ARTICLE 9. Inactive License [700. - 704.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 9.

in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 700. Section 700.

It is the intent of the Legislature to establish in this article an inactive category of health professionals’ licensure. Such inactive licenses or certificates are intended to allow a person who has a license or certificate in one of the healing arts, but who is not actively engaged in the practice of his or her profession, to maintain licensure or certification in a nonpracticing status.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 701. Section 701.

(a) As used in this article, “board” refers to any healing arts board, division, or examining committee which licenses or certifies health professionals. (b) Each healing arts board referred to in this division shall issue, upon application and payment of the normal renewal fee, an inactive license or certificate to a current holder of an active license or certificate whose license or certificate is not suspended, revoked, or otherwise punitively restricted by that board.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 702. Section 702.

The holder of an inactive healing arts license or certificate issued pursuant to this article shall not do any of the following: (a) Engage in any activity for which an active license or certificate is required. (b) Represent that he or she has an active license.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 703. Section 703.

(a) An inactive healing arts license or certificate issued pursuant to this article shall be renewed during the same time period at which an active license or certificate is renewed. In order to renew a license or certificate issued pursuant to this article, the holder thereof need not comply with any continuing education requirement for renewal of an active license or certificate. (b) The renewal fee for a license or certificate in an active status shall apply also for renewal of a license or certificate in an inactive status, unless a lower fee has been established by the issuing board.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 704. Section 704.

In order for the holder of an inactive license or certificate issued pursuant to this article to restore his or her license or certificate to an active status, the holder of an inactive license or certificate shall comply with all the following: (a) Pay the renewal fee; provided, that the renewal fee shall be waived for a physician and surgeon who certifies to the Medical Board of California that license restoration is for the sole purpose of providing voluntary, unpaid service to a public agency, not-for-profit agency, institution, or corporation which provides medical services to indigent patients in medically underserved or critical-need population areas of the state. (b) If the board requires completion of continuing education for renewers of an active license or certificate, complete continuing education equivalent to that required for a single license renewal period.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026