To run a California PA license lookup, go to the Department of Consumer Affairs License Search at search.dca.ca.gov and filter by “Physician Assistant Board.” The tool pulls directly from the Physician Assistant Board’s records and shows whether a physician assistant’s license is active, expired, inactive, suspended, or revoked, along with any disciplinary history on file.1Department of Consumer Affairs. DCA License Search
The Physician Assistant Board (PAB) licenses every PA in the state and operates under the Department of Consumer Affairs.2Physician Assistant Board. About Us – Physician Assistant Board The DCA License Search is the only official public verification tool for California PA credentials. Third-party sites that aggregate licensing data may be outdated or incomplete, so start with the DCA tool whenever the answer matters.
Running the Search
On the search page, open the License Type dropdown and select “Physician Assistant Board.” That restricts results to the correct database.
If you have the PA’s license number, enter it. That is the fastest and most reliable route to a single clean record. If you don’t, search by first and last name. Use the legal name as it appears on the license, not a nickname or shortened version. The search requires an exact match, so a typo or informal variation can return zero results even for a fully licensed PA. Results list each matching record with the current license status and any disciplinary entries.
What Each License Status Means
The status next to a PA’s name tells you whether that person is authorized to practice medicine in California right now.1Department of Consumer Affairs. DCA License Search
Active or Current
An “Active” or “Current” status means the PA holds a valid license and is legally authorized to practice.
Expired
“Expired” means the license term has ended and the PA cannot practice until renewal is complete. California allows a PA to renew an expired license for up to five years after expiration, with a $75 delinquency fee if payment isn’t made within 30 days of the expiration date.3Physician Assistant Board. Renewal Information – Physician Assistant Board A recently expired status sometimes just means a renewal is in progress, but until the status flips back to active the PA is not authorized to practice.
Inactive
A PA can request inactive status from the board if their license is current and not under disciplinary restriction. An inactive PA is not permitted to practice medicine in any capacity while in that status, and the inactive period exempts them from continuing education requirements.4Justia Law. California Code of Regulations Title 16 Division 13.8 Article 8 Section 1399.619 You may see this on PAs who have paused their careers for relocation, family leave, or a change of direction.
Suspended or Revoked
Both “Suspended” and “Revoked” mean the PA is prohibited from practicing. A suspension may run for a set period or be indefinite. Revocation cancels the license, and the PA cannot petition the board for reinstatement until at least three years have passed from the effective date, though the board can allow a petition after two years for good cause.5Physician Assistant Board. Petition for Penalty Relief – Reinstatement, Modification, Termination Reinstatement after that point is not automatic; the PA must satisfy the board that they have been rehabilitated.
Practicing medicine in California without a valid, unsuspended license is a public offense punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, up to one year in county jail, or both. The statute also covers anyone who helps or conspires with an unlicensed person to practice.6California Legislative Information. California Business and Professions Code 2052
Reading Disciplinary Entries
When a record carries disciplinary history, the DCA tool shows what happened. The categories you’ll see include:
- Citation Order. An administrative action for relatively minor violations, usually a fine or an order to correct the problem. Citation orders are not technically disciplinary actions, but they stay on the public record for five years.7Physician Assistant Board. Disciplinary Actions
- Accusation. A formal legal document charging the PA with violating the Practice Act. An accusation signals a pending disciplinary case; it does not mean the PA has been found to have done anything.7Physician Assistant Board. Disciplinary Actions
- Revoked, Stayed, Probation. The board ordered revocation but postponed it. The PA may keep practicing only while meeting specific probation conditions, and violating those conditions triggers the original revocation.7Physician Assistant Board. Disciplinary Actions
When an action is present, the record usually links to the full decision document, which spells out the violation, the evidence, and the penalty imposed. If you see a probation entry, read that document. The label alone tells you very little about what the PA did or how serious the board considered it.
What the Lookup Doesn’t Cover
The DCA License Search confirms licensure and standing. It won’t tell you where the PA went to school, their clinical specialty, or how long they’ve been practicing. It also doesn’t show whether the PA holds national certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), which administers the PANCE exam required for licensure in all U.S. states.8NCCPA. Become Certified National certification status is a separate check with the NCCPA.
The federal NPI Registry at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov is a different tool for a different purpose. It provides a PA’s 10-digit National Provider Identifier, name, specialty classification, and practice address, and it explicitly warns that having an NPI does not mean the provider is licensed or credentialed.9NPPES NPI Registry. NPPES NPI Registry Use the NPI Registry to confirm a practice location or billing identity; use the DCA search to confirm legal authority to practice.
If the Search Returns No Results
A blank result doesn’t necessarily mean the PA is unlicensed. The usual culprit is a name mismatch. The system requires an exact match on what you enter, so try searching by last name only if the full name doesn’t work. Check for name variations too, since a PA who married or divorced may be licensed under a different surname than the one they use professionally.
Newly issued licenses and recent status changes can take a short time to appear. If a PA says they just received the license or just renewed, give it a few business days before concluding something is off.
If multiple search variations fail, contact the Physician Assistant Board at (916) 561-8780 or through the contact form on its website.10Physician Assistant Board. Contact Us – Physician Assistant Board Board staff can confirm licensure status and help resolve discrepancies the online tool can’t explain.
Filing a Complaint After a Lookup
If the lookup turns up concerning information, or if you have had a negative experience with a PA, you can file a complaint with the Physician Assistant Board. The board investigates complaints involving PAs and has authority to discipline their licenses.11Physician Assistant Board. Complaint Information
Complaints must be submitted in writing except in special circumstances. You can file online through the board’s complaint portal, by mail using a downloadable PDF form, or by fax. Include the PA’s name and license number, the date and location of the incident, any witnesses, and copies of supporting documents such as medical records or correspondence. The more specific the complaint, the more effectively the board can investigate. For questions about the process before filing, the Central Complaint Unit can be reached at (916) 576-2676.11Physician Assistant Board. Complaint Information