California Letter Application: Step by Step Guideline

I.- Documents you have to send:

1.-Online application and payment (creating a Username and Password)

• Go to the Medical Board of California web site
• Click Online Licensing Application Payment button
• Click the get started button sign and you will be re directed to a new page.
• Click the first time users and start your online application.
• Create a user ID and Password.
• Follow the steps to complete your personal Information. For this you will need your e mail address, date of birth and Social Security Number (SSN).
• Follow the instructions and complete your payment of $ 505.00.
• Wait for the confirmation and PRINT IT TWICE. One for your personal records and another one for the Medical Board of California.

2.-Fingerprints and Live Scan

For the fingerprints: you have 2 options, cardboard or LiveScan.
Live scan is faster, easy to access and cheap ($12- 25 depends the site)

• Go to the Medical Board of California web site
• Download the Live Scan fingerprints format.
• Complete this format and follow the instructions on it.
• Search for one of the many Live Scan agencies.
• Make your appointment or walk-in and complete the process.
• One of the 3 copies will be take by the operator, the second copy is for your personal records and the third one is for the Medical Board of California.

3.-PTAL Application Forms L1A - L1E

• Go to the Medical Board of California web site.
• Download the Application for the California Letter (PTAL).
• Complete the forms L1A through L1E.
• These forms will ask you for basic Information. You can complete it either by typewriting machine or by hand writing.
• Complete L1A to L1E. You need to notarize L1E. You will need a recent 2" x 3" photo of your head and shoulders too.
• Finally sent:

1.-Online application receipt
2.-Livescan proof of service
3.-Forms L1A - L1E

The Medical Board of California should contact you in no more than 90 days to inform you that they received your initial application. You will need to complete the rest of your application in order to receive your PTAL.


II.- Official Examination Scores mailed DIRECTLY from the reporting agency

• Go to the Federation of State Medical Boards home page.
• Click on Examination Services (on your left) then click on Transcripts .
• You can select (on your left) from online versus paper documents. I suggest online (always faster and green).
• Click "proceed to online form".
• Follow the instructions and pay $50 dollars.
• Please select California Medical Board.
• You can choose to send your score to other State Medical boards if you are completing their licensing process.

Note: Remember you will only do this step when you already have passed Step 1 and Step 2 (including CK and CS). Otherwise you will need to pay again for any pending results. You do not need your USMLE Step 3 to complete this part.

III.- Documents your medical school has to send:

1.- Form L2

• Complete your personal data (name, SSN, DOB) at the top of the form.
• Submit this form to your medical school for completion of all the information.
• The medical school official must affix his/her original signature and the seal of the medical school.
• This form must be mailed directly from the school.

2.- Official Medical school Transcript

• An original official medical school transcript must have the following:
• Prepared on university letterhead.
• Affixed with the signature of the dean/registrar.
• The medical school seal.
• Document all of the basic science and clinical courses completed during the medical curriculum.
• A transcript will need to be provided directly from each institution of attendance and submitted directly to the Medical Board of California.
• If prepared in language other than English will need to be accompanied by an original, official translation.
• This form must be mailed directly from the school.

3.- Certified copy of medical degree

• Submitted DIRECTLY from the medical school.
• To be acceptable shall contain:
• A statement on the reverse side of the copy indicating that it is a true copy of the original degree.
• An original signature of the dean or registrar immediately following the statement verifying authenticity of the copy.
• An official medical school seal affixed to the copy.
• If prepared in language other than English will need to be accompanied by an original, official translation.
• This form must be mailed directly from the school.
  

4.- Form L5

• You have to submit the Form L5 to your medical school for completion of all the information.
• You may print or copy as many L5 forms as necessary to provide a complete breakdown of your undergraduate clinical training.
• Include each and all clinical clerkships.
• Your medical school official must affix his/her original signature and the seal of the medical school.
• Your medical School has to send the forms back to the Medical Board of California.

Note: Clerkships are all your clinical rotations where you have direct contact with patients. Internship in your country could not be the same as in the U.S. In other countries, for example in Peru internship is the last year of clinical training in medical school. Last year medical students are called interns. Here in the U.S. interns are the first year residents.

“Do not set the PTAL application as a complication, a barrier, a hardship… see it as an opportunity to demonstrate how determined you are to become a doctor in California. You will succeed even with all these documents, forms, and applications. Success and ánimo! Sí se puede!!!”

Gilberto Cota M.D.

Note: This post was written by Gilberto Cota M.D. and edited and modified by Victor Castilla M.D.

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Overview: Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) or California Letter Application

The Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL) or California Letter is a document that allows International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to start their training in a residency program in California. IMGs must have this document to be eligible for a residency position in California. The process to obtain this document ranges from 3 months to more than one year.

I.- Who can apply for a PTAL or California Letter?

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) or Medical students from medical schools recognized by the Medical Board of California, otherwise do not waste your time. If your school is not recognized, you will not receive the PTAL.

Note: If your medical school appears on the International Medical Education Directory (IMED), it does not mean that your school is recognized by the Medical Board of California.

Example:

• Peruvian medical schools on IMED: 30
  
• Peruvian medical schools recognized by the Medical Board of California: 7
  

Click this link to make sure you school is approved by the Medical Board of California.

II.- When to apply?

You have to apply as soon as you consider California as one of your top choices for a residency program. The PTAL is a document required by all residency programs in California to consider your ERAS application for the MATCH completed. Without the PTAL your chances to recieve receive invitations for residency interviews are almost zero.

Note: To apply for the PTAL it does not matter if you have or not your USMLE scores. You can start your application even before taking your first USMLE test. Nonetheless, you will only get your PTAL until you pass all the USMLE tests and after you provide all the required documents.

III.- Which documents do you need?

You need the following documents:

1.- Documents you have to send

• Application forms L1A-L1E
  
• Copy of Live Scan form
  
• Copy of receipt of online payment
  

2.- Documents the Federation of State Medical Boards has to send

• Official Examination Scores
  

3.- Documents your medical school has to send

• Form L2
  
• Official Medical school Transcript
  
• Certified copy of medical degree
  
• Form L5
  
• Form L6 (if applicable)
  

Applying to the Post Graduate Authorization Letter (PTAL) is different than to apply for the ECFMG credential verification. You have to consider this a totally different and independent processs.


IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THE PTAL APPLICATION

• California Medical Board
  
• List of International Medicine schools recognized by California
  
• Online Professional Licensing
  
• Livescan Format Application
  
• Livescan Locations
  
• Application for the California Letter (PTAL)
  
• Federation of State Medical Boards
  

We will explain in more detail the steps you have to follow in future posts. If you have questions, you are more than welcome to leave a comment and share your doubts and experiences.

NOTE: This post was written by Gilberto Cota M.D. and modified by Victor Castilla M.D.