The Medical Board of California currently lists a physician license renewal fee of $1,151, per the board's published fee schedule. California is not currently an IMLC compact member, so physicians who are not already licensed in the state apply directly through the board rather than through the compact's expedited pathway.
What the fee covers
The renewal fee is a standard part of maintaining an active California medical license and is separate from any CME course costs, background check fees, or fees associated with a first-time application. It does not vary based on specialty or practice setting.
CURES registration is a separate requirement
California requires physicians who prescribe controlled substances to register with CURES, the state's prescription drug monitoring program, before prescribing Schedule II through IV substances, with a mandatory query required before treating a new patient and periodically thereafter. This is administered separately from license renewal and carries its own registration process through the California Department of Justice.
See current California telehealth requirements →License renewal and CURES registration are two separate obligations in California — completing one does not satisfy the other.
Audio-only and informed consent
California permits audio-only telehealth and requires informed consent for telehealth encounters generally. Physicians relying on audio-only visits should still expect to document consent in the same way they would for a video encounter.
Fee schedules and renewal cycles are set by the board and can change — always confirm current requirements directly with the relevant state board or agency before making a compliance decision.