Look Up a California Medical License

This page helps users handle a Medical License lookup in California by using official statewide resources for license verification, physician profiles, public documents, and Board contact options.

The main path runs through the Department of Consumer Affairs Search system and the Medical Board of California Licensee Profile search page for physicians and allied health care providers licensed or registered in the state.

California DCA medical license search

Use the Department of Consumer Affairs search system to look up a California medical license by details such as name, license number, business name, or registry number.

• License number
• First name and last name
• Business name
• Registry number
• Board or Bureau and license type

For a focused lookup, open the DCA search page and enter the strongest identifier you have.

• Go to the search the DCA medical license records page.
• Enter the license number, name, business name, or registry number.
• Use the advanced search options when you need to filter by city, county, status, public record actions, disciplinary actions, or public documents.
• Open the matching result and review the license profile carefully.

Medical Board of California license profiles

The review the Medical Board license verification page option provides profiles for physicians and other allied health care providers licensed or registered in California.

A physician profile can include license status, practice location, specialty or areas of practice, administrative or disciplinary action, and links to available public documents. Review the full profile, including the bottom of the page, because related documents may appear there.

Osteopathic physician note: for a D.O., the Medical Board directs users to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California.

What may not appear on a physician profile

California law does not allow every physician record to be posted on the Medical Board website. Some information may be available by telephone or written request instead.

• Complaints made to the Medical Board of California are confidential and are not public on the profile.
• Medical Board investigations are confidential and are not public on the profile.
• Some misdemeanor convictions and some medical malpractice information may not appear on the profile.
• The Board warns that online information may have posting or update delays.

For a fuller explanation of public disclosure limits, use the check the Medical Board disclosure guidance page.

Enforcement documents and license alerts

The Medical Board posts scanned public-record enforcement documents related to administrative actions taken by the Board against licensed and unlicensed individuals. These documents may include accusations, decisions, suspension or restriction orders, public letters of reprimand, and citations.

Public letters of reprimand are posted for 10 years from the effective date of the decision. Citations are posted for three years from the date they are resolved. Some actions, including suspensions and temporary restraining orders, are posted only while the licensee is actively subject to the enforcement action or proceeding.

Use the search Medical Board enforcement documents page for available public documents. Do not use enforcement documents alone to verify current license status; check the license profile as well.

Temporary licenses and special license types

The Medical Board identifies several licensing categories, including Physician and Surgeon licenses, Postgraduate Training Licenses, BPC 853 Pilot Program Physician licenses, Special Faculty Permits, and Special Programs permits.

Temporary licenses issued under Business and Professions Code section 115.6 are listed by the Board and updated weekly. A temporary license is valid for 12 months or until the full Physician's and Surgeon's license is issued, whichever occurs first.

For a temporary license, use the check the temporary license lookup page, then verify whether a permanent Physician's and Surgeon's license has been issued.

Medical Board of California contacts

Use these contacts when the online profile is unclear, the site is unavailable, or you need licensing, complaint, or enforcement document help.

• Medical Board of California, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200, Sacramento, CA 95815. Phone: (800) 633-2322 or (916) 263-2382. Available 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.
• Consumer Information Unit, Licensing and Applications. Phone: (800) 633-2322. Fax: (916) 263-2944.
• Enforcement Central File Room, Enforcement Document Requests. Phone: (916) 263-2525. Fax: (916) 263-2944.
• Central Complaint Unit, Complaints. Phone: (800) 633-2322. Main Line: (916) 263-2528. Fax: (916) 263-2435.