The state of Washington licenses many professions. The Department of Licensing’s online information services for consumers and businesses include a regularly updated compendium of disciplinary actions against business licensees in specialty professions. Professions covered include appraisers, architects, bail bondsmen, cemeteries and funeral directors, real estate brokers and sales people, vehicle dealers, travel agents, limousine drivers and cars for hire, cosmetologists and martial arts instructors, private investigators, notary publics, landscape architects, security guards and collection agencies. Names and locales of businesses and operators are provided, along with month of violation, and the nature and length of the disciplinary action. Supplemental databases – at bottom, here, under “Related” – allow for checking of license status in other professions such as contractors and financial services.

KEY LINK: Washington State Department of Licensing Disciplinary Actions Database.

FINDINGS: Some examples of recent findings follow.

Recent Disciplinary Actions Against Real Estate Brokers and Salespeople. All are named. One in Bellevue failed to advise the department he had been convicted of residential burglary and attempted theft; his license was revoked for 10 years. One in Edmonds failed twice to deliver earnest money as stipulated in a purchase agreement; her license was revoked for nine months. One in Federal Way failed to disclose to a buyer that property he sold had history of mold; his license suspended for 1 year. One in Arlington forged documents and failed to run commissions through her broker; her license was revoked for 10 years. One in Burien failed to disclose a prior conviction for wire fraud and aiding and abetting, and falsified mortgage documents and defrauded mortgage lenders; his license was revoked for 10 years.

Disciplinary Actions Against Driving Schools. All are named. In 2010 to date and in 2009, disciplinary actions included the following. A driving instructor in Vancouver had a suspended driver’s license; his driving instructor’s license renewal was denied for 20 months. One in Port Orchard had a suspended driver’s license; his instructor’s license was suspended for two years. One in Mount Vernon exceed the number of acceptable moving violations in a two-year period and had his instructor’s license suspended for 14 months.

One in Spokane had his driving school owner’s license suspended for five years for operating without a license, and failure to provide the minimum six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction to students. Another in Battleground had his instructor’s and school owner’s licenses revoked for 10 years for fraudulent practices, unreasonable risk, and failure to provide the minimum six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction to students. One in Auburn had his instructor’s and school owner’s licenses revoked for 10 years for operating without adequate vehicle insurance, instructing without an approved curriculum, failing to provide the minimum six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction to students, and unprofessional conduct.

Recent Disciplinary Actions Against Notaries Public. All are named. In 2010 so far, six different notaries public – in Tukwila, Seattle, Tacoma, Bothel, Vancouver, and Longview – had their licenses revoked for periods ranging from one to nine years for being convicted of a serious crime. In 2010 so far, another 16 notaries public in the state have had their licenses revoked or application approvals deferred for actions including violations of professional standards, failure to meet licensing requirements, or failure to cooperate in an investigation.

Recent Disciplinary Actions Against Cosmetologists (hair and nail salons). All are named. So far in 2010, seven different hair or nail salons were fined for violations of safety and sanitation rules. One each was in Vancouver, Bremerton and Seattle and two each were in Burien and Snoqualmie.

RELATED:

Licensing Query System. Professional license searches for many specialty professions. WA Dept. Licensing. provides an information on whether a business or professional has a license, whether it is a city or state license, if it is active, and when it expires.

Look Up A Contractor, Electrician or Plumber, WA Dept. Labor & Industries. Information on license status, complaints, warrants, bonding and insurance.

Health Systems Quality Assurance, WA Dept. of Health. Licensing, complaint and citation information on health care providers and facilities, hotels and motels, farmworker housing and construction projects.

Financial Services Licensee Database, WA Dept. Financial Institutions. Covers mortgage brokers, loan originators, investment companies, business franchises, escrow agents, other financial services.

Corporations Registration Data Search. WA Sec. of State.