You've dedicated years to building a successful career as a licensed electrician in Florida, but a single complaint about you, your company, or your work can put everything at risk. Your license could face suspension, probation, or even revocation, threatening your livelihood and professional reputation.
At the Lento Law Firm, we understand how overwhelming it can be to face allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence. You may feel uncertain about your options or how to defend yourself, but you do have the right to fight back. Taking action is crucial to protecting your future.
Our Professional License Defense Team defends electricians and other licensed professionals across the state of Florida. We'll work with you to build a strong defense and fight for the best possible outcome.
Call 888-535-3686 to schedule a consultation, or fill out our contact form, and a team member will reach out to assist you.
The Board That Governs Electricians' Licenses in Florida
The Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board is the Florida government entity in charge of administering, suspending, or revoking electrician licenses of all types in the state. The board is part of the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR). Both the board and the DBPR are involved in disciplinary matters for electricians.
All licensees are subject to the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board and DBPR's regulations, including journeyman licensees and master electricians. For electricians who want to work statewide, there are certified licensures. Electricians who want to focus on a specific municipality or county must be registered with that jurisdiction. If you're registered in one jurisdiction, you may only work as an electrician in that jurisdiction.
The board offers several licensures. For each, you can be licensed as “certified” (statewide) or “registered” (jurisdiction-specific):
- Electrical Contractor
- Alarm System Contractor I
- Alarm System Contractor II
- Electrical Specialty Contractor
- Residential Electrical Specialty
- Utility Line Specialty
- Lighting Maintenance Specialty
- Sign Specialty
- Limited Energy Specialty
- Two-Way Radio Communications Enhancement Systems Specialty (Certified Electrical Specialty Contractors only
Anyone can submit a complaint about you if you are a licensed electrician in Florida by using the DBPR's online complaint system. The DBPR is required to assess every complaint it receives to determine if it has merit. These complaints can generally stay anonymous as well, so you won't know who filed them. The department must inform you of the complaint against you, but it has the option to refrain from doing so if that would interfere with any evidence-gathering on the matter.
Whatever type of electrician license you have, you have to follow the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board and DBPR's rules to remain in good standing. Even if you're doing everything right, a complaint about you can still pop up from a frustrated consumer or one of your employees. When it does, you have to take it seriously.
Violations that Lead to Disciplinary Action for Florida Electricians
Florida statutes list all the violations that could potentially lead to disciplinary actions by the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board or DBPR. These include:
- Making misleading or fraudulent representations in the practice of your profession
- Intentionally violating any rule adopted by the board or DBPR
- Being convicted and found guilty of any crime related to electrical work or the practice of your profession
- Having license disciplinary action in another state or jurisdiction for something that would also amount to a violation under Florida law
- Knowingly filing a false report or complaint to the department against another licensee
- Obtaining or renewing a license by bribery or fraudulent misrepresentation
- Failing to report anyone who you know is in violation of DBPR or the board's rules
- Aiding or assisting any unlicensed person or entity to practice a profession contrary to the rules of the board or DBPR
- Failing to perform any statutory or legal obligation
- Making or filing a report you know to be false
- Making deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations related to the practice of your profession
- Influencing a client for the purpose of financial gain for yourself or a third entity
- Practicing or offering to practice beyond the scope permitted by law
- Delegating or contracting to a person you know is not qualified to perform the work
- Improperly interfering with a disciplinary investigation by the board
- Failing to comply with educational course requirements for domestic violence
- Failing to notify the board within 30 days of a conviction, finding of guilt, plea, or adjudication
As a licensed electrician in Florida, you have several professional responsibilities apart from doing the actual work. If you don't fulfill these duties—or the board has reason to believe you haven't fulfilled these duties—you could face serious disciplinary action.
License Penalties for Violations
If the board finds you liable for a violation of its rules, you could face one or more of the following penalties:
- Refusal to certify or certification with restrictions of a license
- Suspension or permanent revocation of a license
- Restriction of practice
- An administrative fine of up to $5,000 for each separate offense
- Reprimand
- Probation with required conditions such as undergoing treatment, license reexamination, continuing education, or working under the supervision of another licensee
- Corrective action
Any of these penalties would be a serious blow to business, career, and professional reputation. If you're put on probation, for example, you technically still have your license, but you have to meet additional requirements to get back in the clear. Typically, that means spending your free time on extra continuing education, having more strict working hours under a supervisor, or having to pay for treatment. These things don't sound as serious on paper, but the real-life impracticalities could make it extremely challenging for you to keep up with your job.
At the Lento Law Firm, our team works to eliminate sanctions when defending your license. If sanctions can't be completely avoided, we try to get them reduced as much as possible so they don't pose a threat to your career.
