Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes in the Department of Consumer Affairs the Podiatric Medical Board of California to license and regulate podiatrists. Existing law, the Physician Assistant Practice Act, establishes in the Department of Consumer Affairs the Physician Assistant Board to license and regulate physician assistants. Existing law repeals the provisions establishing those boards on January 1, 2026, and specifies the repeal of those provisions renders those boards subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.
This bill would extend the operation of those boards until January 1, 2030.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to use certain terms or letters indicating or implying that a person is a doctor of podiatric medicine without holding a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended certificate to practice podiatric medicine.
This bill would include in those provisions the use of the term "podiatric surgeon." The bill would state that it is the policy of this state that a doctor of podiatric medicine shall not be classified or treated as an ancillary provider in any health care setting or insurance reimbursement structure for any purpose.
Existing law requires the Podiatric Medical Board of California to issue a certificate to practice podiatric medicine by credentialing if an applicant has submitted to the board from the credentialing organization verification that they are licensed as a doctor of podiatric medicine in any other state if the applicant has passed specified examinations, and requires the applicant to have passed those examinations within the past 10 years.
This bill would delete the requirement that the applicant pass those examinations within the past 10 years.
Existing law establishes specified fees applicable to certificates to practice podiatric medicine, including a biennial renewal fee of $1,318, a $100 fee for a duplicate wall certificate, a $50 for a duplicate renewal receipt fee, and a $30 endorsement fee.
This bill would increase the biennial renewal fee to $1,950, would instead establish a $100 fee for a duplicate certificate, and would delete the duplicate renewal receipt and endorsement fees.
Existing law establishes various fees for physician assistants, including a $25 application fee, a $250 initial license fee, a $300 biennial license renewal fee, a $25 delinquency fee, and a $10 fee for a letter of endorsement, letter of standing, or letter of verification of licensure.
This bill would instead establish an $80 application fee, a $500 initial license fee, a $500 biennial license renewal fee, a $75 delinquency fee, and a $50 fee for a letter of endorsement, letter of good standing, or letter of verification of licensure.
This bill would correct cross-references and make other technical changes to the Physician Assistant Practice Act and the provisions of the Medical Practice Act applicable to podiatrists.

Statutes affected:
AB 1501: 2460 BPC, 2460.1 BPC, 2470 BPC, 2472 BPC, 2499.5 BPC
02/24/25 - Introduced: 2460 BPC, 2460.1 BPC, 2470 BPC, 2472 BPC, 2499.5 BPC
04/30/25 - Amended Assembly: 2460 BPC, 2460.1 BPC, 2470 BPC, 2472 BPC, 2474 BPC, 2474 BPC, 2488 BPC, 2488 BPC, 2499.5 BPC, 3504 BPC, 3504 BPC, 3521.1 BPC, 3521.1 BPC