The information provided on this page is subject to change without notice.
Applicants, residents, and fellows with concerns about eligibility for medical licensure should contact their California medical board.
UCSF Fresno requires all medical trainees to have either an active California Postgraduate Training License (PTL) or an active California Physician’s and Surgeon’s (P&S) license to practice medicine.
All dental trainees are required to have an active California Dental License by the end of their PGY2 year.
California Medical License
Postgraduate Training License (PTL)
Trainees from Board-approved medical schools entering a UCSF Fresno postgraduate training program who have not successfully completed 12 months (for graduates of U.S. or Canadian medical schools) or 24 months (for graduates of international medical schools) of ACGME-accredited postgraduate training is required to obtain a PTL within 180 days after enrollment. If a PTL is not obtained within 180 days after enrollment, the trainee must cease all clinical activity in CA until a PTL is issued.
A PTL is not renewable but may be issued up to an additional 90 days (certain conditions apply) if the trainee/PTL holder is required to be enrolled in the training program longer than 12 months (U.S. or Canadian medical school graduates) or 24 months (IMG) or to allow the PTL holder to continue training while transitioning to a P&S license. The Board is authorized to extend these timeframes within its discretion.
Transition from PTL to Physician’s and Surgeon’s (P&S) License
PTL holders who have successfully completed 12 months (U.S. or Canadian medical school graduates) or 24 months (IMG) of ACGME-accredited postgraduate training are required transition their PTL to a full and unrestricted CA P&S license. Applicants must also meet the Board-specific examination requirement related to the P&S license application process.
Applicants may submit the transition application six months prior to completion of the required training. If the PTL expires and a P&S license is not obtained, the trainee must cease all clinical activity in California until a P&S license is issued. Failure to meet this requirement may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. PRACTICE IS NOT PERMITTED WITH AN EXPIRED PTL.
Board-approved postgraduate training must be accredited either by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) completed in the U.S. and its territories, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and/or The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) accredited postgraduate training completed in Canada. The accredited training must include at least four months of postgraduate training in general medicine.
Physician’s and Surgeon’s License
Trainees from Board-approved medical schools who have completed 12 months (U.S. or Canadian medical school graduates) or 24 months (IMG) of ACGME-accredited postgraduate training will need to obtain a full and unrestricted CA P&S license.
Board-approved postgraduate training is training accredited by the ACGME if completed in the U.S. and its territories, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and/or The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) if completed in Canada. The accredited training must include at least four months of postgraduate training in general medicine.
Trainees that have received credit for 12/24 months of Board-approved postgraduate training in another state or in Canada and are accepted into a California ACGME-accredited postgraduate training program shall obtain their P&S License within 90 days after beginning their postgraduate training program. If the trainee does not obtain their P&S License within 90 days of enrollment, they must cease all clinical service at the end of the 90 days. All clinical service thereafter shall constitute unlicensed practice and will result to disciplinary action.
Trainees who currently hold a full and unrestricted out-of-state medical license are required to have a California P&S license on the first day of enrollment at UCSF Fresno.
California Dental License
Dental residents must have their DDS or DMD degree from a university-based dental education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). All dental residents are required to have an active California Dental License by the end of their PGY2 year. Failure to meet this requirement may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
Additional Resources
UCSF Fresno Licensure Policy (Not available at this time)
*Note that not all changes that SB 806 brings to licensure requirements have been updated in the UCSF Fresno Licensure Policy (e.g., fee increases). Updates to the current policy will be made as soon as possible*
PTL Application Resources for MD Applicants (US/Canadian and International)
PTL application and checklist material may be obtained from the Medical Board of California website.
PTL Application Resources for DO Applicants
PTL application and checklist material may be obtained from the Osteopathic Medical Board of California website.
PTL to P&S license Application Resources for MD Applications (US/Canadian and International
The application and checklist to transition from a PTL to a Physician’s and Surgeon’s License may be obtained from the Medical Board of California website.
PTL to P&S license Application Resources for DO Applicants
DO PTL holders applying for a P&S license should use the Application Package for Osteopathic Physician’s and Surgeon’s Certificate. The application and checklist may be obtained from the Osteopathic Medical Board of California website.
P&S license Application Resources for MD Applicants (US/Canadian and International)
The application and checklist for a Physician’s and Surgeon’s License may be obtained from the Medical Board of California website.
P&S license Application Resources for DO Applicants
The application and checklist for a Physician’s and Surgeon’s License may be obtained from the Osteopathic Medical Board of California website.
FAQs for New 2022 CA Medical License Law (SB 806) (MS Word Doc)
OMBC New Law Changes for License Requirements Effective January 1, 2022
Dental License Application Resources
DEA Certificate
All medical PGY2 or higher trainees are expected to apply for and obtain a DEA certification upon receiving a training or full, unrestricted medical license.
Dental residents are expected to apply for and obtain a DEA certification once a full, unrestricted dental license is obtained as a condition of their program’s requirement.
DEA certification must be renewed in a timely manner, prior to expiration. Failure to meet this requirement may result in disciplinary action. Refer to the UCSF Fresno DEA Policy (Not available at this time) for more information or click on the link to be directed to the DEA Online Registration website.
