Fictitious Name Permit

In California, there is a permit called the Fictitious Name Permit that allows doctors to practice under an assumed or false name. While there are rules, such as the name cannot be deceptive or too similar to another issued name, the only requirement is a $50 fee and a renewal fee every other year. Physicians can be issued as many Fictitious Name Permits as they’d like, so long as they fill out a different application for each one and the name on each permit is different. Generally, these permits are used to add a word or phrase at the end of the doctor’s name, such as “Foot and Ankle Treatment” or “Pediatric Specialty”. There are no clear bounds as to what is allowed or excluded.