California Codes, Business and Professions Code - BPC, Division 2 — Healing Arts, Chapter 5 — Medicine, Article 12 — Enforcement, Section 2274
(a) The use by any licensee of any certificate, of any letter, letters, word, words, term, or terms either as a prefix, affix, or suffix indicating that he or she is entitled to engage in a medical practice for which he or she is not licensed constitutes unprofessional conduct.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a physician and surgeon from using the designations specified in this section if he or she has been issued a retired license under Section 2439.
Notes
Defines a licensee's use of words, letters, terms, prefixes, affixes, suffixes, or certificates implying entitlement to a medical practice for which the licensee is not licensed as unprofessional conduct. Exempts a physician and surgeon using such designations when the physician holds a retired license issued under the referenced provision.
Use as reference
Lexinter.net | California Code, Business and Professions Code - BPC § 2274 | https://laws.lexinter.net/codes/california/business-and-professions-code/division-2/chapter-5/article-12/section-2274