Licenses and the Law Series, Part III: Who Can File a Complaint

In addition, this article was co-authored by former Attorneys Lindsey Vechik Peyton Hildebrand.

As we explained in our previous two articles, most licensing boards will “serve” the licensee with a copy of the complaint that it receives and request the licensee’s response.

A complaint against a professional license can generally come from anyone, including a licensee’s former client, a relative, law enforcement, the licensee’s coworkers, or even the licensee himself.[1]  Some licensing boards even allow for board-initiated complaints.  The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling and Marriage & Family Therapy (“Counseling Board”) is an example.  Per the Counseling Board’s rules, “[t]he Board may, on its own motion or recommendation by the subcommittee, initiate its own complaint and conduct an investigation of a suspected violation if reasonable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred.”[2]

Usually, licensing boards in Arkansas require a complainant to submit a formal written complaint to the licensing board as opposed to a verbal complaint.  Many boards have websites in which the complainant can directly complete a complaint.  

The Nursing Board, for example, requires that the complaint “be via written document or submitted online.”[3]  Similarly, the Medical Board does not accept verbal complaints.  For the Medical Board, complaints must be mailed or faxed to the Medical Board.  The Counseling Board also requires complaints to be in writing.  In addition, this board specifically requires the writing to be on the complaint form that it provides at the Counseling Board’s office or its website.[4]   

When a complainant includes contact information, some boards may contact the complainant for more information.  The Nursing Board will contact the complainant when the complaint lacks sufficient information to identify the nurse accused of violating the Nurse Practice Act.

Some boards allow for a complainant to file a complaint anonymously, while others require the complainant to sign the complaint and include identifying information so that the board can contact him or her.  For example, the Nursing Board allows for anonymous complaints to be filed.  In contrast, the Medical Board requires the complainant’s full name and return address as well as the complainant’s signature.  The Counseling Board’s form requires the complainant’s signature affirming the truth of the information provided in the complaint.

Currently, Arkansas administrative law does not guarantee licensees the right to know who his or her accuser is or to confront him or her in the hearing, but that does not prohibit licensing boards from instilling these requirements themselves.

Because all of these boards have various requirements and rules, it is important to hire an attorney who will preserve your defenses throughout the process.