Notice of Client Complaints

The Pennsylvania Department of State receives complaints concerning the licensees and registrants of the following 29 professional and occupational licensing boards & commissions regulated by the Department's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.

If you believe the practice or the service provided by a licensee or registrant of the above-named boards or commissions to be unethical, immoral, below an acceptable standard of practice or out of the scope of the profession, you are urged to file a Statement of Complaint Form with the Department of State.  Also, if you suspect someone of unlicensed practice, please file a complaint.

Please note the following guidelines before completing and submitting the Statement of Complaint Form:

  • The Department will not involve itself in a monetary dispute unless it involves an allegation that services were billed for, but were not rendered -- or if there is evidence of other billing or insurance fraud.

  • The Department cannot act as a court of law to impose prison sentences or to order a person to make monetary restitution. This can only be achieved through the services of an attorney in a civil or criminal court proceeding.

  • Decisions about whether or not to prosecute cases are constrained by the applicable licensing laws, rules and regulations, which set forth specgifically enumerated offenses for which the licensing boards and commissions may impose discipline on a licensee. If offensive conduct or activity does not fit within any specifically enumerated offense, disciplinary action cannot be filed against the licensee because the activity is not within the applicable board or commission's jurisdiction

  • If you file a complaint, you may be required to attend a formal hearing and provide testimony in support of your complaint should a decision be made to file formal charges against a licensee.

  

There are several ways in which to file your complaint:

  •  Download the Statement of Complaint Form (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader to view this form. If you do not have either please click on the link in the left hand navigation bar to get a free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Return the completed form by mail to the Professional Compliance Office at: Department of State, Professional Compliance Office, PO Box 69522, 2601 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17106-9522. Be sure to include any attachments and supporting documents (legible copies, no originals) that you wish to provide in support of your complaint.

  • You may request a Statement of Complaint Form by mail, by calling the Professional Compliance Office Hotline at 1-800-822-2113 (if you are calling from within Pennsylvania) or at 1-(717) 783-4849 (if you are calling from outside Pennsylvania). Return the completed form to the Professional Compliance Office at: Department of State, Professional Compliance Office, PO Box 69522, 2601 North Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17106-9522. Be sure to include any attachments and supporting documents (legible copies, no originals) that you wish to provide in support of your complaint.

If you require special accommodation in downloading or viewing the form, please e-mail us at RA-BPOA@pa.gov or call the Complaint's Hotline.

Upon receipt of your Statement of Complaint form, it will be reviewed to ensure that the complaint is within the Department’s jurisdiction. A written acknowledgment of having received your complaint will be mailed to you using the name and address provided on your submittal. Unfortunately, due to the large number of cases that we process, we are unable to provide regular status reports or updates. You will be notified of the final disposition of your complaint. Please be aware, however, that pursuant to Act 25 of 2009, 63 P.S §2205.1, if you submit a complaint anonymously, the Department will not be able to share any information pertaining to the complaint with anyone, including you.