Florida Disciplinary Process for Electrician Violations
If the board receives a complaint about you or suspects you of wrongdoing, you may have to undergo a disciplinary process.
1. Filing a Complaint
Anyone can submit an anonymous complaint to the Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board or DBPR. If the complaint is substantial enough to warrant further investigation, the board can launch a formal investigation. As the subject of the complaint, you'll also receive a copy of it. You then have 20 days to submit a written response to the DBPR's Probable Cause Panel, which considers it when deciding if the complaint should move to a formal investigation.
2. Investigation
DBPR investigators look into the complaint by gathering information from the complainant, the respondent (the accused), and other relevant parties as necessary. The investigators will submit their report to the Probable Cause Panel as well. If there's not enough evidence to show that a violation may have occurred, the department can dismiss the complaint, and the case ends.
However, if the Probable Cause Panel does find sufficient evidence of a violation, it can ask the DBPR to file a formal complaint against you. Once the DBPR receives the Probable Cause Panel's report, it has to take action within 30 days.
3. Alternative Resolution
The DBPR has an alternative process for minor or first-time violations. It issues you a notice of non-compliance, asking you to take action to correct the violation within 15 days. The DPBR can use this option instead of taking disciplinary action.
4. Disciplinary Hearing
After the formal complaint, the department schedules either an informal or formal hearing. If either party disputes the material facts of the case, it must be a formal hearing. If there's no dispute, it can be informal. During a formal hearing, an administrative law judge from the Division of Administrative Hearings must preside. Once the hearing ends, the judge issues a recommended order to the DBPR.
5. Final Decision & Appeal
The DBPR issues a final disciplinary order after receiving the judge's recommendation. At this point, you can also negotiate a consent order or settlement with the board. A consent order or settlement may lessen the severity of the disciplinary action, but you would still have restrictions.
After the final decision is made, you can still appeal it via the judicial review process. You only have 30 days to submit your appeal, however. According to state law, the final decision goes into effect even if you're waiting to hear about your appeal—meaning that your license could be suspended or revoked, preventing you from working or running your business. If you're in this situation, you can apply for supersedeas relief, which will temporarily keep the board's action. It's not guaranteed you'll get this relief, though.
The disciplinary proceedings for licensed electricians in Florida can be complex. There are several ways to resolve these matters, whether by alternative resolution, settlement or taking them all the way to judicial review. If you have little or no experience dealing with legal or administrative issues of this nature, you may quickly find yourself in over your head. What should you write in your statement responding to the complaint against you? Should you try to settle with the board or go to a formal hearing? The answers to these questions depend heavily on your particular situation.
Our Professional License Defense attorneys can thoroughly assess your case to let you know what the best option is for you. We can help you respond to communication from the board and DBPR, prepare you for in-person meetings and hearings, conduct our own independent investigation of the complaint against you, and provide you with the legal support you need to protect your license.
What to Expect When the Lento Law Firm Represents You
If you get accused of wrongdoing, don't assume that your electrician license is safe. Even if you've done nothing wrong, you could still face sanctions. The disciplinary process for professional license holders isn't set up to protect your interests; it protects the public from electrical safety concerns. That means that if there's any doubt, the board will likely err on the side of caution and sanction you more harshly than you probably deserve. The board takes every complaint seriously, so you should, too.
Our Professional License Defense Team is here to guide you through the process and advocate for your rights. Here's how we can help:
- Independent Investigation: The board will conduct its own investigation, but we don't rely solely on the information it gathers. We conduct a thorough, independent investigation into the complaint against you.
- Strategic Negotiation: We engage directly with the board on your behalf, working to achieve a favorable resolution—whether that means avoiding a hearing altogether or reducing potential sanctions.
- Comprehensive Representation: We stand by your side during all meetings and hearings, ensuring your interests are fully defended when dealing with the board.
- Legal Advocacy: If necessary, we're prepared to take further legal action, including filing a lawsuit, to protect your license and livelihood. We'll always provide clear guidance on your options and the best course of action.
If you're facing a professional complaint, don't navigate the process alone. The Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team is dedicated to protecting your career and ensuring you receive the strongest possible defense.
Defend Your Electrician License with Help from the Lento Law Firm
We work with licensed professionals, including electricians, in cities across Florida. Whether you're working in Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, or anywhere in the state, our team is ready to defend your license and help you hold on to the career you've worked so hard to build.
It takes time and hard work to become an accomplished, licensed electrician in Florida. Don't let all that effort go to waste over a disciplinary matter. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 to ask our Professional License Defense Team about defending your license and protecting your rights. You can also fill out our online form, and a member of our team will get back to you.
