How to Get Credentialed with Medi-Cal in California
Quick Overview
Timeline
60 - 90 days
CAQH
Not Required
Re-credentialing
Every 5 year(s)
Delegated
No
Who Runs California Medicaid Provider Enrollment
50-state researchEnrollment Portal
PAVE (Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment)
Operated By
California DHCS (state operated)
Platform
PAVE
California runs provider enrollment itself through the DHCS Provider Enrollment Division rather than a commercial fiscal agent, one of only three states with a fully public operating model.
Go to the official California enrollment portalFrom PayerReady's 50-state Medicaid enrollment platform research, verified July 2026. Portal contracts change; where an operator is in transition or not publicly confirmed, we say so rather than guess.
California-Specific Requirements
Medicaid Information: California
Agency: Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)
Program: Medi-Cal
Portal: https://pave.dhcs.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 323-1945
Step-by-Step Enrollment Process
Gather Required Documents
Collect all necessary credentials including your medical license, DEA certificate, malpractice insurance, NPI number, and any state-specific requirements for California.
Prepare Your Application
Complete Medi-Cal's provider enrollment application with all required information and supporting documentation.
Submit Your Application
Submit your completed enrollment package to Medi-Cal.
Track & Follow Up
Credentialing typically takes 60-90 days. Monitor your application status and respond promptly to requests for additional information.
Free Consultation
Need help enrolling with Medi-Cal?
Our specialists handle the entire Medi-Cal enrollment process: applications, follow-ups, and approvals in California.
Required Documents Checklist
Background Check
Federal/state background check required for Medicaid enrollment
CV/Resume
Work history required
FINGERPRINT_CLEARANCE
ConditionalRequired for high-risk provider types
Fingerprinting required for high-risk provider types
Malpractice Insurance
ConditionalRequired in most states; some state programs waive for government employees
Medical License
NPI Certificate
Enrollment Forms
Medi-Cal PAVE Enrollment
RequiredFree Tools for Your Medi-Cal Enrollment
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Key Credentialing Terms
- Capitation
- A payment model where a payer pays a provider a fixed amount per member per month regardless of whether the member recei...
- CAQH
- The Council for Affordable Quality Health Care, an organization that maintains a universal provider database (CAQH ProVi...
- Credentialing
- The process of verifying a healthcare provider's qualifications, training, licensure, and professional background to ens...
- Effective Date
- The date on which a provider's enrollment or network participation becomes active, allowing them to begin billing a paye...
- Managed Care
- A healthcare delivery system organized to manage cost, utilization, and quality through techniques such as provider netw...
- Network Adequacy
- The requirement that a health plan's provider network has enough providers in each specialty and geographic area to give...
- NPI
- The National Provider Identifier is a unique 10-digit identification number issued by CMS to healthcare providers, requi...
- Primary Source Verification
- The process of verifying a provider's credentials directly from the original issuing source, such as medical schools, li...
Credentialing Checklist
Make sure you have everything ready before applying to Medi-Cal.
View Physician Credentialing Checklist →Contact Information
Provider Credentialing
National(916) 323-1945
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Provider Services
National(916) 323-1945
Claims & Billing
National(916) 323-1945
Quick Links
Reviewed by the PayerReady Credentialing Team
Our credentialing specialists verify every article against current CMS regulations, NCQA standards, and payer-specific enrollment requirements. See our editorial process.