The Top 10 Must-Know Tips for Every License Holder

Your professional license represents years of education, training, and dedication—yet many practitioners don't understand the critical steps needed to protect it until it's too late. This special episode of Know Your Regulator distills wisdom from dozens of interviews with regulators, attorneys, and industry experts into ten essential tips that every license holder needs to hear.

From the seemingly simple advice of keeping your own records (backed up and accessible) to understanding when and why you absolutely need legal representation, each tip addresses real vulnerabilities that have derailed careers. We explore why "I didn't know the rules" won't save your license, how digital documentation shortcuts can look like deliberate fraud "up on the big screen," and why even 20+ years of professional experience might not meet Texas licensing requirements if you're relocating.

Experts share candid insights about what triggers complaints, why professional liability insurance isn't just for doctors, and the critical importance of immediate response when your regulatory body contacts you. The stakes couldn't be higher—a missed deadline, poor record-keeping, or attempting to defend yourself without proper counsel could cost you the career you've worked so hard to build. As one guest bluntly puts it, "Don't fart around. Get on it right away."

Whether you're newly licensed or decades into your profession, these practical, actionable tips will help you navigate regulatory challenges and protect your professional standing. Your license is your livelihood—take these expert-backed steps to safeguard it properly. Subscribe and follow Know Your Regulator for more insights now!

Get more information, details and resources on Know Your Regulator - https://www.belolaw.com/know-your-regulator

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
This podcast is for educational purposes only, does
not constitute legal advice anddoes not create an
attorney-client relationship.
If you need legal assistanceabout a legal problem, contact
an attorney.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome to Know your Regulator, the podcast that
inspires you to engage.
I'm your host, simone Murphy,and today's episode is going to
look a little bit different.
Whether you are decades intoyour profession or you're new to
your career, this episode isgoing to deliver the most
essential real-world advice thatwe have heard from across
dozens of interviews withindustry experts, regulators and

(00:35):
licensed professionals.
So these are the top 10 tipsthat every license holder needs
to hear, and we're going to backthem each with insights
straight from the experts.
So let's get started.
We're going to kick it off withtip number one, which is keep
your own records.

Speaker 3 (00:57):
Seriously, don't rely on anyone else, like your
supervisor or your school, tokeep these records for you.
Maintain your own records, keepcopies of them, because at a
minimum maybe we can dosomething with that.
If we can't get what we call aprimary source copy of it.
There are still things we cando to get you in, but we can't
do much if we're not just goingto take your word on.
If you say, well, I had thosehours, but the hospital burned
down, okay, well, I'm sorry,that's going to be one of those

(01:20):
insurmountable obstacles there.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
It sounds extreme, but it happens.
Make sure that your files arebacked up.
They're accessible.
Your license may depend on it.
Tip number two know the rulesthat govern you.
Know the rules that apply toyour license.
Don't wait until you're introuble to learn them.

Speaker 4 (01:39):
You know again, be mindful, stay professional and,
more importantly, know theboundaries that your board
expects you to uphold.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Every board publishes their rules.
Bookmark them, read them.
Knowing them is part of yourprofessional duty.
Tip number three respondimmediately when your licensing
board contacts you.
That is not the time toprocrastinate.
Don't fart around.

Speaker 5 (02:02):
Get on it right away.

Speaker 6 (02:02):
Obviously I agree, don't fart around, Get on it
right away.
Obviously I agree that'ssomething my mom would say right
, like respond immediately.

Speaker 5 (02:09):
It is our responsibility, when we have a
license, to respond to theagency that is issuing the
license.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Missing a deadline could mean missing an
opportunity to defend yourself.
Open your mail, respond quickly.
Tip number four getprofessional liability insurance
.
It's not just for doctors orfor hospitals, it's for any
professional with a license.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
Anybody giving advice and recommendations.
I think would want to coverthat advice and recommendations
Because one disgruntled personor you know, let's say you're
dealing with somebody that you,just you can't make happy, no
matter what, even if it's notyour fault, at least you got a
leg to stand on with.
Having a errors and omissionspolicy or professional liability

(02:57):
policy would cover your legaldefense cost, even if you're
wrongfully sued, Good insurancecovers your legal defense, even
if the complaint has no merit.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Tip number five know your license portability limits.
Are you planning to move toTexas?
Don't assume that your licensewill transfer automatically.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
We have a lot of people come to Texas who want to
be LPCs.
Texas has probably one of themore stringent LPC licensing
requirements in the country inthat we require 3,000 hours of
supervised experience.
A lot of states only require2,000 hours.
So we have individuals comehere who have 20 plus years of
experience practicingprofessional counseling in

(03:37):
another state, maybe even serveas a supervisor training new
counselors in that state, andwhen they get here I tell them
you can't have a license, youdon't have enough supervised
experience.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
Texas may need you, but it still has its standards.
Check your portability early.
Tip number six don't wait torenew.
Don't put off your licenserenewal.

