Statement of Issues
If you are applying for a professional license in California, the licensing board will likely conduct a thorough investigation of your application information. Many boards have laws and rules that detail the reasons for denying an application, including criminal convictions, professional misconduct, false/misleading statements on the application itself, and other reasons.
The inquiry into your professional fitness is extremely fact specific and governed by a board’s complex disciplinary guidelines. While the guidelines provide the framework by which a board’s enforcement decisions are made, the board may deviate from this framework depending on the facts and mitigating circumstances of a particular case. Our experienced licensing attorneys will be able to help you prepare and present the strongest possible case for the board to consider.
What to do if your application is denied
If your application has been denied, you may have the right to challenge the denial at an administrative hearing. If you elect to do so, the attorney general’s office will prepare and file a statement of issues. After the statement of issues is filed, you may be able to settle the case without a hearing. If a settlement cannot be reached, a hearing before an administrative law judge will follow to determine whether a license should be granted or denied. Procedurally, a statement of issues hearing is similar to an accusation hearing; however, a critical distinction is that the applicant, as opposed to the agency, bears the burden of proof to establish their fitness to hold a credential at a statement of issues hearing.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in licensing issues and can advise you during the license application process to help you avoid mistakes, making it less likely your application will be denied. If your application has been denied, contact us right away to protect your rights and assist you in attaining the most favorable outcome possible, whether through a settlement or hearing.