After receiving notice that a complaint has been filed against you, you may be asking yourself, “What triggers a complaint to the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy?”
The following provides the necessary information that all licensees need to know. When facing a complaint, you should hire a healthcare licensing lawyer to navigate the complaint process, present evidence to the Board, and refute the complaint.
Hire an Honest Healthcare Licensing Lawyer
When a complaint has been filed against you, it can be overwhelming. You may fear that your license could be suspended or revoked, disrupting your professional career and threatening your livelihood. At North State Law, we help North Carolina residents respond to complaints and protect their Professional License.
It is important to begin working with a North Carolina healthcare licensing attorney as soon as you receive notice that a complaint has been filed against you. Our team can gather evidence, present your case to the Board, and protect your rights and interests during this process.
North Carolina Massage Therapists
Massage therapy is considered a very fast-growing profession in North Carolina. The number of licensed massage therapists in 2024 totaled 4,661. The field’s annual growth is projected at 1.6%, or 700 job openings. By 2034, there are projected to be 5,463 licensed massage therapists in North Carolina.
Types of Violations
Massage therapists are licensed and overseen by the North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. When a complaint is filed, the Board has the responsibility to investigate the complaint and issue any sanctions that may be necessary.
If a complaint is especially serious or complex, the Board can refer it to an Administrative Law Judge with the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings. The judge reviews the complaint and offers a recommendation to the Board for consideration.
The Board hears complaints from two main categories of concerns:
- Administrative issues. Often stemming from paperwork or compliance issues, these complaints can often be resolved without formal disciplinary measures. Issues include failure to renew your license, insufficient continuing education hours, or practicing at an unapproved location.
- Conduct-related concerns. Conduct complaints are often more serious and could result in disciplinary measures. These concerns include sexual misconduct, boundary violations, negligence, fraud, or practicing outside the scope of the profession.
Complaint Process
Complaints can be filed online, mailed in, or submitted in person to the Board. Complaints must be completed in full to be considered valid. When submitting a complaint, you need:
- The name of the licensee
- A description of the alleged misconduct
- The name, address, and phone number of the person submitting the complaint
The complaint process is fairly straightforward. Once the complaint has been submitted, the Board investigates it for merit. Once the investigation ends, the licensee is notified and given the opportunity to provide a written response.
If the case is referred to the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, its recommendation is referred back to the Board for a final decision.
Contact North State Law
You don’t have to face the complaint process alone. Our highly skilled team has worked with clients throughout North Carolina on their healthcare license defense. We can use our knowledge of healthcare license laws to respond to and resolve formal complaints. Contact the team at North State Law today to arrange your initial consultation.
