Section 43-11A-15. Refusal, suspension, or revocation of license; other disciplinary actions

   The board may refuse to grant or renew a license to an applicant; administer a public or private reprimand, but a private reprimand shall not be disclosed to any person except the licensee; suspend any licensee for a definite period or for an indefinite period in connection with any condition which may be attached to the restoration of said license; limit or restrict any licensee as the board deems necessary for the protection of the public; revoke any license; condition the penalty upon, or withhold formal disposition pending, the applicant's or licensee's submission to such care, counseling, or treatment as the board may direct; or impose a fine not to exceed $500.00 for each violation of a law, rule, or regulation relating to the profession regulated by this chapter upon a finding by a majority of the entire board that the licensee or applicant has:

   (1) Failed to demonstrate the qualifications or standards for a license contained in this Code section or under the laws, rules, or regulations under which licensure is sought or held; it shall be incumbent upon the applicant to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board that said applicant meets all the requirements for the issuance of a license, and, if the board is not satisfied as to the applicant's qualifications, it may deny a license without a prior hearing; provided, however, that the applicant shall be allowed to appear before the board if he or she so desires;

   (2) Knowingly made misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the practice of a business or profession licensed under this title or on any document connected therewith; or practiced fraud or deceit or intentionally made any false statement in obtaining a license to practice the licensed business or profession; or made a false statement or deceptive registration with the board;

   (3) Been convicted of any felony or of any crime involving moral turpitude in the courts of this state or any other state, territory, or country or in the courts of the United States; as used in this paragraph and paragraph (4) of this Code section, the term "felony" shall include any offense which, if committed in this state, would be deemed a felony, without regard to its designation elsewhere; and, as used in this paragraph, the term "conviction" shall include a finding or verdict of guilty or a plea of guilty, regardless of whether an appeal of the conviction has been sought;

   (4) Been arrested, charged, and sentenced for the commission of any felony, or any crime involving moral turpitude, where:

      (A) A plea of nolo contendere was entered to the charge;

      (B) First offender treatment without adjudication of guilt pursuant to the charge was granted; or

      (C) An adjudication or sentence was otherwise withheld or not entered on the charge.

The plea of nolo contendere or the order entered pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 42, relating to probation of first offenders, or other first offender treatment shall be conclusive evidence of arrest and sentencing for such crime;

   (5) Had his or her license to practice a business or profession licensed under this title revoked, suspended, or annulled by any lawful licensing authority other than the board; or had other disciplinary action taken against him or her by any such lawful licensing authority other than the board; or was denied a license by any such lawful licensing authority other than the board, pursuant to disciplinary proceedings; or was refused the renewal of a license by any such lawful licensing authority other than the board, pursuant to disciplinary proceedings;

   (6) Engaged in any unprofessional, immoral, unethical, deceptive, or deleterious conduct or practice harmful to the public, which conduct or practice materially affects the fitness of the licensee or applicant to practice a business or profession licensed under this title, or of a nature likely to jeopardize the interest of the public, which conduct or practice need not have resulted in actual injury to any person or be directly related to the practice of the licensed business or profession but shows that the licensee or applicant has committed any act or omission which is indicative of bad moral character or untrustworthiness; unprofessional conduct shall also include any departure from, or the failure to conform to, the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing practice of the business or profession licensed under this title;

   (7) Knowingly performed any act which in any way aids, assists, procures, advises, or encourages any unlicensed person or any licensee whose license has been suspended or revoked by a professional licensing board to practice a business or profession licensed under this title or to practice outside the scope of any disciplinary limitation placed upon the licensee by the board;

   (8) Violated a statute, law, or any rule or regulation of this state, any other state, the professional licensing board regulating the business or profession licensed under this title, the United States, or any other lawful authority, without regard to whether the violation is criminally punishable, which statute, law, or rule or regulation relates to or in part regulates the practice of a business or profession licensed under this title, when the licensee or applicant knows or should know that such action is violative of such statute, law, or rule or regulation; or violated a lawful order of the board previously entered by the board in a disciplinary hearing, consent decree, or license reinstatement;

   (9) Been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction within or outside of this state; any such adjudication shall automatically suspend the license of any such person and shall prevent the reissuance or renewal of any license so suspended for as long as the adjudication of incompetence is in effect; or

   (10) Displayed an inability to practice a business or profession licensed under this title with reasonable skill and safety to the public or has become unable to practice the licensed business or profession with reasonable skill and safety to the public by reason of illness, use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other type of material.

Code 1981, § 43-11A-15, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1377, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 6, § 43; Ga. L. 1994, p. 971, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1706, § 19.