If your professional license or license application is at risk, our San Diego Professional License Defense Attorney Can Help!

Professional licenses are a requirement for jobs that come with a high level of responsibility and public accountability. Doctors, nurses, real estate agents, lawyers, teachers, accountants and pharmacists are just a few of the professionals who must obtain and hold professional licenses to operate or offer their services to members of the public in California. The applicable licensing boards have strict requirements for obtaining and retaining professional licenses.

Unfortunately, life happens and certain situations in one’s personal or professional life may lead to a license denial, suspension, revocation or, non-renewal. Fraud or misstatements in the application or renewal process, criminal charges, probation, professional negligence and regulatory violations are just some of the reasons why a licensing board could revoke or suspend a professional license. For professionals who rely on these licenses for their livelihood, it is extremely important to challenge a professional license denial, suspension, revocation or non-renewal. Attorney Evan A. Gould has years of experience helping licensed professionals protect their livelihood by protecting their professional licenses.

Assistance to New Applicants

Newer professionals also have challenges obtaining the license needed to pursue their career of choice. The Gould Firm can also assist these individuals in the process of applying for their license particularly when there is a known problem area. We can assist license applicants to disclose background problems on license applications in a manner that will reduce the possibility of a license denial and eliminate problems caused by a failure to disclose. When you are required to disclose prior convictions, disciplinary actions, and other adverse life events, we can help you prepare an application statement with the appropriate content and tone . We can also help to ensure the accuracy of the information being disclosed and in obtaining the documents or records needed to verify the information provided with your application is truthful and accurate.

Why are Professional Licenses Suspended or Revoked?

Licensing authorities are responsible for setting the criteria to obtain and maintain licenses, investigating claims of wrongdoing and taking further action when necessary to protect the public. Licensing boards may refuse, revoke or suspend a professional license for a number of reasons.

Reasons for losing a professional license or triggering an administrative investigation include:

• Gross negligence
• Criminal convictions
• Regulatory violations
• Consumer complaints
• Sting operations
• Fraud in the application
• Conduct involving moral turpitude, and
• Conduct adversely affecting one’s fitness

Licensing authorities will investigate claims of wrongdoing and take further action when they deem it necessary. If the past or ongoing transgression is severe enough, a licensing authority may even refer the matter to the Attorney General’s office for possible criminal prosecution. When the stakes are this high, you need an attorney prepared to fight for you.

What Can I Do if My Professional License Is at Risk?

Because you have a vested interest in your professional license, the regulatory boards, bureaus and commissions must afford you a hearing. It is vital that you contact an attorney as soon as a California administrative law investigation process begins. It is important for you and your attorney to develop a defense strategy before a hearing occurs. Given the permanent harm that losing a license may cause, you must take these allegations and claims against you very seriously. Attorney Evan A. Gould will aggressively defend your professional license. Considering the potential consequences of losing a professional license, and the time and expense to acquire it, you can’t afford not to hire an attorney.

In many cases, Attorney Evan A. Gould can help to reach a settlement with the licensing agency and in some cases, misunderstandings can be cleared up and the charges or “accusations” withdrawn. If your case must be heard by an Administrative Law Judge, Attorney Evan A. Gould may be able to persuade the Judge that justice or the public may be served by other less severe forms of punishment such as a public reproval and or probation.

What Happens at a License Revocation Hearing?

Some licensing board investigations end with a hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). There are procedural steps that occur before an OAH hearing takes place. For example, there is a discovery phase where the parties are able to gather evidence which may eventually be presented or offered during the hearing. OAH hearings are essentially less formal court trials, and can even take place in real courtrooms.

If a settlement cannot be worked out your case will go before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who will presides over the hearing. The ALJ will evaluate the relevant evidence, which could include documentary evidence and witness testimony surrounding the complaint or accusation to determine whether the charges are supported and what will happen with your professional license. There must be clear and convincing evidence of wrongdoing before a licensing authority can revoke your professional license. The conclusion of such a hearing would depend upon the factors unique to your case and the evidence of each side.

Appeals and Reinstatement

If an adverse license decision has already been reached, Attorney Evan A. Gould may be able to assist you in filing an appeal of the licensing authority’s decision. In cases where a former licensee has been rehabilitated or is no longer a risk to the public, Attorney Evan A. Gould can work with you to develop an effective strategy to seek reinstatement of your professional license. Developing such a strategy would of course depend upon the factors relevant to your case and the licensing authority’s reinstatement requirements.

Need Help with a Professional License Issue?

The Gould Firm, is ready to help you protect your license and livelihood with compassion, expertise and skill. We provide representation to employees in license defense and other hearings before all California Department of Consumer Affairs Boards and Bureaus including:

• Board of Accountancy
• Acupuncture Board
• Arbitration Certification
• Program California
• Architects Board
• Athletic Commission of California
• Bureau of Automotive Repair
• Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
• Board of Behavioral Sciences
• Bureau of Cannabis Control
• Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
• Board of Chiropractic Examiners
• Contractors State License Board
• Court Reporters Board
• Dental Board of California
• Dental Hygiene Board of California
• Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists
• Bureau of Household Goods and Services
• Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation
• Landscape Architects Technical Committee
• Medical Board of California
• Naturopathic Medicine Committee
• Board of Occupational Therapy
• Board of Optometry Osteopathic
• Medical Board of California
• Board of Pharmacy Physical Therapy
• Board of California
• Physician Assistant Board
• Podiatric Medical Board of California
• Bureau for Private Post-secondary Education
• Professional Fiduciaries Bureau
• Board of Psychology
• Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers
• Board of Registered Nursing
• Respiratory Care Board
• Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
• Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board
• Structural Pest Control Board
• Veterinary Medical Board
• Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians

Why Do I Need an Administrative Law Attorney When Defending My License?

There are dozens of boards, bureaus and agencies in California, each with its own specialized procedures, rules and regulations. You need legal counsel who is familiar with these procedures if you are going to properly defend your license or certification. Do not attempt to navigate these unchartered waters alone. There is simply too much at stake and too much to lose.

Other Hearings Where Our San Diego Administrative Law Attorney Can Help

We also represent individuals, employees and licensees in hearings before other state or federal agencies including:

Employment Development Department (EDD) – Unemployment Hearings and Appeals California Department of Industrial Relations (DLSE) – Wage Claim Hearings Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – Mediation and Hearings