Telemedicine Physician Jobs in California
Find work opportunities and resources for telemedicine physician jobs in California.
California’s health workforce is facing dire shortages, and the gap between available physicians and patients seeking care continues to grow. According to research published by the Healthforce Center at UC-San Francisco, about one third of doctors in the state are over the age of 55 and looking to retire soon, and there are not enough new physicians to take their place.
The growing demand for doctors in California creates a unique opportunity for those interested in becoming board-certified physicians. With the recent boom in telemedicine, there have never been more opportunities to practice virtual care and work from home. Read on to learn the necessary steps to become a remote physician in California.
How To Become a Remote Physician in California
It’s important to note that virtual care physicians need to obtain the same qualifications and are held to the same standards as their peers who practice in an in-person health care facility.
The Golden State has a number of open remote physician jobs. To become eligible for one of these positions, you need to graduate from medical school and follow the traditional training path to become a board-eligible or board-certified doctor.
These are the steps to become a telehealth physician in California:
Education: After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, aspiring remote physicians in California need to earn a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from an accredited institution.
Exams: Towards the end of medical school, you need to complete the first portion of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).
Residency: After receiving your medical degree, you’ll apply for residency programs in the specialized area of your choice. Candidates with specialities in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and family medicine are highly sought after by telemedicine companies because these types of doctors typically treat a variety of conditions and patient demographics.
Become licensed to practice medicine in California: To become a licensed medical doctor in this state, it’s necessary to pass the final portion of the USMLE exam. Those seeking licensure as a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine will need to complete the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). Finally, you must apply for physician licensure through the California State medical board. The application fee for medical licensure in California is $491.
Board certification: To become a board-certified MD or DO, you have to pass the ABMS exam. Note that certain telehealth positions do require physicians to be board certified.
Requirements for Remote Physicians in California
Practicing as a remote physician is an ideal way to supplement your income while keeping a flexible schedule. In California, there are a number of full-time and part-time work-from-home opportunities available for MDs and DOs.
Licensed, board-certified physicians can choose which type of telehealth position suits them best, whether they live in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, or anywhere else in the state.
Before you apply for a telemedicine position, here’s what you should know about this role:
Work-from-home physicians: The same standard of care is expected whether you practice virtual care or see patients in an in-person healthcare facility. The biggest difference is in how remote physicians conduct consults with their patients. Practicing virtual care requires you to utilize technology to complete synchronous (video or phone) and asynchronous (chat) patient visits. It’s important to remember that you can only see patients remotely who are physically located in the state where you have a license to practice.
Additional training: The standard of care in telemedicine is the same as with in-person care. There is no specific, state-mandated training required to practice as a remote physician in California. However, you may want to take one of the onboarding programs offered by telemedicine companies that educate clinicians on the latest technology and platforms used in telehealth. These companies also typically provide best practices for good webside manner.
Necessary documentation: When you’re ready to apply for remote positions, make sure to update your resume and gather documentation that shows your education and credentials.
Companies hiring remote physicians often post open positions on Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. Checking these job posting sites is a great way to start your search for virtual care opportunities. Wheel matches physicians with virtual work and has a variety of open positions for remote MDs and DOs in California. Check out this article for advice on how to evaluate telehealth job opportunities in primary care.
How Wheel Works
Wheel is the simplest and most flexible way to access multiple telehealth companies with one platform. We empower psychotherapists like you to build your practice around your schedule and your life. Here, working in virtual care is easy.
Work remotely on your schedule
Design your clinical practice around your life without over-committing to shifts that don’t meet your needs. You design the schedule that works for you.
A variety of care opportunities
With Wheel, we make it simple for you to work with as many virtual care companies as you want, giving you the diversity of conditions and treatment areas you would experience in a clinic setting.
Virtual care made simple
Avoid the hassle of juggling telehealth companies yourself. WIth Wheel, you have one schedule, one contract, and one credentialing process. It’s that easy.
"I grew very tired of the limitations of a purely hospital-based practice. I desired more freedom to work where and when I wanted. I wanted to be able to work while at home, on trips, or on vacation if I thought that would be appropriate. And I wanted to spend more time with my family. Telemedicine allows me to do all of that. I no longer feel the pressure to coordinate my work schedule with my wife’s work schedule months in advance. Our kid isn’t in daycare as often and I have much more freedom to be more of a dad and husband. I still work as an ED doc, but can do it on my terms now."
- Andrew K., Emergency Medicine Physician and Wheel Clinician, California
Join the team today!
We understand that physician burnout is real — that’s why our mission is to change the way healthcare works by focusing on clinicians. Join our team of virtual care physicians and find a better way to work.