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Connect With Department of Consumer Affairs Boards and Bureaus

by Lana Wilson-Combs
written by Lana Wilson-Combs
A suburban neighborhood in California at dusk with the DCA logo and NCPW 2023 hashtag.

Whether you need a reputable auto mechanic, a landscaper, or dentist, the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has you covered and can help ensure you’re working with a licensed professional, right in your neighborhood.

For more than 50 years, DCA has worked to protect and serve California consumers through oversight, enforcement, and licensure of various professionals.

Through the licensing and regulatory entities under its jurisdiction, DCA administers more than 3.4 million licenses and 280 license types including licenses, permits, certificates, and registrations for barbers and cosmetologists, physical therapists, optometrists, and many others.

As part of National Consumer Protection Week 2023, DCA remains committed to raise awareness about its consumer protection mission, and provide resources to help consumers make informed decisions.

Whether you need to check the license status of a professional licensed by a DCA board or bureau, file a complaint, or find information to help make you an empowered consumer, here’s how you can connect with us.

 

California Board of Accountancy

Mission: To protect consumers by ensuring only qualified licensees practice public accountancy in accordance with established professional standards.

 

Acupuncture Board

Mission: To protect the people of California by upholding acupuncture practice standards through the oversight and enforcement of the Acupuncture Licensure Act.

 

Arbitration Certification Program

Mission: The Arbitration Certification Program (ACP) certifies and monitors third-party arbitration programs of participating automobile manufacturers to ensure compliance with CA laws and regulations related to new vehicle warranties and manufacturer sponsored arbitration programs.

 

California Architects Board

Mission: The California Architects Board (Board) was created in 1901 by the California Legislature to fulfill the mission of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public through the regulation of the practice of architecture in California. It is one of numerous entities within the Department of Consumer Affairs responsible for consumer protection and the regulation of licensed professionals. The Board establishes regulations for examination and licensing of the profession of architecture in California, which today numbers over 21,000 licensed architects and approximately 10,000 candidates who are in the process of meeting examination and licensure requirements.

 

California State Athletic Commission

Mission: The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) regulates professional and amateur boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts throughout the State by licensing all participants and supervising the events. The Commission is dedicated to the health, safety and welfare of the participants in regulated competitive sporting events, through ethical and professional service. California is the premier model for the safety and fairness of regulated sporting events.

 

Bureau of Automotive Repair

Mission: The Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), part of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), protects Californians through effective oversight of the automotive repair industry and administration of vehicle emissions reduction and safety programs.

 

Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

Mission: The primary purpose of any regulatory board is to serve the public by ensuring competent practice within an occupation. Section 7301.1 of the Business and Professions Code states that protection of the public shall be the highest priority of the Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions.

 

Board Of Behavioral Sciences

Mission: Protect and serve Californians by setting, communicating, and enforcing standards for safe and competent mental health practice.

 

Cemetery and Funeral Bureau

Mission: The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau advocates consumer protection and licensee compliance through proactive education and consistent interpretation and application of the laws governing the death care industry.

 

Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Mission: The Board of Chiropractic Examiners (BCE) regulates the chiropractic profession in California. We protect Californians from licensed and unlicensed individuals who engage in the fraudulent, negligent, or incompetent practice of chiropractic. The BCE oversees approximately 14,000 licensees and 19 chiropractic schools and colleges located throughout the United States and Canada.

 

Contractors State License Board

Mission: The Contractors State License Board protects consumers by regulating the construction industry through policies that promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the public in matters relating to construction.

 

Court Reporters Board of California

Mission: The CRB will play a major role in ensuring that court reporters provide the highest quality professional services and protect the integrity of public records;

 

Dental Board of California

Mission: The Dental Board of California’s mission is to protect and promote the health and safety of consumers of the State of California and be a leader in public protection, promotion of oral health, and access to care.

 

Dental Hygiene Board of California

Mission: The DHBC’s primary mission is to protect the public and meet the oral hygiene needs of all Californians.

 

Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists

Mission: We protect the public’s safety and property by promoting standards for competence and integrity through licensing and regulating the Board’s professions.

  • CONTACT:
    2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 300
    Sacramento, CA 95833-2944
    Toll Free Number: 1-866-780-5370 (no charge to the calling party)
    Phone Number: (916) 999-3600
    Website: https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/
    E-mail: www.bpelsg.ca.gov/

 

Bureau of Households Goods and Services

Mission: To be an efficient organization that effectively protects consumers and improves the marketplace through enforcement of the law, providing customer service, and prompt licensing.

 

Landscape Architects Technical Committee

Mission: The Landscape Architects Technical Committee (LATC) regulates the practice of landscape architecture through the enforcement of the Landscape Architects Practice Act (Act) to protect consumers, and the public health, safety, and welfare while safeguarding the environment.

 

Medical Board of California

Mission: The mission of the Medical Board of California is to protect health care consumers through the proper licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons and certain allied health care professionals and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act, and to promote access to quality medical care through the Board’s licensing and regulatory functions.

 

California Board Of Naturopathic Medicine

Mission: The Mission of the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine (CBNM) is to protect California health care consumers and expand access to safe and effective primary care by licensing and regulating Naturopathic Doctors through vigorous enforcement of the California Naturopathic Doctors Act.

 

California Board Of Occupational Therapy

Mission: Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants work with people experiencing different medical conditions or disabilities to develop, improve or restore functional daily living skills.

 

California State Board Of Optometry

Mission: The California State Board of Optometry protects the health and safety of California consumers through licensing and regulation of the practices of Optometry and Opticianry.

