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California Letter (PTAL); How to Apply?

113K views 139 replies 78 participants last post by  SarahIMG 
#1 ·
Unlike all other states, California requires a special authorization in order for medical school graduates whether US or IMGs to practice medicine or to be enrolled in residency programs.
The authorization to practice medicine is called California License.
The authorization to be enrolled in a residency program is called Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) or commonly referred to as California Letter.

Before talking about the steps on how to get the California letter it's important to note down the contact information of the Medical Board of California (MBC). This is going to be needed throughout the process.

California Medical Board Contact information
Email:
webmaster@mbc.ca.gov which is unlike the info@ecfmg.org they usually respond promptly and give you courtesy.

Mailing Address:
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
LICENSING PROGRAM
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815

Telephones:
800 6332322 or 916 263 2382

Fax:

916 2632487

Now let's walk through the application process step by step:

First Step is the online application:

Go to http://www.mbc.ca.gov/
Click on applicants tab and in the resulting new page scroll down and click on "continue"
You'll be taken to this page
http://www.mbc.ca.gov/applicant/additional_info.html

Click on "Online Licensing Application Payment" on the right upper corner

Then click on "Professional Licensing Log-in"
Which should take you to this page
https://elicense.dca.ca.gov/iLicense/iLicense
and here's a screenshot of that page
World Line Font Screenshot Parallel

click to enlarge

Of course you click on the first time users link
thereafter you choose a username and password, email, mailing address, SSN (optional), and a credit card to be charged later on.

See this image to know what exactly should be checked while paying:
Font Rectangle Screenshot Parallel Number

click to enlarge

The total amount that you have to pay is $493 broken down into $442 (Application Fee) and $51 (Finger Print Processing Fee).

The page that you'll see when you finish the online application looks like this:
Font Screenshot Parallel Rectangle Number

click to enlarge

You'll later receive an email confirmation from ilicense@dcs.ca.gov and they'll say in it the following:

***************************
You have successfully registered with the State of California Online Professional Licensing system.

You are registered as: FirstName LastName
Your User ID is: xxx

Please keep it for your records. You will need this User ID to login into the system or to reset your password.
***************************
Thereafter you can go to
https://elicense.dca.ca.gov/iLicense/iLicense
Log in with your username and password
print out the online receipt because you'll need this for the next steps.

Alternatively, if you don't like to pay online you can send money order or certified check or personal check and make it payable to "Medical Board of California" and enclose it with your application papers.

Next Step is to do the Finger Printing:

You can go to http://www.mbc.ca.gov/applicant/live_scan.pdf
and print out live scan forms (three copies)

then you can locate a live scan center here
http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/publications/contact.htm

or you can choose to send them a finger printing card instead if you don't reside in California or you won't be visiting California. But in this case you have to contact them in order they mail you the finger printing cards.

Note that usually you will be charged $25 when you go to the fingerprinting center, this is another charge to be added to the $51 that you paid already. So your total so far is 493+25= $518

Although you completed three copies but you will send only one copy to MBC to be attached to L1A-L1E forms. The other two copies one will go to the FBI and DOJ and the other can be kept with you.

The Next Step is to fill out and notarize forms L1A, L1B, L1C, L1D, and L1E:

These forms can be downloaded from this page
http://www.medbd.ca.gov/applicant/application_international.pdf

L1A: just answer the questions; Mention any of the exam scores that you have taken so far. It's better you mention at least one exam though it is not mandatory.
L1B: not needed for IMGs; definitely we did not do any ACGME accredited postgraduate training so far and we don't have a state license yet. So leave questions 14 and 15 blank, just sign at the bottom and put your date of birth.
L1C and L1D: Leave ABMS certifications if you are applying for the PTAL and answer all questions 17-38. (this is only required for the California license not the PTAL.
L1E: This form you have to sign in front of the Notary Public who should put his seal and signature in addition to yours.

