, when administered, have the probability of placing a patient at risk for loss of the patient’s life-preserving protective reflexes, unless the setting is specified in Section 1248.1. Outpatient settings where anxiolytics and analgesics are administered are excluded when administered, in compliance with the community standard of practice, in doses that do not have the probability of placing the patient at risk for loss of the patient’s life-preserving protective reflexes.

The definition of “outpatient settings” contained in subdivision (c) of Section 1248 shall apply to this section.

article: 11.5. Surgery in Certain Outpatient Settings


text: On and after July 1, 2000, it is unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon to perform procedures in any outpatient setting except in compliance with Section 2216, unless the setting has a minimum of two staff persons on the premises, one of whom shall either be a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed health care professional with current certification in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), as long as a patient is present who has not been discharged from supervised care.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 944, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2000.)


text:
(a) It is unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon to fail to provide adequate security by liability insurance, or by participation in an interindemnity trust, for claims by patients arising out of surgical procedures performed outside of a general acute care hospital as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) For purposes of this section, the board shall determine what constitutes adequate security.

(c) Nothing in this section shall require an insurer admitted to transact liability insurance in this state to provide coverage to a physician and surgeon.

(d) The security required by this section shall be acceptable only if provided by any one of the following:

(1) An insurer admitted pursuant to Section 700 of the Insurance Code to transact liability insurance in this state.

(2) An insurer that is eligible pursuant to Section 1765.1 of the Insurance Code.

(3) A cooperative corporation authorized by Section 1280.7 of the Insurance Code.

(4) An insurer licensed to transact liability insurance in at least one state of the United States.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 83, Sec. 1. (AB 315) Effective July 15, 2011. Operative July 21, 2011, by Sec. 34 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 83.)