Physicians and Surgeons

A Physician or Surgeon (M.D.) is an individual issued a license allowing them to practice medicine. A physician may diagnose, prescribe, and administer treatment to individuals suffering from injury or disease.

Information About SB233 — Arizona Physicians Registration Application

Medical Education Requirement

To be eligible for licensure in California, you must have received all of your medical school education from and graduated from a:

1. U.S. or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME), the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation; or LCME Accredited U.S. Programs.
2. A foreign medical school which has been evaluated by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or one of the ECFMG authorized foreign medical school accreditation agencies and deemed to meet the minimum requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of medical schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools, or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. The foreign medical school must be listed on the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) World Directory of Medical Schools joint directory, or the World Directory of Medical Schools; or World Directory of Medical Schools.
3. A foreign medical school that has been approved by the Medical Board of California (Board).

Web Links

• LCME Accredited U.S. Programs
• CeCredential Trust®

Verification of Medical Education

To verify your medical education, the medical school(s) attended must submit directly to the Board the Certificate of Medical Education (Form MED), official transcript, and official English translation, if applicable. Each requirement is described in detail below.

Certificate of Medical Education

The Certificate of Medical Education (Form MED) is required from each medical school that you attended. Complete the applicant information at the top of the form and mail it to the medical school. The form will need to be completed, signed and dated by the school official and affixed with the official medical school seal. Any fields or questions left unanswered will require completion of a new form.

Official Transcript

An official transcript from each medical school attended prepared on university letterhead affixed with the signature of the dean or registrar and the medical school seal, documenting all of the basic science and clinical courses completed during the medical curriculum is required.

Official English Translation

Transcripts and any other academic documents prepared in a language other than English will need to be accompanied by an original, official certified English translation; photocopies are not acceptable. The certified translation must include the translator's original signed declaration attesting to their fluency in the particular language in which it is being translated. The translator must mail the original translation with a copy of the original language document directly to the Board.

Direct Online Certification Submission (DOCS)

The Direct Online Certification Submission (DOCS) service is a secure, fast, and reliable online document delivery system that allows medical schools and postgraduate training programs to submit primary-source licensing documents to the Board. DOCS will accept verification forms, official transcripts, certified diplomas, letters of explanation, and more. Documents submitted through DOCS do not require a seal.