 

Osteopathic Medical Board of California

Mission: To protect consumers and promote the highest professional standards in the practice of osteopathic medicine, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California licenses osteopathic physicians and surgeons. The board investigates consumer complaints and uses its enforcement power to ensure practitioners abide by the provisions of the state Business and Professions Code/Medical Practice Act.

 

California State Board Of Pharmacy

Mission: The Board of Pharmacy protects and promotes the health and safety of Californians by pursuing the highest quality of pharmacist’s care and the appropriate use of pharmaceuticals through education, communication, licensing, legislation, regulation, and enforcement.

 

Physical Therapy Board of California

Mission: To advance and protect the interests of the people of California by the effective administration of the Physical Therapy Practice Act.

  • CONTACT:
    2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2600
    Sacramento, CA 95815
    Telephone: (916) 561-8200
    Fax: (916) 263-2560
    Hearing-impaired persons: 711, or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY)
    California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2922 (Voice)
    Website: https://www.ptbc.ca.gov.
    Email: PTA@dca.ca.gov

 

Physician Assistant Board

Mission: To protect and serve consumers through licensing, education, and objective enforcement of the Physician Assistant laws and regulations.

  • CONTACT:
    2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2250
    Sacramento, CA 95815
    Telephone: (916) 561-8780
    Fax: (916) 263-2671
    Website: www.pab.ca.gov
    Email: paboard@dca.ca.gov

 

Podiatric Medical Board of California

Mission: The Podiatric Medical Board of California (PMBC) licenses and regulates Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs). Though functioning semi-independently as other boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), PMBC is part of the Medical Board of California (B&P Code §2460) and it is MBC that officially issues licenses to this small specialty group of about 2,000 independent practitioners upon the “recommendation” of PMBC (B&P §§ 2479, 2486 & 2488).

 

Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

Mission: The Bureau protects students and consumers through the oversight of California’s private postsecondary educational institutions by conducting qualitative reviews of educational programs and operating standards, proactively combating unlicensed activity, impartially resolving student and consumer complaints, and conducting outreach.

 

Bureau For Private Postsecondary Education – Office of Student Assistance and Relief

Mission: Established by Senate Bill 1192, the Office of Student Assistance and Relief (OSAR) was created for the purpose of advancing and promoting the rights of students of private colleges, and assisting students who suffer economic loss due to the unlawful activities or closure of a private college.

 

Professional Fiduciaries Bureau

Mission: To protect consumers through licensing, consumer education, and enforcement of the Professional Fiduciaries Act and promote and uphold competency and ethical standards across the profession.

 

Board of Psychology

Mission: The Board of Psychology protects consumers of psychological services by licensing psychologists, regulating the practice of psychology, and supporting the evolution of the profession.

  • CONTACT:
    1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-215
    Sacramento, CA 95834
    Telephone: (916) 574-7720
    Toll Free: (866) 503-3221
    Fax: (916) 574-8672
    Website: www.psychology.ca.gov
    E-mail: bopmail@dca.ca.gov

 

Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers

Mission: Safeguard public trust by promoting professionalism in the real estate appraisal industry through licensing, education, and enforcement.

 

Board of Registered Nursing

Mission: The Board of Registered Nursing protects the health, safety, and well-being of the public through the fair and consistent application of the statutes and regulations governing nursing practice and education in California.

  • CONTACT:
    1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 150
    Sacramento, CA 95834-1924 and PO Box 944210
    Sacramento, CA 94244-2100.
    Phone: (916) 322-3350
    Hearing-Impaired Persons: 711, or (800) 735-2929 (TTY)
    California Relay Service: (800) 735-2922 (Voice).
    Website: https://www.rn.ca.gov/
    E-mail: www.rn.ca.gov

 

Respiratory Care Board of California

Mission: The mandate of the Respiratory Care Board (RCB) is to protect and serve the consumer by administering and enforcing the Respiratory Care Practice Act and its regulations in the interest of the safe practice of respiratory care.

 

Bureau of Security and Investigative Services

Mission: The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (Bureau or BSIS) licenses and regulates the Alarm, Locksmith, Private Investigator, Private Security Services, and Repossession Industries. The mission of the Bureau is to protect and serve the public and consumers through effective regulatory oversight of the professions within the Bureau’s jurisdiction.

 

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board

Mission: We protect the people of California by promoting standards and enforcing the laws and regulations that ensure the qualifications and competence of providers of speech-language pathology, audiology and hearing aid dispensing services.

 

Structural Pest Control Board

Mission: The Structural Pest Control Board’s mission is to protect the general welfare of Californians and the environment by promoting outreach, education, and regulation of the structural pest management profession.

 

Veterinary Medical Board

Mission: The Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) has been regulating veterinary medicine in the State of California since 1893. The VMB is a governmental agency whose mission is the protection of California consumers and their animals through the regulation of veterinary medicine. The VMB fulfills its mission by developing, maintaining, and enforcing professional standards including licensing veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians (RVTs), veterinary assistant-controlled substances permit holders (VACSPs) and veterinary premises.

  • CONTACT:
    1747 N. Market Blvd., Ste. 230
    Sacramento, CA 95834-2978
    Phone: (916) 515-5220 or Toll Free: (866) 229-0170
    Applicants/Licensing Fax: (916) 928-6849
    Enforcement Fax: (916) 928-6852
    Website: https://www.vmb.ca.gov/
    E-mail: vmb@dca.ca.gov

 

Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians

Mission: The Board serves and protects the public by licensing qualified and competent vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians through ongoing educational oversight, regulation, and enforcement.

 

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