Now Your are considered an applicant:
Once you send the notarized L1A-L1E along with the application fees (Online Receipt if you paid online, money order or check if you are not) and the finger printing request document then you are considered an applicant and you should receive a notice from the MBC within 90 days.

The letter looks like this
https://www2.mbc.ca.gov/WAAS/images/ApplicationReceivedLetter.jpg

In which you can see that you now have application tracking system (ATS) number.

This number is very important because you will later on be able to follow your case by entering it in this page
https://www2.mbc.ca.gov/WAAS/

Once you get a number you will be assigned an application analyst. They have people assigned to the first letter of your last name. For example if your last name is James then the person in charge with the "J" letter will be in charge of your case.

Most of these clerks are friendly, supportive, and helpful. They will respond to your emails and telephone contacts promptly and professionally.

Once you know who's your assigned clerk, keep his/her contact info handy as you will frequently need to be in contact with him/her for various issues and most importantly to expedite your letter should the match season starts and you don't have it yet.

Although the complete list of required documents is more than what's mentioned so far but the above steps are enough to get you into the process.

It's recommended that you complete the above steps early in April so that you enter their system so that later on updating your case with exam scores and med school papers get considerably shorter time to finish and you will be able to apply to California programs in September.

Here's a screenshot of the latest required documents:
Font Material property Number Document Screenshot

click to enlarge

The Next Step is to fill out and send L2, L3A, L3B, L4 and L5:

L3A and L3B and L4: these forms have to be filled when you finish your residency and you want to apply for a California license (to practice). It's not needed when you apply for PTAL.
L6: is needed if you have attended clinical training and clerkships outside your core primary medical school training (a big example here is Caribbean medical schools where they usually send their students for clerkships in US)

L2 Form should be completed and signed by your medical school
L5 Form should be completed and singed by you medical school

A very important point about L5 Form:
The most common reason of IMG rejection is the number of psychiatry hours during your core medical curriculum, make sure to send them a total of at least 80 hours of psychiatry rotations. If your medical school curriculum did not meet this requirement then you have to top up your application with a certified psychiatry clerkship here in the US in order to get it through.
Another big advice regarding from L5 is to try to find a colleague from your school who has done it before and got accepted. This way you can adjust the number of hours in lieu with what he/she has done, of course changing the dates as appropriate if does not match yours.

The Next Step is to send them your exam scores:

for exam scores go here
http://www.mbc.ca.gov/applicant/exam_scores.html

You need to have passed both Step 1 and Step 2 CK before your are granted a California letter. However, my advice is that you can start the application above (L1A-L1E + Finger Printing + Fees) before you have passed these exams. This will buy you sometime, so that then you can just update them with your exam scores which should not take a long time. So for example start the application in February then when your exam scores are ready in July or August you can update them with the scores and your letter would be ready in September or October otherwise if you start the application in July-August you may not get the letter until February or March next year jeopardizing your potential match in a California program

The Next Step is to send them your Medical School Transcript and Degree (Diploma):

In their instructions they mention that your medical school should send to MBC directly (not through you) certified copies of your transcript and degree. Certified copies means that the photocopy should be stamped (true copy of original) and sealed with the college stamp and signed by the authorized school official.

The previous paragraph is the ideal situation. However, if you are having difficulty with your medical school sending the transcript and the degree (diploma) then the alternative is that you yourself send them the original documents along with translated copies (if they were not in English). In their official instructions they don't mention that but in reality they do accept this method as I have experienced (and several friends of mine) such a scenario with them.

What you can do if the letter is not yet out and you started applying for the match in ERAS?

You can scan the receipt notice that you received and send to ECFMG for scanning. This is considered equivalent to the original letter by most California programs. However, they'll ask you to bring the final letter when you appear for the interview. At the time of the interview you should have completed all the requirements.
 
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#3 ·
thank u a whole bunch!

and here i thought it was very confusing. but this is very easy to understand. so if we have california in mind, all we need is this PTAL and to get Matched. what about electives? is it recommended that we do our electives in california. and for electives, do we need this PTAL too?
 
