Licensed professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants, contractors, real estate agents, etc.) are regulated by state licensing boards that have the authority to investigate complaints, impose discipline, and revoke licenses. Filing a complaint is free and can result in actions ranging from a warning to license revocation.
17 steps across 2 sections
1. Steps Process
- Identify the correct licensing board — Each profession is regulated by a specific state board:
- Doctors: State Medical Board
- Lawyers: State Bar Association / Attorney Disciplinary Committee
- Dentists: State Board of Dentistry
- Accountants/CPAs: State Board of Accountancy
- Contractors: State Contractors Licensing Board
- Real estate agents: State Real Estate Commission
- Nurses: State Board of Nursing
- Pharmacists: State Board of Pharmacy
- Gather documentation — Collect all relevant evidence: contracts, receipts, medical records, correspondence, photos, and witness statements. Be as specific as possible about dates, times, locations,...
2. Key Details
- Complaints are confidential during investigation in most states
- Filing a complaint does not constitute a lawsuit or guarantee compensation
- Licensing boards can only take administrative action (discipline/license revocation) — they cannot award monetary damages
- For financial compensation, you may need to file a separate civil lawsuit or malpractice claim
- Some professions have client protection funds (e.g., lawyer client security funds) for proven theft or misappropriation
- Anonymous complaints may be accepted but are harder to investigate
- There is generally no deadline for filing, but prompt reporting strengthens the case
Common Mistakes
- Filing with the wrong board or agency
- Not providing specific, factual details (vague complaints are harder to inves...
- Expecting the board to award money (boards discipline licenses, not award dam...
- Not including supporting documentation
- Assuming nothing will happen (boards take complaints seriously)
Pro Tips
- Search the board's website for the professional's license status and any prio...
- Many state licensing boards have online lookup tools to verify credentials
- File with every relevant authority — both the licensing board and other agenc...
- For attorneys, contact the state bar's lawyer referral service if you need a ...
- Many states publish disciplinary actions online — check if the professional h...