Faster to apply for cali license w/o FCVS?

[bulldog]

For applying to cali license, there's all sorts of forms to fill out. There's also the FCVS service. Can you sign up for FCVS service for future use but submit the forms for cali license independently?

Looking at FCVS, it doesn't have any info where it'd contact your medical school, residency program to get things required by Cali Medical Board such as Transcripts, diploma, letters of good standing, score reports, etc.

It looks mostly like info from L1A-L1E from the cali license application.

Any recs?

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[Winged Scapula]

For applying to cali license, there's all sorts of forms to fill out. There's also the FCVS service. Can you sign up for FCVS service for future use but submit the forms for cali license independently?

Yes. Unless you are applying to a state which *requires* FCVS there is no requirement to use them and you can apply to California and FCVS independently. FCVS will try and "force" you to select a state to send your report to, although if you explain you don't need a report sent out at this time, you can probably get that waived (although will have to pay for the report if you apply at a later date to another state or hospital which uses it).

Looking at FCVS, it doesn't have any info where it'd contact your medical school, residency program to get things required by Cali Medical Board such as Transcripts, diploma, letters of good standing, score reports, etc.

You haven't looked closely enough. FCVS *does* all primary source verification, so they verify your medical school transcripts, diplomas, USMLE scores, letters, etc.

Any recs?

Yes. Don't use FCVS unless you have to or wish your application to be delayed. Everyone there is very nice but the level of competence leaves something to be desired. Please do a search to see multiple threads about how many of us have been screwed by them. As far as I'm concerned, unless you live in a state that requires it, there is no sense in using FCVS because you can do everything they do, faster, cheaper and more accurately.

 

[Blade28]

I used FCVS to get my GA license and it delayed everything by about 6-8 weeks. 😡

 

[gutonc]

If, for some reason, you need to get your license simultaneously in 3 or 4 states, FCVS is probably worth it. Otherwise, just buck up and do it yourself. Most states provide some sort of mechanism for you to inquire about how things are going with your application during the process. If you use FCVS you first have to contact them then they have to contact the state, adding an unnecessary layer of complexity.

I think the main reason to use FCVS is to have a central repository for all the info you need to submit when you want to get a license in a different state.

What would be better would be universal reciprocity. Is there any state that doesn't, at a minimum, require you to prove that you've completed med school, the Steps and a certain amount of post-grad training? (This is kind of a rhetorical question since I know there are variations b/w states for DOs and FMGs but for US Allo grads this holds true.) So if you have a license in state X, you shouldn't need to provide yet another copy of your birth cert, diploma, Dean's Letter/Transcript, intern completion certificate/PGY1 training declaration and Step scores when applying State Y. You should only have to provide whatever state specific info they need (fingerprints, NPDB report, background check, whatever) rather than starting from square one. I don't really care about having to pay all of the fees again but I already wasted a huge amt of time putting that stuff together once, making me do it a second time is just an excuse to employ more low-level bureaucrats. Having said that, w/ the exception of the Dean's Letter, I requested or made extra copies of pretty much every form/document that my state licensing board asked me for in preparation for th next time I have to go through this insanity.

A nation-wide license would be OK too but I'm OK w/ baby steps.

 

[Blade28]

I agree that it's absolutely ridiculous the amount of bureaucratic red-tape that's involved in this process. I understand doing it once because it should be a rigorous process for any physician to get licensed...but then to have to repeat it over and over again for every new state?

Equally ridiculous is the fact that every time you apply for privileges at a new hospital, you have to do the ENTIRE song and dance all over again.

 

[gutonc]

Equally ridiculous is the fact that every time you apply for privileges at a new hospital, you have to do the ENTIRE song and dance all over again.

Which is another reason to use FCVS since many hospitals can access this info. But agreed...if you have a license in a state, shouldn't it be assumed that you have 95% of the paperwork in order in somebody's office to fulfill the hospital's requirements? Fortunately I haven't had to do that yet since the moonlighting gigs I've signed up for are all in-house.