#4 ·
Re: what about electives

what about electives? is it recommended that we do our electives in california. and for electives, do we need this PTAL too?
Electives anywhere in the US (including California) and in a recognized University or University-affiliated programs are going to be extremely helpful.

No. You don't need California letter in order to attain electives in California.
 
#12 ·
#13 ·
hello Sabio and Takumi

Hi! Thank you for the detailed, step-by-step guide Sabio!

I am an IMG, a greencard holder, have taken steps 1 and 2CK, and will be taking the step 2CS this month. I currently reside in California.

Until recently, I had crossed off California from my list of states to apply to because I was overwhelmed with all the requirements needed to get the PTAL.

Just today I decided that I want to apply in CA after all--or at least give it a shot--since this state is my top choice.

I'm having a bit of trouble with the time table.
My questions are:
Is it too late for me to apply for the PTAL?
If I am able to submit my L1A-L1E documents and do the fingerprinting within the next month, will I still be able to receive the letter on time?
What if my L2 and L5 won't be completed until about late July (as I would have to return to the Philippines for that), would that be too late?

I would really appreciate any advice on this.

Thank you so much!
 
#14 ·
Yes.. still there's time

Hi! Thank you for the detailed, step-by-step guide Sabio! .........advice on this.

Thank you so much!
Yes, I think you still have time. Do the L1A-L1E as soon as possible.

In ERAS you can send the online receipt as an enough evidence that you applied and you won't need the actual letter until the interviews which can be as late as January.

You don't need to go back to your country for L2 and L5. You can send them the forms via mail and they can return them by mail to the Medical board of California.
 
#25 ·
HI sabio
thanks for your post.
L1E: This form you have to sign in front of the Notary Public who should put his seal and signature in addition to yours. (this can be done by a Notary public in my own country or one in the states?)

.Do you have a model of certificate of completion of clinical courses, in my academic trasncript it appears per credits, im from Peru. Also i just have a certified copy of my medical transcript c, can i send it?

.they said in one link you add that they need the score report send by the reporter office . can i print it and give it by myself?

thank you ,those are my concerns so far.
 
#26 ·
Answers


Here are answers to your questions:
-Yes you can sign the L1E form in Peru and send it by mail.
-I don't have an example of the clinical courses and how to be filled, just fill them up exactly as you did them in med school and you will be fine.
-Certified copy of the transcript won't work, they want the original.
-You cannot send them the USMLE score, they have to take it directly either from the ECFMG of the FCVS.
 
#27 ·
Dear Sabio

I found your review extremely useful and that was my motivation for do more research and i found this link

http://fm.mednet.ucla.edu/IMG/residency/PTAL.asp#forml5

is a step by step process explanation , including how to do the l5 and the other letters , and include picturesss!!!!! wich make it very didactic and i think more doable.

thank you again dear sabio and i hope this link help the people looking for do this ptal.
 
#34 · (Edited)
I am in the same boat guys.. Do we have to fill the 14,15 Q in for L1B? though this post say no need to in the 1st page. but I read in other forum somebody got rejected for this reason.

@sabio : Do I need to ask them, If I want to send my original diploma and transcript to california med/board?
If yes, what is the safest method to send these original?
I don't reside in california, how much time does it take if I use the paper fingerprint cards?
 
#35 ·
Answers to your questions


--You have to answer Questions 14 and 15 in Form L1B. If it is not applicable to you, write N/A and check the NO answers to all questions in item 14.
--Yes, the need the original Diploma and transcript, you need to send it via courier such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, ..etc
--If you use the paper fingerprint cards, it will take at least three weeks.
 
#40 · (Edited)
Regarding My NAme for the PTAL

Hey Sabio thanks for the valuable info you always provide :)

I want to ask in regards to name, in my medical school my name is ______ but after I graduated I got my citizenship my name got changed, regarding the L5 my college will probably not recognize this name change, so do I write my name on the L5 as the one I had during college?
And continue the rest of the application with my new name providing them with a copy of my name change??

