California Medical License

[DrMetal]

When applying for a California Medical License (Doing so online, using the Breeze system): is there any way to verify that they got all of your documents (from the various sources: ie you, your medical school, nbme, etc)? Can you tell if your application is complete? (On the website, all it sais is application pending, theres no more info than that?)

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[dpmd]

When applying for a California Medical License (Doing so online, using the Breeze system): is there any way to verify that they got all of your documents (from the various sources: ie you, your medical school, nbme, etc)? Can you tell if your application is complete? (On the website, all it sais is application pending, theres no more info than that?)

Is that a new system? I am not familiar with it, but when I applied I had to call to make sure they had everything (and to make sure they had my application with the pile of applications from residents who would need it by July 1). Even with them bumping the resident applications to the head of the line it is a glacial process (I think it took like 5-6 moths).

 

[DrMetal]

Is that a new system? I am not familiar with it, but when I applied I had to call to make sure they had everything (and to make sure they had my application with the pile of applications from residents who would need it by July 1). Even with them bumping the resident applications to the head of the line it is a glacial process (I think it took like 5-6 moths).

Yeah. On the CML website, you now have the option of applying online (I think renewing as well). I'm not sure what the advantage to applying on line is though, b/c you still have to send in a notarized form (hard copy), along with your CV (if so desired). And you still have to coordinate the hard copy submission of other items (from medical school, board scores etc), there's no electronic way for them to do it. It's still a very cumbersome process.

 

[Shikima]

They're hemorrhaging physicians and reminbursements are problematic with the cost of living, and yet the beaurcratic process remains horrendous.

 

[DrMetal]

Has anyone who recently completed PGY1 (last month) and applied, heard anything from the Medical Board of CA regarding the status of their application?

 

[Raryn]

Has anyone who recently completed PGY1 (last month) and applied, heard anything from the Medical Board of CA regarding the status of their application?

I applied on paper and submitted the application in April (2 months before the end of my intern year). Like a month and a half later they sent me an email with a pdf attached that had my file number. Said that we can check the status of the application online, and requested three times that we not call/email them. Haven't heard anything since then, and my status just says "pending" for the last month. Hopefully there's another update at some point.

 

[DrMetal]

Hopefully there's another update at some point.

Yeah Im in the same boat. Supposedly they're understaffed. You'd think for $2000 bucks a pop, they could provide better customer service!

 

[anonperson]

I applied on paper and submitted the application in April (2 months before the end of my intern year). Like a month and a half later they sent me an email with a pdf attached that had my file number. Said that we can check the status of the application online, and requested three times that we not call/email them. Haven't heard anything since then, and my status just says "pending" for the last month. Hopefully there's another update at some point.

I just went through a painful six month period getting licensed for CA. It is entirely dependent on who your analyst is and how much of a douche they choose to be.

From the instructions, once they report everything received, there is a mandatory 60 business day waiting period before you can officially call to follow up on the status of your application. I called once the waiting period was done and by some miracle happened to get a hold of my analyst who nonchalantly told me that a form my medical school had sent wasn't considered adequate. Gee thanks for not bothering to tell me during the past 2 and a half months. If you had told me when you noticed it earlier I could have dealt with it earlier before my fellowship started. So I manage to argue with the paper pushers at my medical school who finally send the correct paperwork and I heard nothing from my analyst after.

I called him numerous times. Left emails. Tried to get in touch with supervisors. All I wanted to know was if they received the paperwork sent from my medical school since it was obvious that my analyst was not going to communicate anything to me willingly. Just got vague answers from operators telling me to continue to leave messages and be patient. I heard from my analyst once in the entire six months even after numerous attempts at communication. I finally managed to get a hold of another analyst who wasn't mine who I told my story to who indicated that it was pretty unacceptable to hear nothing like I had. He was very helpful and followed up on my status for me.

As of last month, you CANNOT check your status online. This was confirmed to me from the operators. The online status on Breeze will continue to say pending even if your file is in review status or if something is holding it up. It is a stupid system and very inefficient.

If you are past the 60 day waiting period and you're coming up to any deadlines, I would recommend trying to get in touch with them to ensure they have everything they need and your file is being processed smoothly. Honestly, f$#@ them for taking my money and treating something as important as a medical license like some car registration process. If that means I have to call them constantly then I'm going to do that to make sure my license gets done.

 

[DrMetal]

I just went through a painful six month period getting licensed for CA.

Wow, that sounds awful. Thanks for sharing, and for confirming my suspicion that they're totally incompetent.

I've tried calling, have been on hold for as long as 45 minutes, never got through. Tried emailing, no response.

 

[DrMetal]

For what it's worth, I submitted an email via their website last night, so theyd have it first thing today Monday morning. They replied back right away, stating that my application is indeed complete.

 

[Raryn]

For what it's worth, I submitted an email via their website last night, so theyd have it first thing today Monday morning. They replied back right away, stating that my application is indeed complete.

I submitted an email via their website two weeks ago with no response yet.

 

[DrMetal]

I submitted an email via their website two weeks ago with no response yet.

I'd email them again. Try emailing them late at night or early in the morning, so yours shows up at the top of their Inbox (again, I emailed late on a Sunday night, so it might have been at the head of the line Monday morning). I know it's silly.

 

[DrMetal]

Ok, I got mine. So for the benefit of future readers, here was my time line:
By March 1st: submitted my entire package (including docs from med school, boards, etc). They had everything but the completion of my internship form (3A/3B)
6/30: completed PGY1, my program mailed in the 3A/3B form on 7/7. The CA medical board got it on 7/10.
7/24: got my license number (have yet to get the actual certificate . . . but am officially licensed and is confirmable on their website).

 

[BlondeDocteur]

It took me 5 months, and I was notified via the website. There weren't any red flags or extra forms to submit, just a glacial process. By contrast Washington took about a month and Texas took 3 weeks.