We know that becoming a dentist in Texas is no walk in the park. It's a tremendous commitment to a life full of sacrifices, a dedication to excellence, and requires spending a great deal of money—or taking on a heap of debt—to boot. While the act of obtaining a license to practice in Texas is itself fairly by-the-book, it is only the very last step on a long journey to becoming—and then comes the difficult...
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It's never a pleasant experience to receive notice that a formal complaint has been filed against your professional license. After all, any complaint made against a professional with your licensing Board not only puts you at risk of internal discipline but of losing your license altogether—which naturally risks both your reputation and your livelihood. But there are actions you can take (or fail to take) in such an event that only serves to make things...
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Every Texas pharmacist knows that theirs is a profession that takes a great deal of effort to enter and remains demanding to maintain. From prescription errors to slipping into substance abuse due to easy availability, the practice of pharmacology has a vast number of potential pitfalls, many of which may lead to professional complaints. Such complaints come with the potential for severe discipline doled out by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, including the possibility...
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For physicians in Texas, there are certain regulations in place that decree just how and to whom they may delegate their authority to prescribe medications. The Texas Medical Board, which is charged with oversight of the medical profession, has made these rules quite stringent, as the ability to prescribe medications is one of the key elements to the profession and one that is most ripe for abuse. The only types of professionals to whom a...
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Every establishment in the state of Texas that wishes to serve alcoholic beverages—be the bar, restaurant, or other forum—must gain a permit and license to do so. These licenses are dispensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which also serves to regulate the manufacture, importing, transporting and advertising of alcoholic beverages in the state. It also investigates alleged violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Code, which are often brought to its attention by complaints made by...
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From time to time a Texas teacher will find they have been complained about to their licensing Board. These Formal complaints made to the Texas State Board for Educator Certification, a subsidiary organization to the Texas Education Agency, can be made by a member of the public, a fellow teacher, someone in the chain of administrative command—almost anyone, really. And such a complaint can lead to strong disciplinary action against the teacher's license or teacher’s...
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In Texas, professional law enforcement officers are licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. This organization is authorized to investigate complaints against a law enforcement officer in situations in which there is an alleged violation by that law enforcement officer of a law or a rule regarding training, licensing, certification, or the license-holder's appointment. It also handles scenarios where a law enforcement officer has been convicted of a criminal offense or has been placed...
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Physicians and other health care professionals in the state of Texas are subject to the rules and regulations of the Texas Medical Board. Not only does the Board set the standards that prospective practitioners must meet in order to earn their licenses to practice medicine, but it maintains the standards necessary for the ongoing practice of medicine. Every physician must adhere to the standard of care, the rules promulgated by the Board, and the laws...
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The Texas State Legislature in 1991 passed a law creating the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings, or SOAH. It is meant to be an independent forum, under a banner of neutrality, before which legal and agency disputes between the general public and agencies, as well as Texas licensing boards, can be reviewed and decided. Its purpose is to mete out efficient legal decisions in a timely manner, having viewed them from an objective and...
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The pharmacists of Texas get a lot of education and jump through numerous hoops in order to obtain their licenses to practice pharmacology. They are professionals of the highest order. Yet, on occasion, an improper dispensation of medication occurs—often referred to as a "medication error." Mistakes are made in any profession, and health care is no exception. It should come as no surprise to a practicing pharmacist that an error in dispensing medication may result...
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