Ethics Complaint Page 1

Ethics Complaints:

Process for Receipt, Review and Determination of Ethics Complaints:

The process for receipt, review and determination of ethics complaints filed against ACBHC certified counselors,
clinical supervisors, and administrators, up to and including sanction (Letter of Censure, Suspension or Revocation of Certification) is as follows:

A written and signed complaint addressed to the Commission, citing all known facts, observations and relevant
information regarding the offense, must be included in the letter. All acts or events requiring report to a law
enforcement agency must be reported by the complainant independently. Upon receipt of this letter, the
process for review and determination of the ethics complaint will be initiated. The process for review and determination is as follows:

Step 1

A written complaint, if submitted as a hand-written or typed letter, will be date stamped and recorded in the Ethics Complaint Log. All complainants who have not documented their complaint on the Ethics Complaint Form will be sent a copy of the form and be asked to resubmit within ten (10) days of receipt of the Ethics Complaint Form. .
Step 2

Upon receipt of the Ethics Complaint Form, the copy of the complaint, with all identifying information suppressed, will be forwarded to the Ethics Review Committee Chair and members. Notification of receipt of the complaint will be sent to both the Complainant and the person against whom the complaint has been lodged within ten (10) days.
Step 3

The Ethics Review Committee will determine within ten (10) days whether the ethics complaint warrants further investigation or can be dismissed. Notification of the decision to either investigate or dismiss the claim will be sent to the Complainant and the person against whom the complaint has been lodged within ten (10) days.
Step 4

If the decision to investigate the ethics complaint has been made, a copy of the complaint will be forwarded to the person against whom the complaint has been lodged, and they will be advised of their right to seek legal counsel, at their expense, during the investigation, hearing and determination process.
Step 5

If the complaint and supporting material appears to be serious enough in nature to support immediate suspension of certification, the Commission may elect through consensus to temporarily suspend certification pending further investigation and determination of the ethics complaint. The certificate holder will be notified by certified mail within ten (10) days of this determination.
Step 6

All ethics complaint investigations will be conducted within ninety (90) days of determination that an investigation is required; however, an extension of up to ninety (90) additional days may be granted in the event that further investigation must be conducted before final determination can be made.