If you’re a doctor applying for a medical license in another state, the fingerprinting part usually catches you off guard. Many of the doctors we see have never done ink fingerprints before, and some are applying in several states at once for telemedicine work. Here’s what to expect.
Why Ink Cards and Not a Live Scan?
California’s Live Scan only sends fingerprints to the California DOJ. It can’t send them to another state’s medical board. So the board you’re applying to will want your fingerprints on ink cards that you mail in with your application. Doctors are often surprised by this. Ink feels old-fashioned, but it’s how fingerprints get from California to another state’s board.
Your cards cover both checks. The board sends them through its own state’s law enforcement agency, which runs the state check and searches the FBI database too. It’s the same thing California’s DOJ does when you do a Live Scan here. You don’t need a separate FBI background check on top of it.
Fill Out Every Card, and Sign and Date Each One
Nobody tells doctors this part. Every card has to be filled out completely, and you sign and date each one. A card with a blank field or a missing signature gets sent back, and you start over. Our guide to filling out an FD-258 card walks through every field, and 7 Fingerprint Card Mistakes covers what gets cards rejected.
The ID Form Some Boards Ask For
Some boards want a form signed by the person who took your fingerprints, confirming they checked your ID. Doctors often don’t find out about it until the last minute. Look for it in your board’s packet and bring it to your appointment. We’ll check your ID and sign it.
Applying in Several States?
If you’re getting licensed in several states, you’ll need cards for each board, and each board’s package goes out separately with its own forms. The fingerprinting is the easy part. Keeping every package organized and complete is where it gets hard.
Many doctors use a licensing agent or credentialing service for this, and the good ones give you everything you need. If yours hasn’t explained the fingerprint part, ask the board directly before your appointment.
Sworn Statements and Notarization
Boards often ask you to swear to certain statements in your application. We’re notaries, so we can notarize those at the same appointment as your fingerprints.
Mailing Your Package
Your application package is the cards plus everything else your board asks for, and it’s yours to send. If you’d rather we mail it for you, we can, for an extra fee.
We Come to You
We fingerprint doctors at hospitals, offices and at home. Nurses and other healthcare workers, see our guide for nurses licensing outside California. Here’s one doctor we fingerprinted at a hospital.
Applying for your California license instead? That’s a Live Scan. See our CA Medical Board Live Scan guide.
Call or text (310) 526-0200.
