California medical board discipline, FY 2022-23
The Medical Board of California took 374 administrative actions against physicians in FY 2022-23, about 2.5 for every 1,000 of the 148,769 physician licenses in effect. Probation was the most common outcome, 148 times; 36 licenses were revoked.
Boards publish a new annual report each year. This page shows the FY 2022-23 report, the latest PlainDoctor has transcribed; the board may already have published a newer one on its site.
Probation led, 148 of 374 actions
Source: Medical Board of California Annual Report 2022-2023, page 18 (licenses in effect: page 12).
What each outcome means
- ProbationThe physician may practice under conditions, such as monitoring or limits, for a set period.
- SurrenderThe physician gives up the license, usually while an accusation is pending.
- Public reprimandA formal public letter; the license stays active.
- RevocationThe license is cancelled; the physician may not practice in California.
- Probationary license issuedA new license granted on probation from the start, with conditions attached.
- Probation with suspensionProbation that begins with a period in which the physician may not practice.
Check one physician's record
An order shows on the physician's license record. Search the name on the board's lookup and open the license to read any public documents.
Medical Board of California
Physicians and surgeons (MD) and other professions regulated by the Medical Board of California; other boards use the DCA search.
Other states
PlainDoctor shows a state's discipline figures only after transcribing them from that board's own report, with the page. California is the first. For any physician, DocInfo from the Federation of State Medical Boards lists actions in every state.
Is a board action the same as malpractice?
No. A board action is a licensing decision by the state. A malpractice claim is a civil case; the board may or may not act on it.
Why do boards' numbers differ so much?
Boards count actions differently: some count each order, others each case, and some include interim suspensions. Compare a state with itself over time rather than with another state.
How do I check one California physician?
Search the name on the Medical Board of California license lookup and open the license record to read any public documents. This page shows statewide totals only.
Source: Medical Board of California Annual Report 2022-2023 (mbc.ca.gov), transcribed by PlainDoctor. Aggregate statewide counts only; not a record of any individual. Registry context from CMS NPPES (NPPES files on CMS.gov).
Figures on this page are the state board's own counts from its FY 2022-23 annual report, linked above; PlainDoctor transcribes them and adds per-licensee rates. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of the board's FY 2022-23 annual report.