Please help, thanks
 
#41 ·
Hey Sabio thanks for the valuable info you always provide :)

I want to ask in regards to name, in my medical school my name is Erene Samir Ehsan but after I graduated I got my citizenship my name got changed, regarding the L5 my college will probably not recognize this name change, so do I write my name on the L5 as the one I had during college?
And continue the rest of the application with my new name providing them with a copy of my name change??

Please help, thanks
Yes. That sounds good.

-
 
#47 ·
Holly SSN!!!

hi
i dont have ssn for registration so what i should do.:confused:
It seems that if you dont have SSN they will not process the application.
Nobody say this clear, I mean, even Sabio, being wise, mentioned this:
"Of course you click on the first time users link
thereafter you choose a username and password, email, mailing address, SSN (optional), and a credit card to be charged later on." :confused:


If you try to apply online the option is NOT OPTIONAL, it is mandatory and you are not allowed to continue if you dont provide a SSN. :mad:

The fact is that they are free to put the requierements they love, this should be more public.
I -for example- started all the proper papers and docuents, send them off.. and when I tried to pay...I discover this. :eek:

It is unfair, but they can do it.
 
#48 ·
Requirement for California letter

Dear All,
My Name is Dr. Bhagyalakshmi ( Pediatrician ) graduated from India.
My Query are,
a) Do I need this California letter for doing Residency in any other state other than California
b) I Have completed my Diploma in Child Health(DCH) in India , which is a 2 year post graduation program after Medical Degree. Will I be eligible to take up Fellowship program in California or USA. If Yes, Please help me with the procedure or any pointers.

Thank you,
Dr Bhagya
 
#49 ·
fellowship

Carlifornia letter is only for that state

To do fellowship you have give all usmle steps , with out doing residency its difficult to get fellowship in USA , wait seniors advice

Dear All,
My Name is Dr. Bhagyalakshmi ( Pediatrician ) graduated from India.
My Query are,
a) Do I need this California letter for doing Residency in any other state other than California
b) I Have completed my Diploma in Child Health(DCH) in India , which is a 2 year post graduation program after Medical Degree. Will I be eligible to take up Fellowship program in California or USA. If Yes, Please help me with the procedure or any pointers.

Thank you,
Dr Bhagya
 
#51 ·
Hello, everybody
I've been searching lately for more information about the PTAL and found this forum very useful. However I'm still confused about the clinical weeks requirement. Section 2089.5 of the California Law mentions nothing about how many clinical hours are considered in a week, it only mentions weeks, but yes, I have read on several sites/forums about the 32h/week calculation. The problem is I meet the number of weeks requirement for all core clinical courses but the number of hours that shows on my transcript (btw, my transcript shows the no. of hours for each course broken down in lectures and practice, nothing is in weeks) for certain courses is less than the minimum no of hours calculated based on the 32h/week. That's because in our medical school we had about 20h/week of clinical practice (acctually I'm still not very certain about how the hours were calculated on my transcript, I will have to check on that). If I fill out weeks on Form L5 will they notice the discrepancy with my transcript? On the other hand if I fill "weekly hours" I will probably be deficient...Anybody else faced with this issue?
 
#52 ·
When will I get my PTAL?

Thank You Sabio for making it easy for the new applicants like me to know about PTAL. I am planning send my L1A-E forms by 2day. I contacted the California board regarding the fingerprint materials, they told they will mail them to my address. I had a doubt. When should I send my degree to the California Board. Approximately how long will it take for me to get the PTAL if I send my formL1A-E now.
Thanks!!
 
#53 ·
Thank You Sabio for making it easy for the new applicants like me to know about PTAL. I am planning send my L1A-E forms by 2day. I contacted the California board regarding the fingerprint materials, they told they will mail them to my address. I had a doubt. When should I send my degree to the California Board. Approximately how long will it take for me to get the PTAL if I send my formL1A-E now.
Thanks!!
Average is three months.

-
 
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