Professional License Defense

Licensed Professionals We Represent

Licensing authority is divided differently in every state, and the same profession is frequently regulated by a different department depending on where you practise. Find your field below, with the authority that regulates it in Virginia, Florida, and New Jersey.

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Healthcare and Medical Professionals

Physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, therapists, and other regulated healthcare practitioners.

Physicians (MD and DO)
Registered Nurses (RN)
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Practice Nurses
Physician Assistants
Dentists
Dental Hygienists
Pharmacists
Pharmacy Technicians
Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Respiratory Therapists
Other regulated healthcare practitioners

Virginia

The Department of Health Professions, through the Board of Medicine, the Board of Nursing, the Board of Dentistry, the Board of Pharmacy, and the Board of Physical Therapy. Physician assistants, occupational therapists, and respiratory care practitioners are regulated through the Board of Medicine.

Florida

The Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, through the Board of Medicine, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, the Board of Nursing, the Board of Dentistry, the Board of Pharmacy, the Board of Physical Therapy Practice, the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice, and the Board of Respiratory Care.

New Jersey

The Division of Consumer Affairs, through the State Board of Medical Examiners, the New Jersey Board of Nursing, the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry, and the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy. Physician assistants, respiratory care practitioners, and several allied health professions are regulated through committees of the State Board of Medical Examiners.

A board matter and a DEA registration matter are separate proceedings before separate authorities, and one can continue after the other concludes.

Veterinary Professionals

Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary practices and establishments.

Veterinarians
Veterinary Technicians
Veterinary Practices and Establishments, where separately permitted or registered

Virginia

The Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine, within the Department of Health Professions, which regulates veterinarians and veterinary technicians and registers veterinary establishments.

Florida

The Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine, which sits within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation rather than the Department of Health. Veterinary establishments are separately permitted.

New Jersey

The New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, within the Division of Consumer Affairs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association is a national professional association. It is not a licensing authority, it does not issue or revoke licences, and it cannot discipline a licensee. Licensure and discipline are entirely matters for the state veterinary licensing board — the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine, or the New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. Accreditation and association membership are separate from state licensure.

Mental and Behavioral Health Professionals

Psychologists, counselors, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and substance abuse counselors.

Psychologists
Licensed Professional Counselors
Clinical Social Workers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Substance Abuse Counselors
Other regulated mental health professionals

Virginia

The Department of Health Professions, through the Board of Psychology, the Board of Counseling — which regulates licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and substance abuse treatment practitioners — and the Board of Social Work.

Florida

The Department of Health, through the Board of Psychology and the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Addiction and substance abuse professionals in Florida may also hold credentials issued under separate certification frameworks.

New Jersey

The Division of Consumer Affairs, through the State Board of Psychological Examiners, the State Board of Social Work Examiners, and the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners — which houses the committees regulating professional counselors and alcohol and drug counselors.

Massage and Wellness Practitioners

Licensed massage therapists, athletic trainers, and other regulated wellness practitioners.

Licensed Massage Therapists
Athletic Trainers
Other regulated therapeutic and wellness practitioners

Virginia

Licensed massage therapists are regulated by the Virginia Board of Nursing, within the Department of Health Professions. Athletic trainers are regulated by the Virginia Board of Medicine.

Florida

The Department of Health, through the Board of Massage Therapy, which also licenses massage establishments, and the Board of Athletic Training.

New Jersey

The Division of Consumer Affairs, through the State Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. Athletic trainers are regulated through an advisory committee of the State Board of Medical Examiners.

Insurance and Financial Services Professionals

Insurance agents and producers, agencies, public adjusters, and certified public accountants.

Life Insurance Agents
Health Insurance Agents
Property and Casualty Insurance Agents
Insurance Producers
Insurance Agencies
Public Adjusters
Certified Public Accountants
Other regulated financial professionals

Virginia

The State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance, which licenses insurance agents, agencies, and public adjusters. Certified public accountants and CPA firms are regulated by the Virginia Board of Accountancy, an independent agency.

