Consumer Information

How is a complaint filed?

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What happens once a complaint is filed?

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All complaints filed against an acupuncturist are investigated and brought before the Board for review and action.

A complaint number is assigned and file opened.
A copy of the complaint is sent to the acupuncturist and response is required.
Any supporting documents are obtained.
A copy of the response is sent to the complainant who then can make a written rebuttal.
Once the complaint investigation is complete the matter is set on a Board agenda for them to review.
At the Board meeting, they will determine the following during their review:
1. Is the nature of the complaint under the Board’s jurisdiction?
  - If the answer is “No”, the complaint will be dismissed because the Board has no jurisdiction to proceed.
  - If the answer is “Yes”, the Board will go onto number two below .
2. Is there a substantive basis on which to believe a law may have been violated?
  - If the answer is “No”, the complaint will be dismissed.
  - If the answer is “No”, but the Board had concerns, they could dismiss the complaint with a non-disciplinary letter of concern.
  - If the answer is “Yes”, the complaint is voted to hearing.
  - If the answer is “Not sure”, then the Board can hold the complaint open for further investigation.
Both the complainant and the acupuncturist will be notified of the time and location of the Board meeting so they can be present and address the Board. An acupuncturist has the right to have an attorney represent them any time through out the complaint process. Both parties will be notified in writing as to what happened to the complaint at the Board meeting.
If the complaint is voted to hearing, then a formal process takes over. The acupuncturist will be served a “Complaint Notice of Hearing”. This document identifies the date, time and place of the hearing. It will also outline the factual allegations and charges made against the acupuncturist, by the State of Arizona. An attorney can represent the acupuncturist at this hearing. The complainant should be prepared to act as a witness at the hearing.
If at the hearing the Board finds a violation of law, they can impose any of the following sanctions.
1. Letter of concern
2. Decree of censure
3. Probation
4. Restrict or limit the practice of the licensee
5. Civil Penalty of not more than $10,000.00 per violation
6. Suspend a license
7. Revoke a license
If at the hearing the Board finds there was no violation of law, they can dismiss the complaint.

How long does the process take?

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Does the complaint process apply to auricular acupuncture certificate holders?

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Public Information Request

To make a public information request, please use the Public Information Request Form, or contact the Board office at (602) 542-3095 and a form will be sent to you. The fees for public information are included in the Fee Schedule found on this page.

Public Information Request Form

Fees

2017 Fee Schedule
	tYPE OF fEE	aMOUNT
1.	Issuance of initial license	$275.00
2.	Acupuncture license application	$150.00
	Auricular certificate application	$75.00
3.	Renewal of license	$275.00
4.	Late renewal of license	$100.00
5.	Issuance of duplicate license/certificate	$50.00
6.	Visiting professor certificate	$600.00
7.	Visiting professor certificate renewal	$600.00
8.	Issuance of initial auricular certificate	$75.00
9.	Renewal of auricular certificate	$75.00
10.	Copies of records, documents, letters, minutes, applications and files	25 cents per page
11.	Copies of current year board meeting minutes	$25.00 for each set of minutes
12.	Sale of lists and directories for commercial purposes	$60.00

Complaints

Following is an overview of the complaint process for The Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners. This information is to assist the public and acupuncturists to better understand what takes place when the Board receives a complaint.

As stated in our mission statement, the Board is charged with protecting the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Arizona. This means an investigation is done on every complaint and the Board then determines if a law or rule was violated.

Complaint Form

Public Information Request

Fees

Complaints

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