Speaker 5 (03:57):
Some requirements cannot be rushed If the licensee
completes the training rightbefore his or her deadline, they
can run into the problem of notbeing able to renew their
license on time.
They can run into the problemof not being able to renew their
license on time.
A hold is initially placed onevery licensee that is due for
renewal until proof of thattraining has been received.
When we lift the renewal hold,it does take two full business

(04:18):
days for our database tointegrate with Texasgov, which
is where they pay their payments.
So a lot of times licenseeshave to renew late because
they're waiting to the lastminute.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
Make sure you mark your calendar and take care of
your renewals early.
Tip number seven know whattriggers complaints.
Be aware of what triggerscomplaints for your agency and
then absolutely avoid it.

Speaker 7 (04:44):
According to our most recent compliance and
investigations report, our threemost common complaints are
billing violations, standard ofcare violations and patient
records violations.
Now, each of these three broadcategories includes multiple
different types of violations.
Billing violations can includeinsurance fraud, charging

(05:08):
clearly excessive amounts,billing for services not
rendered or just submitting abill for treatment that the
provider should reasonably knowis improper or unreasonable or
medically unnecessary.

Speaker 2 (05:23):
It's not always about intent.
Sloppy paperwork itself isenough to get flagged.
Tip number eight don't DIY yourdefense.
Don't try and defend yourselfalone.
You need legal help.

Speaker 4 (05:36):
And I think that I need to even overemphasize it,
now more than ever, theimportance of hiring a legal
counsel, someone who'sexperienced in these kinds of
matters.
All too often we have clientsthat have come in and they've
experienced a suspension oftheir license because they
represented themselves and theywere know they experienced, you
know, a suspension of theirlicense because you know they
represented themselves and theywere under the impression that,

(05:58):
hey, I can handle it on my own.
I know that.
You know I can learn theprocedure, I can Google it, I
can get on chat, gpt, I can doall these things and become a
lawyer overnight and handle thison my own.
And that's not the case,particularly, you know, with
emergency suspensions whetheryou're dealing with an emergency
suspension where you're able toparticipate in the hearing or

(06:19):
dealing with an emergencysuspension that was granted
without your participation.
At the end of the day, you knowyou trying to handle it on your
own is a huge, huge mistake.

Speaker 2 (06:30):
Your license is way too valuable to risk.
Hire someone who knows thesystem.
Tip number nine avoid digitalshortcuts.
Be very careful with yourdigital records.
What you think is harmlesscould look like fraud.

Speaker 6 (06:45):
The leading documentation is the equivalent
of like ripping up a piece ofpaper.
Sometimes I don't think thatthey realize that that's the
equivalent of it, becausethere's so many things that can
be normalized in our environmentand audit trails which I'm sure
we're going to talk about in aminute are very real and that
stuff can be seen and that neverlooks good up on the big screen

(07:08):
the big screen.
What we're going to referencemany times is going to be
anytime you're in a court of law, so that's just like a you,
like a witty little phrase thatI like to say, but the reality
is when you're sitting in acourtroom and that will be up on
the big screen and you're goingto be asked about were you
copying and pasting?
So that's an issue.

Speaker 2 (07:27):
Treat your digital documentation with the same care
you would your paper charts.
Tip number 10, and our finaltip be honest.
Be honest and forthright,especially during investigations
.

Speaker 8 (07:40):
Really, you know, be honest, right.
That's, I think, makes moreimpression on everybody,
including us.
If you tell the truth, we can'talways predict what the outcome
is going to be, but if everyoneknows what happened, then it
usually leads to better resultsfor everybody.
And when you mislead, not onlydo we get upset, usually the
judges do as well.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
Accountability goes a long way.
Honesty often leads to aninformal resolution.
That wraps up our top 10 tipsfor license holders.
Whether you are renewing,applying or responding to a
complaint, these tips are hereto help you protect your license
and your livelihood.
If you enjoyed this episode, besure to like, follow, subscribe

(08:21):
and check out our full Knowyour Regulator library for more
episodes.
Until next time, stay inspiredand continue engaging with your
regulatory agency.
Know your Regulator, thepodcast that inspires you to
engage.