Legal Definitions - board of registration

A board of registration is a government body established by a state to oversee specific professions or trades within its jurisdiction. Its primary responsibilities include granting official permission (licenses) for individuals to practice within that field and ensuring that practitioners adhere to established standards of conduct, ethics, and competence. If a professional fails to meet these standards, the board has the authority to investigate complaints and impose disciplinary actions, which can range from fines to the suspension or revocation of a license.

• Imagine a new medical school graduate who wants to practice medicine in a particular state. They would apply to the state's Board of Medical Registration. This board reviews their educational qualifications, ensures they've passed the necessary licensing exams, and, if all requirements are met, issues them a license to practice medicine. If, years later, a doctor is accused of serious professional misconduct, this same board would investigate the complaint and could, for instance, suspend their license or impose other penalties to protect public safety.

  This example illustrates how the board both licenses new professionals (the medical graduate) and disciplines existing ones (the doctor accused of misconduct).

• Consider an individual who has completed an apprenticeship and wants to work as a licensed electrician. They would need to apply to the state's Board of Electrical Registration. This board verifies their training and ensures they pass a competency exam before issuing an electrician's license. If a licensed electrician performs shoddy work that violates safety codes, a client could file a complaint with the board, which might then investigate and potentially fine the electrician or even revoke their license to prevent further unsafe practices.

  Here, the board's role in granting a license based on training and exams, and its power to take action against substandard work, clearly demonstrates its dual function.

• A person aspiring to become a certified public accountant (CPA) must first meet the educational and experience requirements set by the state's Board of Accountancy Registration. After passing the rigorous CPA exam, the board grants them a license to practice. If a CPA is later found to have engaged in fraudulent financial reporting for a client, the board would investigate the allegations and could revoke their CPA license, preventing them from practicing in that state and upholding the integrity of the accounting profession.

  This scenario shows the board's role in setting entry standards for a profession (CPA license) and its authority to remove individuals who violate ethical and legal obligations.