Michelle McVay-Cave (former DCA staff writer)

The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is proud to join with the Federal Trade Commission and our local, state, and federal partners nationwide in observance of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) 2022! DCA regulates many industries and the people licensed to work in them. National Consumer Protection week is…

A catalytic converter is a valuable and integral part of your vehicle’s emissions control system that converts smog-causing pollutants into less harmful compounds to help keep our air clean. But thieves find catalytic converters valuable for an entirely different reason. Why do thieves target catalytic converters? Because of the valuable…

Are you looking for a great read that is both informative and engaging? Look no further than the Department of Consumer Affairs’ (DCA) varied list of publications created with you, the consumer, in mind. Many are available in Spanish, and all are available in print and online, at no cost.…

Dressing up for Halloween can be fun! But if you are considering adding costume (cosplay) contact lenses to your ghoulish get-up this season, make sure you don’t purchase them from unlicensed dealers—or you and your eyes could be in for a real scare. Costume contact lenses—also referred to as decorative,…

SACRAMENTO – Marc Ching of Los Angeles pled no contest on the charge of practicing veterinary medicine without a license this summer, resulting from an undercover investigation initiated by the California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB). The VMB had received complaints from consumers and licensees that Ching, who owned an organic…

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has California consumers covered from A to Z. With 36 entities, DCA licenses and regulates over 3 million professionals to protect consumers like you from unscrupulous vendors or providers. DCA has various free resources available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to…

On behalf of the Statewide Overdose Safety (SOS) Workgroup and partners, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released the following action notice detailing best practices to consider and offering supportive resources to use when inheriting patients on opioid therapy due to facility closures and other causes. This action notice…

Acupuncturists practice a holistic form of medicine without prescription drugs. This approach to wellness supports the body’s natural healing process by using specific points at or near the body’s surface through the insertion of acupuncture needles or by manually holding pressure points. Other treatment techniques include herbal medicine, electroacupuncture, cupping…

Today, the director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued the following waiver extensions: DCA Waiver DCA-21-174 Order Extending DCA-21-154, 21-130, 21-106, 20-79, and 20-68, Extending Eligibility Periods to Take or Retake Examinations for Marriage Family Therapist, Educational Psychologist, Clinical Social Worker, and Professional Clinical Counselor Applicants DCA…

Outside of churches, barbershops and beauty salons are the bastion for the Black/African-American community because of their established authenticity and credibility. Within these establishments, everything from A to Z is covered through in-depth conversations, lively debate, and banter between all ages. Conversely, necessary information is gathered and shared with all…