What Happens if I Self-Report to My Licensing Board?
You know you messed up. You know you violated at least one professional standard or rule. That you made a mistake isn’t the question. The real question is: Do you tell the licensing board?
Self-reporting doesn’t have a simple answer. Your misconduct, reporting requirements, and other information can all factor into whether or not you should let the board know.
If you’ve committed misconduct or otherwise violated your professional standards, you need help. Before self-reporting, contact the Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm. We can help you understand the pros and cons of your situation and the best option for you. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.
Disciplinary Action
The most important thing to know is that self-reporting doesn’t exempt you from disciplinary action. Self-reporting also limits your ability to claim you didn’t know you made a mistake. Self-reporting is an admission of guilt, which can potentially limit your available defenses.
What self-reporting can do is potentially reduce the action leveled against you. A board may be more lenient because of your willingness to step forward and admit your mistake.
This isn’t a guarantee. The details of your situation, along with the severity of your misconduct, can and will come into play. Depending on how your board determines punishment, you may have no advantage to self-reporting and may face the same disciplinary action regardless.
Take Control
One advantage of self-reporting is that it gives you some level of control over when and how the board learns about your misconduct. You aren’t waiting to see if someone is going to report you or respond to an anonymous complaint. You won’t have to worry that someone may report you and provide the board with incorrect information that you have to disprove. It allows you to prepare and inform the board on your terms.
First impressions matter and can shape individuals’ initial impressions and views. In cases of misconduct, this could potentially mean you can create a more favorable view of your actions and choices.
Mandatory Reporting
In some situations, a person or organization may be required to report misconduct to the board. In these cases, when you know a report will occur, reporting it first can allow you to have your version of events be the first impression.
You may also be required to self-report. In these cases, failing to self-report can open you up to additional disciplinary action.
Unnecessary Reporting
It sounds far-fetched, but before reporting, make sure what you did is a report-worthy offense. Everyone makes mistakes, but not all of them require reporting to the board or disciplinary action. Reporting when it’s not necessary may open you up to an investigation and hearing.
Other Considerations
Before self-reporting, you may want to consider these questions:
- What have you done or what are you doing to ensure the mistake doesn’t happen again?
- Given your situation, what are the advantages of self-reporting? What are the disadvantages?
- Who knows about your misconduct? What are the pros and cons of other people reporting your misconduct?
Protect Your Career
If you’ve committed misconduct or otherwise violated your professional rules, you may be facing potential disciplinary action. What you do or don’t do can have a significant impact on your career, your reputation, and your future.
We help our clients understand their options and how to protect their careers, their futures, and their reputations. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form.