Mar 11 2025 20 mins
When your professional license is threatened by disciplinary action, understanding the regulatory process becomes critical to your career's survival. Our conversation with attorney Kerry Bloodsaw pulls back the curtain on two pivotal stages of administrative proceedings that can determine a license holder's fate.
Kerry walks us through the stark differences between Informal Settlement Conferences (ISCs) and State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) proceedings, revealing crucial information licensed professionals rarely understand until they're deep in the process. We learn that ISCs vary significantly between regulatory boards—from the highly formal proceedings of the Texas Medical Board to more relaxed sessions with behavioral health regulators—yet all represent a crucial opportunity that shouldn't be squandered.
The conversation takes a sobering turn when Kerry explains the reality of SOAH hearings. Unlike ISCs, where agencies are still willing to hear a licensee's perspective, SOAH represents full-scale litigation where the regulatory body is typically seeking license revocation. The preparation requirements skyrocket, timing extends from minutes to days, and procedural complexity multiplies exponentially. Perhaps most eye-opening is Kerry's insight that even successful appeals rarely end cases—they simply restart them, often with the same decision-makers reviewing the matter again.
Whether you're currently facing disciplinary action or simply want to understand the processes that could one day affect your professional standing, this episode provides essential insights for any licensed professional. Don't miss Kerry's final advice on why attempting to navigate either process without representation could prove disastrous for your career and livelihood. Know Your Regulator, inspiring professionals to engage.
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