What are the common requirements to become a surrogate in California?
There is no single checklist used by every U.S. surrogacy program or fertility clinic. Programs commonly review age, prior pregnancy and birth history, current health, medications, BMI or other health measures, psychosocial readiness, practical support, medical records and whether another pregnancy appears medically appropriate. A preliminary application is only a first screen and does not replace clinic clearance.
If you want the detailed screening overview, read the surrogate requirements guide. If BMI is a concern, see surrogate BMI requirements. You can also review factors that may lead to additional review, delay or decline.
How much can a surrogate in California make?
Compensation is not one fixed number for an entire state. Base compensation, allowances, reimbursements and event-specific payments can differ by program, experience, location, insurance situation, the agreement and individual circumstances. Experienced surrogates may be offered a different structure than first-time surrogates, and advertised totals are not always directly comparable.
Before comparing offers, separate base compensation from reimbursements and conditional payments. Review our surrogate compensation guide and 2026 compensation-by-state guide.
What does the process usually look like?
- Learn the common requirements. Review pregnancy-history, medical, BMI, psychosocial and practical screening topics.
- Take a private self-check. Use the educational self-check without submitting personal information.
- Complete a formal review. If you want to move forward, submit your information to Expecting for an initial review.
- Matching and professional screening. A potential match can involve records review, fertility-clinic medical screening and psychosocial evaluation before final clearance.
- Legal and medical process. Independent legal review and the clinic's medical protocol occur before embryo transfer when the arrangement proceeds.
Surrogacy law in California
California has an explicit statutory framework for gestational-surrogacy agreements, including written agreements, independent legal representation for the intended parent or parents and the gestational carrier, timing requirements before medications or embryo transfer, and a court process for parentage when the statutory requirements are satisfied. Your own California attorney should review the agreement, compensation terms, insurance responsibilities, medical-decision provisions and parentage procedure before you sign.
Read the full educational overview of surrogacy laws in California. State law is only one part of whether a particular journey can proceed, and legal advice should come from a qualified attorney familiar with the specific arrangement.
What happens after I apply?
The first review is designed to determine whether it makes sense to continue gathering information. It is not a promise of approval or medical clearance. If the initial information appears compatible with a participating program, additional records and professional screening may be requested. If something requires a closer look, that does not automatically mean you are ineligible because clinic and program criteria can differ.
You do not need to know every detail before you start. The useful first step is to understand the common criteria and decide whether you want a formal review.
Ready to see whether surrogacy could be an option for you?
You can start privately with the educational self-check or continue directly to Expecting for a formal eligibility review.
Surrogate Expert provides educational information only. The formal review is provided by Expecting and is separate from this site. Nothing on this page is medical or legal advice, and eligibility and legal requirements depend on the professionals and facts involved in a specific case.