Overview
The Pennsylvania Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs regulates 29 professional and occupational boards and commissions but does not license and regulate all professionals in PA. If you are unable to find the applicable Board or Commission, please visit our FAQs for links to other Commonwealth agencies that may be able to assist you.
How to File a Complaint
Here is how to file a complaint against a Pennsylvania-licensed professional.
If you think a licensed professional is behaving unethically or below the standards of their profession or suspect a person or business is practicing without the required license, submit an electronic Statement of Complaint Form by visiting the Department's PALS website. Instructions for completing a Statement of Complaint form are available down in the FAQs.
All complaints must be submitted in writing.
If you are having difficulty accessing the electronic Statement of Complaint Form, please email RA-ST-Complaints@pa.gov or call 800-822-2113 or 717-783-4849 to request to have a form mailed to you.
If you wish to file a complaint against a facility (such as a hospital or nursing home), facility staff, a business, or a health insurance provider that is not regulated by the Department of State, you may do so through the Department of Health or the Office of the Attorney General.
Complaints against facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, or complaints against Certified Nurses Aids (CNAs) and other facility staff not regulated by the Department of State may be made to the Department of Health.
Complaints against businesses not licensed by one of the Department’s 29 boards or commissions and complaints against registered contractors can be made with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
Complaints involving health insurance coverage, denials of medical treatment and medical bills can be submitted to the Attorney General’s Health Care Section.
Notice to Impacted Individuals
Pursuant to Act 5 of 2024
A person who has suffered an adverse effect stemming from the conduct alleged in the Order to Show Cause or other Department of State charging document may, before or at the hearing, submit a written impact statement that may be considered by the hearing examiner, board or commission solely for purposes of determining a sanction imposed on the respondent.
Accordingly, if you believe you have suffered an adverse effect stemming from the conduct of a Respondent that has been formally charged by the Department and scheduled for a hearing (a list of cases scheduled for a hearing can be found by reviewing the Prothonotary's website), you may provide a written statement regarding the impact the Respondent's conduct, as alleged in the charging document, has had on you, which the hearing examiner, board or commission may take it into consideration for purposes of determining a sanction if it is determined that the Respondent should be subject to discipline. Please note that not all complaints will result in the filing of formal charges and/or scheduling of a hearing.
The information that you provide in your written impact statement as well as your identity will be public; the Respondent will be given a copy; and you may be called/subpoenaed to testify. Should you opt to submit an impact statement, please include the case number on your statement. Additionally, so that the parties can review the information contained in your impact statement, if possible, please try to submit your statement at least three (3) business days prior to the date of the hearing (although submissions up to the date of the hearing will be accepted). You may return your statement via email to RA-prothonotary@pa.gov or via mail to:
Prothonotary- Department of State
PO Box 60130
Harrisburg PA 17106-0130
Please note that in most instances the Department is unable to get monetary restitution on behalf of a party. We recommend you contact an attorney if you are seeking restitution.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pennsylvania Department of State (DOS) receives complaints concerning the licensees and registrants regulated by the Department's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA). Professional licensing protects the health and safety of the public from fraudulent and unethical practitioners. There are 29 licensing boards and commissions, each with their own statutes and regulations governing their respective professions. These boards are ultimately responsible for adjudicating complaints and taking disciplinary action where appropriate.
The Department accepts complaints from all sources and will review all information provided.
The Professional Compliance Office, within the Prosecution Division of the BPOA's Legal Office, reviews thousands of complaints per year. Initial review of those complaints is focused on whether each complaint alleges conduct that may be a violation of governing laws and regulations and whether a board has jurisdiction over the alleged conduct.
When the Department receives a complaint, legal office staff review it to determine whether it falls under the jurisdiction of the boards. Complaints are also reviewed to determine what investigation, if any, is appropriate in light of the allegations. Oftentimes, cases are investigated by the Department's Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation (BEI). BEI investigators interview witnesses, obtain relevant documentary evidence, and provide information to the Prosecution Division for review. Investigations take varying lengths of time depending on complexity.
In some cases, settlements are reached through a Consent Agreement and Order, where both parties (the Commonwealth and the Respondent) negotiate agreed-upon facts and penalties. These settlements must be approved by the applicable licensing board or commission.
Disciplinary actions, whether through adjudication or settlement, become part of the licensee's disciplinary record and are a matter of public record. The BPOA has the authority to expunge some disciplinary matters after 5 years have passed.
From a desktop, click on the “FILE A COMPLAINT” box on the left side of the screen.
From a mobile device, scroll down until you see “FILE A COMPLAINT”.
The “Type of Complaint” refers to the general category of regulated professional.
- Choose “Notary” if you would like to file a complaint about a Notary Public.
- Choose “Charity” if you would like to file a complaint about a charitable organization.
- Choose “Professional/Occupational/License Certificate Registration” to file a complaint against an individual or facility licensed, or required to be licensed, by one of the Boards falling under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.
Submitting a complaint with your name and valid contact details allows our prosecution division to investigate your complaint to the extent determined necessary by the division. If you wish to remain anonymous, please check the box “Anonymous.”
In the section “Who is your Complaint About (Respondent Information),” you have the ability to search PALS for the license number of the person or facility.
To search for the license number, click “person” if you are filing against an individual, or “facility” if you are filing against a business.
After you click on “person” or “facility,” click the blue button labeled “licensee search.” A pop-up box will appear that allows you to select search criteria. Start your search with the individual’s first and last name, or the facility name, and click search.
To further refine your results, try a search with the person or facility name and one or more of the following: the board/commission, license type, and county.
If your search is successful, the form will automatically populate with the licensee’s information.
If you are unable to find the licensee or you do not have enough information about the licensee for the search function, follow the instructions in red under the section “Who is your complaint about (Respondent information)."