 

[Winged Scapula]

While hospitals may be able to access FCVS for credentialing, that doesn't mean that they do it.

In Arizona, for example, there is a centralized credentialing service which does not take FCVS. You have no choice but to resubmit everything. Now that would be fine if every hospital used the centralized service, but they don't. Half-way through the process, one of the hospitals that I had already applied to informed me that they were now doing credentialing "in-house" and would not accept the centralized process, so I would have to reapply.

I argued that since I had begun the process before they changed over, I should be grandfathered in...I finally was, but by no means should someone assume that just because FCVS information is available, that states or hospitals use it.

Like gutonc said, its just a mechanism to employ people recreating the wheel.🙄

 

[3dtp]

Waste of time. Waste of money. At least one of the states that requires it issues a temporary interim license because the process is absurdly protracted.

I applied in a state that does not require it but accepts it. After dealing with delay on delay, and expense on expense, I applied directly to the state. Had the license in my pocket and was at work long before the FCVS paperwork was complete. The only regret I have is that I a.) wasted time with FCVS and b.) wasted money with them.

My state considered making them mandatory. Our medical society looked into it and decided to lobby against it.

 

[roja]

California-

I used FCVS, but only because I used it for NY as well and it was already established. So for Cali, it worked fine (from the FCVS) stanpoint. Give yourself a 6 month window in Cali.

If you use FCVS, you will still need to complete the application, have your medical school fill out the L-2 form and you will need to complete the fingerprint card. (if you aren't from Ca).

My problem was with the Ca MLB. But it all got sorted out.

Just give yourself ample time.

 

[ResidentMD]

California-

I used FCVS, but only because I used it for NY as well and it was already established. So for Cali, it worked fine (from the FCVS) stanpoint. Give yourself a 6 month window in Cali.

If you use FCVS, you will still need to complete the application, have your medical school fill out the L-2 form and you will need to complete the fingerprint card. (if you aren't from Ca).

My problem was with the Ca MLB. But it all got sorted out.

Just give yourself ample time.

Bump - anyone have anything to add? Any improvements?

 

[johankriek]

If, for some reason, you need to get your license simultaneously in 3 or 4 states, FCVS is probably worth it. Otherwise, just buck up and do it yourself. Most states provide some sort of mechanism for you to inquire about how things are going with your application during the process. If you use FCVS you first have to contact them then they have to contact the state, adding an unnecessary layer of complexity.

I think the main reason to use FCVS is to have a central repository for all the info you need to submit when you want to get a license in a different state.

What would be better would be universal reciprocity. Is there any state that doesn't, at a minimum, require you to prove that you've completed med school, the Steps and a certain amount of post-grad training? (This is kind of a rhetorical question since I know there are variations b/w states for DOs and FMGs but for US Allo grads this holds true.) So if you have a license in state X, you shouldn't need to provide yet another copy of your birth cert, diploma, Dean's Letter/Transcript, intern completion certificate/PGY1 training declaration and Step scores when applying State Y. You should only have to provide whatever state specific info they need (fingerprints, NPDB report, background check, whatever) rather than starting from square one. I don't really care about having to pay all of the fees again but I already wasted a huge amt of time putting that stuff together once, making me do it a second time is just an excuse to employ more low-level bureaucrats. Having said that, w/ the exception of the Dean's Letter, I requested or made extra copies of pretty much every form/document that my state licensing board asked me for in preparation for th next time I have to go through this insanity.

A nation-wide license would be OK too but I'm OK w/ baby steps.

there is no rhyme or reason to it. For some reason the boards believe that the more red tape they put you through the better doctors they will have.. NC board believes they have better doctors than virginia because the application process in virginia is not as annoying and repetitive. its still a pain though. Its stupid. The state boards are against the doctors. and you will realize taht the longer you are around

 

[johankriek]

and people wonder why we spend so much money in this country. credntialing and licensing process is the most idiotic thing known to mankind. Even if you have all your credentials verified at fcvs.. when you want it sent out again it takes one month for them to send this out.. its unbelievable. so if you wanna start working and applying for alicense it could be a year or over a year.