Completion of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program leading to a degree is dependent upon student performance and success. The requirements for licensure in the profession are established by the state where licensure is sought. Completion of the educational program and obtaining a degree does not by itself guarantee licensure. Students are expected to remain current with other licensing requirements, including but not limited to the national COMLEX licensure examination and technical standards they may be required to meet in order to be licensed by the state in which they seek to practice.
California Licensure Eligibility
Information regarding the Osteopathic Medical Board of California (OMBC) Post-Graduate Training License can be found at: https://www.ombc.ca.gov. The Osteopathic Medical Board of California (OMBC) is located at 1300 National Drive, Suite 150, Sacramento, CA 95834.
To be eligible for a Postgraduate Training License, an applicant must be enrolled in a California Postgraduate residency training program. A Postgraduate Training License (PTL) must be obtained within 180 days after enrollment in an American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) or Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited postgraduate training program in California. The PTL will be valid until 90 days after a trainee has successfully completed 36 months of postgraduate training at which point a full and unrestricted physician and surgeon certificate must be obtained in order to continue providing clinical services in California.
To be eligible for a PTL, applicants must have their programs submit proof that the applicant is enrolled in an AOA or ACGME accredited postgraduate training program in California using Form OMB 23. Applicants who complete their postgraduate training in multiple programs must complete at least 2 years at one program of the 36 months. They are required to obtain a PTL for any portion of the 36 months residency located in California. Applicants who are enrolled in a California residency program in their third year must apply and obtain a Postgraduate Training License to participate in their residency. There are no guest residency licenses. All residency trainees must have a Postgraduate Training License to practice in their residency training programs. Applicants must have received all of the osteopathic medical school education from and graduated from a U.S. osteopathic medical school accredited by the AOA’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and document on the OMB.22 application form. To meet the examination requirements, the applicant must have taken and passed the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Inc. (NBOME) Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-US) levels 1, 2 Cognitive Evaluation (CE) 2 - PTLApplicationInstructions.docx and 2 Performance Evaluation (PE)—applicant must request that NBOME send exam scores directly to OMBC. Before the OMBC can issue a PTL, fingerprint clearances must be received from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Disclosure of a United States Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is mandatory prior to the issuance of a PTL. Section 30 of the Business and Professions Code authorizes collection of an SSN or ITIN. Section 31 (e) allows the State Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board to share taxpayer information with the Board.