If I am applying for a California medical license and I receive a letter of pending denial of licensure, what are my options?

California Government Code section 11504 provides that applicants for licensure have a right to a hearing to determine whether they meet the criteria for fitness and licensure. You may request a hearing and a Statement of Issues will be filed and an administrative hearing scheduled with the Office of Administrative Hearings. These hearings are held in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles or San Diego. Prior to a hearing, the Licensing Division of the Medical Board may offer you a probationary license, or you may be given the option of withdrawing your application. Note: Probationary licenses issued by the California Medical Board at initial licensure may not result in permanently reported discipline on the board's California website so long as you successfully fulfill the terms of probation.  This has been a matter of Medical Board staff interpretation of Bus.  & Prof. Code Sections 803.1 and 2027 and could be subject to change. However, board decisions are reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and a record of probation may remain on that site.  However, the Medical Board does inform the NPDB when probation is completed. In any of the above mentioned cases, you may wish to consult legal counsel, who can represent you at an administrative hearing on a Statement of Issues as well as communicate with the Licensing Division prior to hearing on your behalf.  Being on probation may have a negative impact on your ability to practice with some health insurers and Health Maintenance Organizations.

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