Few events are more stressful than the risk of losing the license you rely on for your livelihood and career. The Administrative Law Attorneys at Nova Law Group understand the severe consequences of losing your ability to work and make a living. At Nova Law Group, we love what we do, and we assume you do too. That’s why we will work tirelessly and efficiently doing what we love to help you so you can continue doing what you love.
Usually thirty days, and the deadline is unforgiving. A.R.S. § 41-1092.03(B) provides that a party may obtain a hearing on an appealable agency action or contested case by filing a notice of appeal or request for hearing with the agency within thirty days after receiving the notice. Letting that window close can mean the agency’s action becomes final without a hearing at all.
Under § 41-1092.03(A), the agency’s notice must identify the statute or rule alleged to have been violated or on which the action is based, describe the party’s right to request a hearing, and address the availability of an informal settlement conference. Reading that notice carefully is the first step — it defines the legal theory you are actually defending against.
Often both, in sequence. Many contested cases are heard by an administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings. Under A.R.S. § 41-1092.08, the judge issues a written decision with findings of fact and conclusions of law within twenty days after the hearing concludes. The agency head, board, or commission then has thirty days to accept, reject, or modify that decision, and must file a written justification for any rejection or modification. If the agency does nothing in that window, the judge’s decision is certified as the final administrative decision.
Yes, but quickly. A.R.S. § 12-904(A) requires an action to review a final administrative decision to be commenced by filing a notice of appeal within thirty-five days from the date a copy of the decision is served on the affected party. Judicial review is generally confined to the record made in the administrative proceeding, which is a large part of why the hearing itself matters so much.
Sometimes, and sometimes not. It can resolve a matter early and avoid a public disciplinary record, but statements and concessions made in that setting shape the case that follows. Whether to pursue one, and what to say if you do, is a strategic decision that should be made after the allegations and the governing rule have been analyzed — not on the day the notice arrives.
A board proceeding looks informal and is not. It follows statutory procedure, builds a record that constrains any later appeal, and can end in suspension or revocation of the credential your livelihood depends on. Board staff and complaint counsel are experienced in these hearings. Nova Law Group represents licensed professionals in board investigations and hearings across Arizona, and consultations are free.
A board complaint rarely arrives on its own. If you are also facing a criminal charge, or you are worried about what a charge would do to your license, your record, and your reputation together, our page for professionals and executives explains how we approach those overlapping problems.
