What to Expect in a Disciplinary Hearing for Your Professional License

If you find yourself facing a disciplinary hearing for your professional license, you may be feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to expect. This process can be daunting, but understanding the basics of a disciplinary hearing can help ease some of your concerns. Your livelihood is at stake, and it’s important to take this process seriously. Working with a Southern California license defense lawyer can help you be proactive and take charge of this process. Call the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates license defense law firm at 562-216-2944 to set up a consultation now.
There are many professional licensing boards in California, and there are bound to be differences in how complaints and concerns are handled between different professions. However, the general disciplinary hearing process is fairly similar across most industries. The goal is to balance the safety of the public with the severity of the complaint received and the board’s belief regarding the individual’s ability to learn and improve from the situation. Some of California’s licensing boards include the Board of Accountancy, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Medical Board of California, and Board of Psychology.
Understanding the Basics of a Disciplinary Hearing
A disciplinary hearing involves board professionals who gather to hear the evidence and decide if a professional did something wrong in their job. It’s a step-by-step process that happens when there’s a complaint or concern about someone’s work behavior or ethics. It’s more formal than a meeting, but less formal than a traditional court hearing. You’ll generally get the chance to present your evidence, explain your side of the story, and describe any extenuating circumstances that may have led to the situation at hand, often with the support of a professional license defense attorney.
The Role of Evidence and Testimonies
In a disciplinary hearing for your professional license, evidence and testimonies are often the backbone of the entire process. Evidence includes anything from emails and documents to records that can prove what happened. Testimonies, on the other hand, are when people actually speak about what they know or saw. This could be from coworkers, clients, patients, or others with direct involvement in the complaint. They tell their side of the story, adding more depth and context to the evidence. It’s crucial because it gives the panel or board a clearer understanding of the situation from different perspectives. The board is trained not only to consider what each witness says, but to consider each witness’s credibility and how consistent their story has been.
Potential Outcomes of a Disciplinary Hearing
The results of a disciplinary hearing can take several directions, based on the details of your case. You might receive a warning, which is essentially a formal “be careful moving forward.” This is the best outcome, as you basically avoid further disciplinary action as long as you stick to the rules going ahead. Fines are also possible, where you’re required to pay a certain amount of money as a penalty. If your infraction was serious but not serious enough to warrant the loss of your career, you may be placed on probation or be required to work under supervision.
In more severe situations, your license could be suspended, meaning you’re temporarily not allowed to practice your profession. The most serious consequence is having your license revoked or permanently taken away. Each of these outcomes can significantly impact your career path.
What Does the Board Think?
Having a professional license defense attorney during this process is helpful, as they can explain the specific process for your licensing board, be honest with you about the severity of the claims against you, and help you know what potential outcomes are most likely. In some cases, these meetings are a formality and the board already basically knows how they want to proceed. For example, if the complaint against you is minor but does require them to investigate, they may already know that they will either assess a small fine or issue a warning. On the other end of the scale, if the complaint against you is severe and well-backed up by evidence—consider someone licensed by the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau who conducts a large-scale fraud scheme against clients—they may already know that they are going to revoke your license permanently. Most cases fall somewhere in the middle, giving you room to advocate for yourself and make your case.
Choose the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates
At our license defense law firm, our team of experienced lawyers understands how crucial your professional license is to both your career and your personal identity. We’re committed to finding the facts and helping you choose the best path forward. In severe cases resulting in criminal charges, we can also provide criminal defense services. Let’s discuss your case now by calling us at 562-216-2944.

Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.