The California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) is the consumer protection agency that licenses and regulates more than 3.5 million licenses in over 280 license types. DCA is the parent agency under which almost every California professional licensing agency operates. The DCA has jurisdiction over 40 professional and occupational licensing boards, from the Board of Registered Nursing and the Medical Board of California to the Board of Accountancy and Board of Pharmacy.
Division of Investigation background
The Division of Investigation (DOI) is the police agency for the Department of Consumer Affairs, providing law enforcement investigation services for DCA licensing boards. Established in 1961, the DOI helps the DCA achieve it’s consumer protection mission by investigating alleged violations of California laws, regulations and professional standards. When licensing boards receive complaints or reports of alleged misconduct, they are often referred to the DOI for investigation.
DOI investigators are sworn peace officer with the authority to arrest and execute warrants as authorized in BPC § 159.5, BPC § 160 and 830.3(a) PC. DOI’s experienced investigative staff come from diverse backgrounds, including former law enforcement detectives, computer forensics experts, internal affairs investigators, sex crime investigators and medical investigators. They typically have years of experience in the art of interrogation, sting operations and investigation.
The Division of Investigation is specially funded by professional licensing fees and investigation cost reimbursements from disciplined licensees. As of July 1, 2014, the DOI consists of two units, the Investigation and Enforcement Unit (IEU) and the Health Quality Investigation Unit (HQIU). Each of the two units provide specialized investigative services to different boards, bureaus and committees within the DCA.
DCA Investigation and Enforcement Unit
The DCA Division of Investigation, Investigation and Enforcement Unit (IEU) is the largest unit of DOI with responsibility for most DCA investigations. The IEU investigates alleged misconduct and complaints for most DCA agencies (except for certain medical licensees handled by HQIU). IEU investigators use a wide range of investigative and intelligence gathering tools, including:
- Interviewing of witnesses and suspects
- Sting operations and undercover investigations
- Subpoenaing documents and executing search warrants
- Computer forensics investigation
- Working with partner law enforcement agencies
The DCA Investigation and Enforcement Unit has 7 field offices throughout California located in Chatsworth, Fresno, Hayward Lakewood, Ontario, Sacramento, and San Diego. Some licensing agencies, such as the Board of Registered Nursing, have their own investigators and complaint resolution analysts inside their agency that handle less serious license discipline matters. Usually these agency personnel are not sworn peace officers. When speaking with investigators, it is important to determine who the investigator works for to ascertain whether they are sworn peace officers.
DCA Health Quality Investigation Unit
The DCA Division of Investigation, Health Quality Investigation Unit (HQIU) handles investigations for the Medical Board of California, Osteopathic Medical Board of California, Physician Assistant Board, Podiatric Medical Board of California, and California Board of Psychology. The HQIU was established inside the Division of Investigation in July 1, 2014. Prior to that date, the Medical Board of California utilized investigators that were directly employed by the board.
The HQIU investigators focus on physician and other health-related licensee misconduct. HQIU has 12 field offices throughout California from Sacramento to San Diego. HQIU investigators work together with Deputy Attorney Generals from the Health Quality Enforcement Section (HQE) in the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute physician violations of the Medical Practice Act and other regulations.
If you have been contacted by an investigator or your board, it is crucial to protect yourself. Investigations can lead to discipline, license revocation and even criminal charges. Chudnovsky Law can help you protect your license and career at every step, including working to secure the best possible outcome to investigations. Call (844) 325-1444 to schedule a consultation.
You can learn about Chudnovsky Law’s professional license practice at:
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DCA, Division of Investigation office locations
The DCA Division of Investigation has 19 field office locations throughout California that handle investigations in their region. The headquarters for the Division of Investigation is located at 1625 N. Market Blvd, Suite 265, Sacramento, CA 95834. (916) 515-5100, (800) 952-5210.
DCA Division of Investigation, Investigation and Enforcement Unit (IEU) office locations
The DOI, Investigation and Enforcement Unit field offices are organized in two units: northern and southern California.
Division of Investigation, IEU Northern Field Offices:
- Central Valley Field Office (IEU)
1130 East Shaw Ave., Suite 109, Fresno, CA 93710. (559) 244-4931 - Hayward Field Office (IEU)
22320 Foothill Blvd., Suite 220, Hayward, CA 94541. (510) 888-7072 - Sacramento Field Office (IEU)
1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 170, Sacramento, CA 95834. (916) 515-5151
Division of Investigation, IEU Southern Field Offices:
- Chatsworth Field Office (IEU)
21601 Devonshire St., Suite 216, Chatsworth, CA 91311. (818) 885-2000 - Lakewood Field Office (IEU)
3960 Paramount Blvd., Suite 110, Lakewood, CA 90712. (562) 938-7635 - San Diego Field Office (IEU)
4995 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 207, San Diego, CA 92123. (858) 637-7120 - Ontario Field Office (IEU)
2151 Convention Center Way, Suite 115, Ontario, CA 91764. (909) 390-3542
DCA Division of Investigation, Health Quality Investigation Unit (HQIU) office locations
The DOI, Health Quality Investigation Unit field offices are organized into three units: northern, Los Angeles Metro, and southern California.
Division of Investigation, HQIU northern field offices:
- Fresno Field Office (HQIU)
1277 East Alluvial Ave., Suite 110, Fresno, CA 93720. (559) 447-3050 - Pleasant Hill Field Office (HQIU)
3478 Buskirk Ave., Suite 217, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. (925) 937-1900 - Sacramento Field Office (HQIU)
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95833. (916) 263-2585 - San Jose Field Office (HQIU)
1735 Technology Drive, Suite 800, San Jose, CA 95110. (408) 437-3680
Division of Investigation, HQIU Los Angeles Metro offices:
- Cerritos Field Office (HQIU)
12750 Center Court Drive South, Suite 750, Cerritos, CA 90703. (562) 502-4668 - Glendale Field Office (HQIU)
320 Arden Ave., Suite 250, Glendale, CA 91203. (818) 551-2117 - San Dimas Field Office (HQIU)
160 E. Via Verde, Suite 230, San Dimas, CA 91773. (909) 421-5800 - Valencia Field Office (HQIU)
27202 Turnberry Lane, Suite 280, Valencia, CA 91355. (661) 295-3397
Division of Investigation, HQIU southern field offices:
- Rancho Cucamonga Field Office (HQIU)
9166 Anaheim Place, Suite 110, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730. (909) 476-7146 - San Bernardino Field Office (HQIU)
464 West 4th Street, Suite 429, San Bernardino, CA 92401. (909) 383-4755 - San Diego Field Office (HQIU)
4995 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 203, San Diego, CA 92123. (858) 467-6830 - Tustin Field Office (HQIU)
15641 Redhill Ave., Suite 215, Tustin, CA 92780. (714) 247-2126
Department of Consumer Affairs licensing boards
The California Department of Consumer Affairs is the umbrella agency with authority over the following 40 licensing boards, bureaus and committees:
- Accountancy, Board of
- Acupuncture Board
- Arbitration Certification Program
- Architects Board, California
- Athletic Commission, State
- 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
- Guide Dogs for the Blind, State Board of
- Horse Racing Board, California
- 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
- 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
To learn more, contact a Chudnovsky Law professional license defense attorney today for a consultation by calling (844) 325-1444.
Chudnovsky Law’s team of attorneys have decades of experience representing licensed professionals throughout California.
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