Florida

The Department of Financial Services, through the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services, which licenses agents, agencies, customer representatives, and public adjusters. Certified public accountants are regulated by the Board of Accountancy within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

New Jersey

The Department of Banking and Insurance, which licenses insurance producers, agencies, and public adjusters. Certified public accountants are regulated by the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy within the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Real Estate and Property Professionals

Brokers, salespersons, firms, appraisers, home inspectors, and other regulated property professionals.

Real Estate Brokers
Real Estate Salespersons and Sales Associates
Real Estate Firms
Real Estate Appraisers
Home Inspectors
Other regulated property professionals

Virginia

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, through the Real Estate Board, the Real Estate Appraiser Board, and the Board for Asbestos, Lead, and Home Inspectors.

Florida

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through the Florida Real Estate Commission, the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board, and the department's home inspector licensing program.

New Jersey

The New Jersey Real Estate Commission, which sits within the Department of Banking and Insurance rather than the Division of Consumer Affairs. Appraisers are regulated by the State Board of Real Estate Appraisers, and home inspectors through the Home Inspection Advisory Committee associated with the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, both within the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Contractors and Skilled Trades

General contractors, specialty contractors, and licensed electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades.

General Contractors
Specialty Contractors
Electrical Contractors
Plumbing Contractors
HVAC Contractors
Other licensed trades

Virginia

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, through the Board for Contractors, which issues Class A, Class B, and Class C contractor licences, specialty designations, and tradesman licences for the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trades.

Florida

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through the Construction Industry Licensing Board and the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board. Florida distinguishes certified statewide licensure from registered local licensure.

New Jersey

Home improvement contractors register with the Division of Consumer Affairs rather than holding a licence. Licensed trades are regulated by their own examining boards within the Division — the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, the State Board of Examiners of Master Plumbers, and the State Board of Examiners of Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors.

Contractor contract requirements are highly jurisdiction-specific, and several required disclosures exist precisely because their omission is itself a disciplinary violation.

Cosmetology and Personal Services

Cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians, and tattoo professionals.

Cosmetologists
Barbers
Estheticians
Nail Technicians
Tattoo Professionals
Other regulated personal service providers

Virginia

The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, through the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, which licenses cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, nail technicians, tattooers, body-piercers, and the salons and shops in which they work.

Florida

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through the Board of Cosmetology and the Barbers' Board. Tattoo artists and tattoo establishments in Florida are licensed by the Department of Health rather than by DBPR.

New Jersey

The State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, within the Division of Consumer Affairs. Body art and tattooing in New Jersey are regulated primarily at the local level under state Department of Health standards.

Education and Other Licensed Professions

Teachers, school administrators, architects, engineers, land surveyors, and funeral service professionals.

Teachers and Educators
School Administrators
Architects
Professional Engineers
Land Surveyors
Funeral Service Professionals
Other licensed and credentialed professionals

Virginia

Teaching and administrative licences are regulated by the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education. Architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, certified interior designers, and landscape architects are regulated by the corresponding board within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Funeral service professionals are regulated by the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers within the Department of Health Professions.

Florida

Educator certificate discipline runs through the Florida Department of Education, the Office of Professional Practices Services, and the Education Practices Commission. Architects and interior designers are regulated by the Board of Architecture and Interior Design, and surveyors and mappers by the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers, both within DBPR. Professional engineers are regulated through the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Funeral and cemetery professionals are regulated by the Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services within the Department of Financial Services.

New Jersey

Teaching certificates are regulated by the State Board of Examiners within the Department of Education. Architects, professional engineers, and land surveyors are regulated by the State Board of Architects and the State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. Funeral service professionals are regulated by the State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey. These boards sit within the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Don't See Your Profession?

Other Licensed and Credentialed Professionals

The lists above are not exhaustive. Many professions are regulated by boards, committees, and advisory bodies that are not named here, and the authority that governs a given credential is not always obvious.

If you hold a licence, certificate, registration, or credential issued by a state authority in Virginia, Florida, New Jersey and you have received a complaint, an investigative notice, or a proposed denial, contact our office to discuss the matter.

Professional License Defense representation is available through defined stages of service. Contact our office to discuss your matter, the proposed scope of representation, and applicable fees.

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