Requirements to Request Expedited Authorization for Temporary Licensure

The Physician Assistant Board will expedite temporary authorization to practice for an out-of-state licensed applicant who meet the following requirements:

Is married to, in a domestic partnership with, or other legal union with, an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces who is assigned to a duty station in California under official active-duty military orders.
Holds a current, active, and unrestricted license that grants you the authority to practice medicine in another state, district, or territory of the United States.
Has not committed an act in any jurisdiction that would have constituted grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of the license under this code at the time the act was committed. A violation of this paragraph may be grounds for the denial or revocation of a temporary license issued by the board.
Has not been disciplined by a licensing entity in another jurisdiction and shall not be the subject of an unresolved complaint, review procedure, or disciplinary proceeding conducted by a licensing entity in another jurisdiction.
Completes and clears a criminal background check.

To qualify you must attach the following documents to your online application:

Satisfactory evidence that you are married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active-duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is assigned to a duty station in this state under official active-duty military orders.
A copy of the spouse’s or domestic partner’s active-duty military orders establishing a duty station in California.
A copy of your current, active, and unrestricted license that confers the authority to practice, in another state, district, or territory of the United States, the profession or vocation for which you are seeking a temporary license from the Board.

How to Apply for a Physician Assistant - Temporary License

To apply, you must submit the Temp MSP Physician Assistant application using the BreEZe online services system.

To complete the application process, the Physician Assistant Board must receive the items below. Contact the appropriate program or organization to proceed with the items you are not responsible for submitting.

You are required to submit a request for a verification of the unrestricted license that grants you the authority to practice medicine in another state, district, or territory of the United States. You are not required to use the Board’s Verification of Licensure form when requesting a verification as the Board accepts other agencies’ verification forms. The verification must be submitted directly to the Board by the agency.
Criminal History Background Check. Business and Professions Code section 144 requires applicants to complete a criminal history background check by submitting a full set of fingerprints and the fingerprint processing fees established by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). You are required to submit fingerprints for the Board to complete a criminal history background check, even if you were previously fingerprinted for another California employer or regulatory body.

If living in, or visiting California, please fulfill this requirement by completing a Request for Live Scan Service form (PDF) before visiting an authorized Live Scan operator. Applicants are responsible for paying for all Live Scan fees at the time of service. The Board will not accept a Live Scan completed in another state. Typically, the results of the Live Scan are transmitted electronically to the Board within 1-3 business days.

If you live outside of California and cannot access a Live Scan site in this state, you will need to complete your criminal history background check using the hard card fingerprint method.

Obtain two (2) fingerprint cards (FD-258) directly from your local law enforcement agency, authorized agency, or contact the Board by email at paboard@dca.ca.govor call (916) 561-8780. When submitting requests by email, please include your name and address. Fingerprint cards are typically mailed within 1-3 business days.
Complete all areas on both cards as indicated in the example (PDF).
Visit a local law enforcement agency or agency authorized to provide fingerprint rolling services. The fingerprint impressions must be distinct from each other as the DOJ and/or FBI may reject fingerprint cards containing identical impressions.
If the fingerprint card processing fee was not paid when applying for licensure, please a include check, cashier’s check, or money order payable to the Physician Assistant Board for $49.
Mail completed fingerprint cards to the Physician Assistant Board for processing. Do not fold the cards

Fingerprint cards are submitted on a weekly basis to the DOJ/FBI for processing. The results of your background check are electronically transmitted to the Board within 2-4 weeks.

The Board must receive fingerprint results from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before a temporary license is issued. There may be a delay if the fingerprint results indicate a prior conviction(s) or other basis for denial.

The temporary license is nonrenewable and expires 12 months after issuance. If you wish to continue to practice medicine in California after the temporary license expires, you will need to reapply for a full physician assistant license. Once approved, the details of your temporary license are available to view through the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) License Search tool; you will not receive a wall certificate or pocket license.

Physician assistants authorized to order, prescribe, administer, furnish, or dispense Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, or Schedule V controlled substances, must consult the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES). Please visit CURES for additional information and registration.

The Board may terminate a temporary license upon finding that the temporary license holder failed to meet any of the requirements listed above or provided substantively inaccurate information that would affect the person’s eligibility for a temporary license. Upon termination of the temporary license, the board shall issue a notice of termination that shall require the temporary license holder to cease all clinical services immediately.

You are personally responsible for all information disclosed on your application, including any responses completed on your behalf. An application may be denied based upon falsification or misrepresentation of any item or response on the application or any attachment.

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