Boards and Commissions Under the Department of Consumer Affairs

California’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is charged with “protecting California consumers by providing a safe and fair marketplace through oversight, enforcement, and licensure of professions.” DCA also “helps consumers learn how to protect themselves from unscrupulous and unqualified individuals.” And, DCA “protects professionals from unfair competition by unlicensed practitioners.”

The Department of Consumer Affairs is set forth in Division 1 of the Business and Professions Code, Sections 100 to 472.5. Section 100 establishes DCA in state government within the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. As part of the Department of Consumer Affairs, it is actually comprised of numerous boards and bureaus, pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 101, as follows:

• Accountancy, Board of
• Acupuncture Board
• Arbitration Certification Program
• Architects Board, California
• Athletic Commission of California
• Automotive Repair, Bureau of
• Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of
• Behavioral Sciences, Board of
• Cannabis Control, Bureau of
• Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
• Chiropractic Examiners, Board of
• Contractors State License Board
• Court Reporters Board
• Dental Board of California
• Dental Hygiene Board of California
• Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists, Board for Professional
• Household Goods and Services, Bureau of
• Landscape Architects Technical Committee
• Medical Board of California
• Naturopathic Medicine Committee
• Occupational Therapy, California Board of
• Optometry, Board of
• Osteopathic Medical Board of California
• Pharmacy, Board of
• Physical Therapy Board of California
• Physician Assistant Board
• Podiatric Medical Board of California
• Private Postsecondary Education, Bureau for
• Private Postsecondary Education, Bureau for – Office of Student Assistance and Relief
• Professional Fiduciaries Bureau
• Psychology, Board of
• Real Estate Appraisers, Bureau of
• Registered Nursing, Board of
• Respiratory Care Board
• Security and Investigative Services, Bureau of
• Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board
• Structural Pest Control Board
• Veterinary Medical Board
• Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, Board of

All of these boards, bureaus and commissions within DCA are “established for the purpose of ensuring that those private businesses and professions deemed to engage in activities which have potential impact upon the public health, safety, and welfare are adequately regulated in order to protect the people of California.” This is pursuant to Section 101.6.

Section 101.7 requires each board to meet at least two times each calendar, once in northern California and once in southern California “in order to facilitate participation by the public and its licensees. These boards, bureaus and commission are required to establish minimum qualifications and levels of competency and license persons in these different occupations.

In addition, they are required to register or certify persons to ensure that they are meeting accepted professional standards. Most importantly, there are charged with addressing any grievances filed by consumers regarding alleged unprofessional conduct, incompetence, fraud, or unlawful activity. DCA can institute disciplinary action against those licensed or registered. And, DCA is charged with auditing and investigating licensees in order to ensure compliance with the law.